New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani declined to back either Spain or Argentina ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, joking that every team he has supported during the tournament has ended up losing.
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Speaking to reporters at City Hall, Mamdani was asked which side he would be cheering for in Sunday's final. Rather than naming a favourite, he laughed off the question, saying he did not want to bring bad luck to either team.
"Everyone I root for has lost. I feel like whoever I say is going to lose at this point," he said.
The mayor instead praised the tournament and said he was looking forward to what he described as a remarkable meeting between Spain's teenage star Lamine Yamal and Argentina captain Lionel Messi.
