Bay Area fans celebrate as Spain wins World Cup title in overtime thriller

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Spain is, once again, on top of the soccer world.

Thousands of Bay Area fans gathered at watch parties across San Francisco on Sunday to cheer on their teams.

Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in an overtime World Cup final, capturing the championship in dramatic fashion.

Hours before kickoff, supporters packed Yerba Buena Gardens for a pregame celebration, waving flags, singing chants and sharing their predictions for the highly anticipated matchup.

"We're super anxious, but we're believing," said Hollister resident Belen Belicaric. "That's what we're doing until the last minute."

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The crowd reflected the Bay Area's diverse international community, with fans proudly representing both finalists.

"I love both countries, but Argentina has my heart," said San Francisco resident Carla Bravo.

Some Argentine supporters even handed out temporary tattoos to fellow fans, including a few willing Spain backers.

For Mario Diaz and his family from Novato, there was no question who they were supporting.

"It's been 16 years since they won the World Cup," Diaz said. "They had a rough run coming back into the tournament."

At the Crossing at East Cut, hundreds of fans remained glued to a giant outdoor screen throughout a tense, scoreless match.

After 90 minutes of regulation and much of overtime failed to produce a goal, Spain finally broke through in the closing moments of the extra period. The decisive score sent Spanish supporters into a frenzy.

As the final whistle sounded minutes later, cheers echoed through the crowd as fans celebrated Spain's championship victory.

"The game was amazing," one fan shouted. "Spain deserves this win. They played awesome. Viva España!"

For San Francisco resident Sara Monetero, the victory was the culmination of a belief she held throughout the tournament.

"We just won the World Cup!" she said.

Monetero said the tournament helped bring people together and that she felt all along that Spain was destined to win.

"The coach has the same age as the coach when we won the first time," she said. "There were many signs. It was just going to happen. I always believed it."

Spain's victory ends a 16-year wait for another World Cup title and gave Bay Area fans one final reason to celebrate at the end of a memorable tournament.