NASHUA, N.H. – On Sunday, an estimated 1.5 billion people watched the World Cup final, with roughly 30 to 35 million viewers on television and streaming in the United States. About 300 of them chose to take in the match at Nashua’s newly renovated riverfront Renaissance Park, where the city hosted an outdoor viewing party.
A supersized 17-foot-wide screen was set up in the downtown park for the weekend, broadcasting both the semifinal and final matches of the 2026 World Cup. Rain kept Saturday’s crowd light, but by the 3 p.m. kickoff on Sunday the lawn was full, with fans spreading blankets, setting up lawn chairs and groups of children kicking soccer balls around the park.
The crowd featured plenty of Spain and Argentina supporters, judging by jerseys and flags, as well as casual fans who came simply for the shared experience of watching a global sporting event in a local setting. Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in a tense final in New Jersey, finally breaking through in the 106th minute of extra time to claim La Roja’s second World Cup title behind a dominant, possession-heavy performance and a collective defensive effort that largely shut down Lionel Messi and his teammates.
The only downside to the park screening was the cancellation of Sunday morning’s Downtown Nashua Farmers Market to make room for the big screen and event infrastructure. The market is scheduled to return next Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Renaissance Park.
