The capital, like other cities on the island, vibrated to the rhythm of the 2026 World Cup final. As one of the host countries for the 23rd World Cup and specifically for the grand final between the world’s two best teams, Spain and Argentina, the United States Embassy in Madagascar organized an evening for its partners on Sunday night at the Novotel rooftop in Alarobia.
The evening was lively and the atmosphere was convivial. The event was honored by the presence of the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the US Embassy, Melanie Harris Higgins, accompanied by her close collaborators. Three giant screens were installed, two in the hall and one on the terrace, offering a beautiful night view of the surroundings.
The attendees, 40% of whom were women, enjoyed a cocktail dinner before and during the match. The excitement rose from the 4th minute of the game during the first attempt by the young Spanish striker, Lamine Yamal.
The room erupted with noise during every attack by both teams or whenever a foul was committed against the Albiceleste star, Lionel Messi. Like the players, the guests also took advantage of hydration breaks to refresh themselves during the match.
A quiz session marked the break on the terrace, providing an opportunity to answer questions about the World Cup and the United States. Those who provided the correct answers won official World Cup balls.
The atmosphere grew warmer during halftime as guests enjoyed a unique show featuring international stars like Shakira, Justin Bieber, and BTS. Due to the cold, those on the terrace moved their chairs to join the crowd inside, which became increasingly noisy with every threatening attack or every time Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez stopped the relentless Spanish shots.
Connectivity issues occasionally dampened the mood. The audience debated the referee’s calls and the offside goal by Williams in extra time. They were unable to fully savor the Spanish goal scored by Ferran Torres due to a connection cut at the start of the second half of extra time; however, some guests following the match on their phones announced the winning goal, which brought a new star to La Roja 16 years later. The guests left the hall in high spirits, still discussing the final in the elevators and all the way to the parking lot.
Captured & Published at: 2026-07-22 05:42:04 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/07/mondial-ambassade-des-etats-unis-une.html