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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Tom Cruise gamely tried to deliver a speech at the World Cup about how soccer was some sort of global unifier and great players had crossed oceans and borders, and, well, what was the rest?
It was about mission impossible to hear the actor over the cacophony of bells and whistles and drums that served as the house band for all the joyous singing and clapping among the Argentine and Spanish fans who traveled thousands of miles -- and spent thousands and thousands more in tickets, beers and, yes, wigs -- to watch the World Cup final.
No exorbitant ticket price was too high to possibly say goodbye to Lionel Messi, playing in likely his last World Cup game.
“Money comes back,” Argentina fan Manuel Lopez Maccotta said. “This is once in a lifetime. You’re seeing the best player in the world in his last World Cup. Money is worthless compared to this.”
Maccotta and one of his friends traveled from Buenos Aires to New Jersey to watch Spain’s 1-0 win over Argentina on Ferran Torres’ goal in extra time on Sunday.
The ticket price?
“Almost 10K in American money,” Maccotta said.
The $18 beer he was in line to buy suddenly seemed like chump change compared to the hot game ticket.
His friend Santiago Burcaco got off easy at $5,000 for his ticket.
“I bought the ticket before the World Cup final,” he said.
In the 200 section of the stadium Sunday, Guadalupe Villar said she and her husband were at the finals almost by chance.
The Buenos Aires couple, who brought along their nearly 2-year-old daughter, won a contest for tickets to Argentina’s semifinal match against England in Atlanta. After their home country won, they decided they weren’t ready to go home and splurged for finals tickets that cost $7,000 each (their daughter was free).
“We both work and we have some savings and we were like, ‘OK, maybe this vacation will go a little longer.’ We’re here now, you know?” Villar said.
The only hiccup? Their flight from Atlanta to New York was canceled by bad weather.
Villar, who is an architect, said the family piled into a car with fellow countrymen they met on their travels and drove the 15 hours north, arriving at 5 a.m. on gameday.
“We’re tired, and hot,” she said as she took a break in a shaded area between the seating bowl and the concession area with her sleepy daughter.
After the match, the family headed for the exits before the championship trophy was handed to Spain.
“Spain was better this game, it hurts me to say,” Rodrigo Fernandez said as Villar carried their sleeping daughter. “It was a great game, and it was a shame to lose, but was an unforgettable experience.”
World Cup fans wanted to party
World Cup fans were given a “Join The Celebration” sign that encouraged fans on how to best participate in the game.
“When the music kicks in, clap along using your clapper!”