Salinas Regional Soccer Complex hosts final weekend of World Cup watch parties.

Greatest of all time Lionel Messi or young star Lamine Yamal?

Royvi Hernandez here, rooting for Argentina to win against Spain in the FIFA World Cup final game on Sunday, July 19, taking place at the Metlife Stadium in New Jersey. 

Even though most of the well-known countries, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and the United States were eliminated, The Americas still have a chance to take home the gold trophy if 39-year-old Messi and his fellow teammates can catch up to the speed of 19-year-old Yamal. 

As a soccer fan, I’ve been keeping up with the World Cup games. I have seen most from the comfort of my room, while at the gym or at a parking lot before a local running club meet and even at an outdoor tailgate watch party at the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex when Mexico played against Czechia on Wednesday, June 24.

While attending, I was surprised by the number of people who showed up and were out even on a windy weekday evening after work. 

Since the games began more than a month ago, the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex has hosted 12 watch parties, mainly Mexico and U.S. matches. 

“So far, we've had over 10,000 people show up in between the people just sitting down at the lounge, to the kids playing on the soccer field, to our community members,” says Mayra Gomez, business development manager at the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex. “I have learned that through sport, a community can come together and can become stronger. As long as we are producing safe places and continue to promote these types of events, the community will show up and have a great time.” 

Gomez adds that people attending the tailgates have been coming from Pebble Beach, Carmel, San Jose and even San Francisco. 

“We obviously believed in our community, but we didn't understand to what magnitude they would respond and I think that's one of the most surprising things,” she says. “It’s been an incredible experience and it’s been one of the greatest feelings to be able to hear everyone talk about the event and just ask what's next.”

Unlike myself, Gomez isn’t necessarily choosing sides for which country will win the World Cup. Instead, she says, “I just want a good game. It would be great to see Argentina be back-to-back champions, but I know that a lot of people would rather not see that happen.”

The Salinas Regional Soccer Complex will have watch parties for both the third-place game on Saturday, July 18 at 2pm, where France will take on England, and the final game on Sunday, July 19 at noon, where Argentina competes against Spain. 

Soccer is just one of the many things to look forward to on Sunday. Music fans can anticipate performances at the closing ceremony, starting 90 minutes before the final game, from Laura Pausini, Post Malone, Robbie Williams and Pussycat Dolls member Nicole Scherzinger. A first-ever 30-minute halftime show during the final game will take place, where artists including Shakira, Justin Bieber, Madonna and Burna Boy will take the stage. 

The California Rodeo Salinas has partnered with the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex to provide free parking and shuttles so people can attend the rodeo at the Salinas Sports Complex after watching the game or at any time throughout the weekend.