Art & Culture

Barcelona on World Cup Final Night, Photographed by Osama Ahdi

BYKhaoula Ghanem

July 20, 2026

There was never any doubt where much of Barcelona’s loyalty would lie on World Cup final night. As Spain prepared to face Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, celebrations had already begun long before kickoff, spilling from living rooms into cafés, bars, and neighborhood restaurants where generations of supporters gathered to witness a moment many had waited 16 years to experience.

That is exactly what 25-year-old Moroccan photographer Osama Ahdi set out to document. Born and raised in Catalonia (he shares he was rooting for Spain and that’s why there’s no pictures of Argentinian fans), Ahdi spent the night moving through Barcelona with both a film camera and a digital one slung over his shoulder, documenting the celebrations as they unfolded. Known for his candid, raw approach to photography, he is less interested in perfectly composed images than the split-second moments that reveal how people actually experience a city. His evening began inside a Moroccan restaurant, where members of Spain’s large Moroccan community gathered to watch one of football’s biggest nights together.

The football itself was every bit as tense as expected. Spain edged Argentina 1-0 in a final that never allowed either side a moment to relax. After scoring freely throughout the tournament, Argentina were unable to find a way through a Spanish defense that had become almost untouchable, finishing the competition having conceded just one goal and setting a new World Cup record in the process. Sixteen years after lifting the trophy in South Africa, Spain were world champions once again.

As soon as the referee blew for full time, Barcelona erupted. Car horns drowned out ‘Ole!’ chants, Spanish flags appeared from every direction, and celebrations spilled through the city’s streets well into the early hours. Ahdi was there to capture it all, preserving a night that belonged as much to the people of Barcelona as it did to the players on the pitch.

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Barcelona on World Cup Final Night, Photographed by Osama Ahdi

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Barcelona on World Cup Final Night, Photographed by Osama Ahdi

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