Marc Cucurella: The coin ritual behind Spain’s World Cup win has become a fascinating story from the 2026 final. The Spanish left-back was spotted discreetly burying an object in the turf just before kick-off against Argentina. That object was a lucky coin, part of a superstition passed down from Spain’s 2010 World Cup winner Joan Capdevila.
Capdevila revealed on social media that he had buried a coin in the grass before the 2010 final in Johannesburg, which Spain won. He asked Cucurella to repeat the ritual for the 2026 final in New Jersey. The former defender wrote, “I asked @cucurella3 to do the same yesterday… Marc, I love you so much. YOU ARE A WORLD CHAMPION!” The coin tradition added to the drama of Spain’s 1-0 victory after extra time.
Spain defeated defending champions Argentina thanks to a 106th-minute goal from substitute Ferran Torres. Cucurella played a key role throughout the tournament, just as he did when Spain won the European Championship two years earlier. The victory marked Spain’s second World Cup title, exactly 16 years after their first.
Capdevila almost missed the final after his travel authorization was denied. He appealed on social media and was eventually granted entry. After watching Spain win from the stands, he celebrated both the victory and his journey to the game. The coin buried by Cucurella continued a powerful superstition, and once again, it helped bring a World Cup trophy back to Spain.