Cucurella buries a coin before the World Cup final, repeating Capdevila's 2010 ritual as Spain beats Argentina
A coin buried in the grass linked Spain's two World Cup triumphs, as Marc Cucurella repeated a ritual first performed by Joan Capdevila in 2010 before the final against Argentina.
Spain's 2026 World Cup final victory over Argentina carried a hidden thread back to the country's first title in 2010. Before kick-off at the MedLife Stadium, left-back Marc Cucurella walked to the sideline, pulled a coin from his sock, and pressed it into the turf. The gesture was not a spontaneous superstition but a direct request from Joan Capdevila, the left-back who had done the same thing 16 years earlier.
The 2010 origin
On 11 July 2010, before the final against the Netherlands in Johannesburg, Capdevila buried a coin in the grass. Spain went on to win 1-0 after extra time, with Andrés Iniesta scoring the decisive goal. Capdevila later described the act as a personal ritual to attract luck, and it became one of the most remembered superstitions of that tournament.
In 2010 I buried a coin in the grass before the match started. I've told this millions of times. I asked Cucurella to do the same yesterday. Marc, I love you so much, you are a world champion!
The 2026 repetition
Capdevila, who nearly missed attending the final due to visa problems, watched from New York as Cucurella carried out the ritual. Video footage shows the Chelsea defender stopping near the touchline, retrieving the coin from his sock, and burying it carefully before joining his teammates. The act was a deliberate link between the two generations of Spanish footballers who have now lifted the World Cup.
A bridge between generations
Both Capdevila and Cucurella occupied the left-back position for Spain in their respective finals. Capdevila was part of the team that won the country's first star in South Africa; Cucurella received the baton in the United States and helped secure the second. The coin ritual, revealed by Capdevila on social media after the match, became a symbol of continuity and respect across 16 years.
- Joan Capdevila buries a coin before the final; Spain beats Netherlands 1-0 after extra time.
- Marc Cucurella buries a coin before the final; Spain beats Argentina to win the 2026 World Cup.
Celebration ahead
The Spanish team, coached by Luis de la Fuente, dominated a hard-fought final against Argentina. The victory sets up a celebration in Madrid in the coming hours, where thousands are expected to gather and mark the achievement. The coin buried by Cucurella will now join the lore of Spanish football, a small object that connected two World Cup triumphs.
