Agartala, July 20, 2026: Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha joined hundreds of football enthusiasts at North Gate, Agartala, in the early hours of Sunday to witness the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final between Argentina and Spain on a giant LED screen.
The Chief Minister arrived at around 1:00 AM along with Agartala Mayor Dipak Majumder, MLAs and other government officials. A large LED screen had been installed at North Gate, where people of all ages—including youth, senior citizens, women and children—gathered to enjoy the much-anticipated final together.
The atmosphere was festive as supporters of both teams cheered passionately. While many fans backed Lionel Messi’s Argentina, others rallied behind Spain, creating an electrifying football carnival in the heart of Agartala.
The final lived up to expectations, with neither side able to score during the regulation 90 minutes. The match went into extra time, and after another intense spell of play, Spain broke the deadlock with a decisive goal in the 20th minute of extra time, securing a historic victory. With the win, Spain lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy for the first time since their 2010 triumph.
Speaking to reporters during the event, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha described the final as an exciting contest. He praised Spain’s attacking style of football while noting that Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, always had the ability to change the course of the match at any moment. However, he declined to predict a winner, saying both teams were strong and the outcome remained uncertain.
Highlighting the state’s commitment to sports infrastructure, the Chief Minister said the Tripura government has developed 12 to 13 synthetic football turfs since coming to power and is also establishing modern hockey grounds, synthetic athletic tracks and other sports facilities across the state to encourage young athletes.
On whether Tripura would consider declaring a holiday after the World Cup final, Dr. Saha said there was no such proposal under consideration. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on sports and fitness is helping India make progress in international sporting events, expressing confidence that Indian football has a bright future.
Explaining why he chose to watch the match with the public instead of from home, the Chief Minister said he wanted to celebrate football alongside ordinary citizens. He expressed hope that his presence would inspire more young people to take an interest in sports and physical activities.
Responding to questions on drug abuse, Dr. Saha reiterated the state government’s zero-tolerance policy against narcotics. He said Tripura is strengthening anti-drug measures through rehabilitation facilities, district-level infrastructure and strict surveillance along the 850-km India-Bangladesh border, while law enforcement agencies continue to crack down on drug trafficking networks.
