David Beckham was greeted with boos on stage in New York after he refused to pick a winner between Argentina and Spain ahead of the World Cup final. The former England captain, a near-ever-present at the tournament in North America, had earlier made headlines cheering on England’s win over Norway with his wife Victoria. But his moment in the spotlight soured when he failed to predict a victor for the showpiece match, drawing immediate jeers from the crowd.
Argentina, inspired by Lionel Messi, will seek to retain their crown in Sunday’s final after a stunning fightback against England in the semi-finals. Thomas Tuchel’s side collapsed late on, a defeat that has heaped scrutiny on the manager’s tactics and substitutions. Beckham, who captained England during his playing days, has been a prominent figure throughout the tournament, but his reluctance to take sides in the final proved unpopular.
“David Beckham was booed in New York for refusing to pick a World Cup final winner.”
The incident underscores the tensions surrounding a match that pits the reigning champions against a Spanish side that has impressed en route to the final. With Messi aiming to lead Argentina to back-to-back World Cup victories, the stakes could not be higher. For Beckham, the boos may serve as a reminder that even a national hero cannot remain neutral when his country’s conquerors are on the line.
