Iniesta and Kempes help bring out World Cup trophy before final
Telemundo reported that Iniesta, Kempes, Alcaraz and Hoyeon presented the trophy at New York/New Jersey Stadium before Argentina vs. Spain.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
2 min read
The World Cup trophy got its big-stage moment in New York/New Jersey before Argentina and Spain played for the 2026 title, with Andrés Iniesta, Mario Kempes, Alcaraz and Hoyeon involved in the presentation, according to Telemundo.
Telemundo identified Iniesta and Kempes in a July 19 video from the FIFA World Cup 2026, saying the pair presented the trophy at New York/New Jersey Stadium. The network’s headline also named Alcaraz and Hoyeon as part of the presentation.
Iniesta brought a very specific bit of World Cup history into the scene. Telemundo described him as the player whose goal gave Spain its 2010 World Cup win.
Kempes’ presence added another layer of football royalty to the ceremony. Telemundo named him alongside Iniesta in its description of the trophy presentation before the final.
A final with plenty riding on it
The ceremony came as Telemundo’s World Cup coverage focused on Argentina and Spain meeting in the final in New York. The network framed Argentina’s arrival in the city as a bid to make history and chase back-to-back world titles.
Spain’s storyline, according to Telemundo’s related coverage, was a push for a second star with a squad full of young talent. Another Telemundo segment said a Spain assistant described the team as calm and confident before the match.
Argentina’s buildup also carried the emotional freight that comes with a World Cup final. Telemundo promoted a pregame interview with Juan Musso in which he said, “Nosotros seguimos siendo esos pibes que soñaban jugar un Mundial,” describing the players as still those kids who dreamed of playing in a World Cup.
Another Telemundo pregame item quoted Ayala as saying that the match would bring out “esa parte del barrio que cada futbolista tiene,” a nod to the neighborhood roots each player carries into moments like this.
Telemundo’s final-day spotlight
Telemundo’s July 19 programming guide listed a full day built around the final, including “Celebrando el Mundial: La final,” “Camino a la final,” “Hoy en el Mundial,” “Vive el Mundial” and the FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcast.
The network also listed postgame programming titled “Copa Mundial de la FIFA 2026: Homenaje al campeón,” followed later by “Todo el Mundial.”
The trophy presentation was posted as a 1-minute, 26-second video in Telemundo’s FIFA World Cup 2026 section. Its brief description placed Iniesta and Kempes at the center of the ceremony inside New York/New Jersey Stadium, moments before the tournament’s biggest prize was decided.
This story draws on original reporting from TELEMUNDO.com.