Why Marc Cucurella buried the coin on the pitch before the World Cup final in Spain as ‘secret’ ritual in 2010 revealed | Football News
Marc Cucurella was seen performing an unusual pre-match ritual moments before Spain’s 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Argentina, and now it has emerged that the act is part of a 16-year-old superstition passed on by one of Spain’s former World Cup winners.Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time at the New York New Jersey Stadium to lift the men’s World Cup for the second time in their history, with substitute Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal in the 106th minute.While much of the attention after the final was focused on Spain’s victory and Argentina’s later collapse, footage taken before kick-off showed Cucurella quietly walking towards the touchline, removing something from his sock and burying it under the turf.
the ‘secret’ lucky coin tradition
At first, no one knew what the Spain left-back was hiding in the grass.The mystery was solved after the final by former Spain defender Joan Capdevila, who revealed that the object was a coin and that he had personally asked Cucurella to continue a superstition since Spain’s first World Cup victory in 2010.Capdevila, who started at left-back when Spain beat the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final in Johannesburg, explained that he buried a coin on the pitch before the match and encouraged Cucurella to repeat the ritual before facing Argentina.Writing in X, Capdevila said: “And now I’ll tell you a secret… In 2010, I buried a coin in the grass before the game started… I’ve told it a million times.“I asked @cucurella3 to do the same yesterday…“Marc, I love you so much. YOU ARE A WORLD CHAMPION!”He also shared a video showing Cucurella secretly checking that no one was watching before placing the coin on the turf and covering it with grass moments before kick-off.
Spain’s lucky charm ended in another World Cup
Coincidence or superstition, the ritual appears to be working again.Spain controlled most of the final against defending champions Argentina before finding the breakthrough in extra time.Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute after being set up by Nico Williams, giving Luis de la Fuente’s side a 1-0 win and Spain’s second World Cup title, exactly 16 years after their first.Cucurella was once again a key figure throughout the tournament, capping off another successful international campaign after helping Spain win the European Championship two years ago.Argentina’s hopes of forcing penalties suffered a major blow when Enzo Fernández was sent off in stoppage time after receiving a second yellow card for a careless challenge on Pau Cubarsí. Tempers later boiled over after the final whistle, with Leandro Paredes also sent off after an altercation involving several Spain players.
Capdevila’s own World Cup journey almost ended before it began
The story carries more significance because Capdevila himself almost missed the final.Earlier in the week, the 2010 World Cup winner revealed that his Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) application to enter the United States was denied, reportedly because of a previous exhibition match he played in Iran.Capdevila publicly appealed to US President Donald Trump on social media, writing: “I NEED HELP @realDonaldTrump!”“They just told me that I can’t travel to the final with my children because my ESTA was denied.“Can anyone help me with this? You have no idea how excited I am to be there with all my 2010 teammates and this team to cheer them on.“I can’t believe that they didn’t let me in the USA … and that I will miss a moment like this with my children who love soccer so much.”According to ESPN, US Customs and Border Protection confirmed to the Associated Press that it received a request regarding Capdevila’s case and subsequently granted him permission to enter the country.The former Villarreal defender arrived in New Jersey in time for the final and watched Spain lift the World Cup from the stands.After the win, he celebrated Spain’s victory and his own successful journey by posting: “HOW IT WAS WORTH IT.For Capdevila, the coin buried under the grass has already brought Spain good luck once in 2010. Sixteen years later, after Cucurella repeated the same silent ritual before kick-off, it ended with another World Cup trophy heading back to Spain.
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