NEW YORK — Victorious Spanish fans and mournful Argentinians brought the World Cup carnival back to the heart of New York for their blockbuster clash on Sunday, reigniting fervour that had dipped with the US exit.

At a watch party in Central Park, Eric Centeno, 42, told AFP: “We’ve been enjoying the tournament – and Spain won!”

Argentine dentist Florencia Luzinin, 30, said: “We came across a few Spaniards but I don’t look at them.”

She was among thousands of blue-and-white-striped Argentina fans who flocked to the tourist hubs of Manhattan ahead of the final held over the Hudson River in New Jersey.

Local enthusiasm for the tournament had fallen away after co-hosts the United States were knocked out by Belgium on July 6, but tickets for the final still became the costliest in US sporting history.

Extreme weather in the days before the final, including ferocious storms, flooding and smoke from Canadian forest fires, distracted many in the Big Apple.

Nonetheless, Argentine fans turned out in force, with many gathering in the city’s Times Square.

Penn Station was a sea of Argentine jerseys, most emblazoned with Lionel Messi’s name – and two dogs were dressed up in the iconic blue-and-white strip.

Spain fans swarmed around Madison Square Garden, with one clutching a replica trophy.

Spain supporter Alessandra Pichler, 27, said: “The US has done a great job hosting all the games I’ve been to. I’ve been very impressed.”