Victor Wembanyama Reveals FIFA World Cup Final Conundrum: 'I Like Neither Teams'

Victor Wembanyama, the 22-year-old San Antonio Spurs sensation, has a problem on his hands ahead of the highly anticipated FIFA World Cup final. The French basketball star, who has a deep connection to the sport, cannot bring himself to root for either team.

What happened?

Speaking with Roger Bennett at the Men in Blazers panel during Fanatics Fest NYC, Wembanyama made his feelings clear: "I don't know. I like neither teams. I don't like either. I mean, I like Messi and Yamal, and I hope they have great games. Messi is my GOAT. But unfortunately, they play on teams I hate. So, I hope nobody wins."

Why it matters for Victor Wembanyama

Wembanyama's investment in the tournament runs deeper than picking a winner. "It barely ever gets better than the World Cup," he said. "Very few sports events create emotions, at least to me, as much as the World Cup does." This connection goes back to Wembanyama's childhood, when he played goalkeeper for Entente Le Chesnay Versailles from roughly ages seven to 10.

What comes next?

The admiration goes both ways. "That photo is incredible… the fact that we're both playing in the World Cup now is crazy," Messi said of their unlikely connection. "I wish him luck because his success will be Barcelona's success, (but) we'll try to keep him from playing at his best." So when Argentina and Spain face off in the final, Wembanyama will be watching with a mix of emotions, hoping for a great game from his idols, but not wanting either team to win.

Wembanyama's love for soccer is not just a nostalgic memory; he remains a devoted Paris Saint-Germain supporter and still plays soccer recreationally during the summer. "I love playing football," Wembanyama said. "I play in the summer, but I got to say it's always a frustrating, because you don't score. Basketball you score every other offense, you know what I mean? Football, you will score once or twice that's already a lot. But what makes it good is that when you finally score, when your team finally scores, and you feel that much better."

For a French supporter, however, the two finalists come with some painful recent history. Argentina denied France back-to-back World Cup titles in 2022, prevailing 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 thriller. Messi scored twice before converting in the shootout, while Wembanyama's friend and countryman Kylian Mbappé became only the second player to score a hat trick in a World Cup final. Spain, meanwhile, has become an even more immediate roadblock for France. After eliminating Les Bleus 2-1 in the Euro 2024 semifinals, Spain ended another French title bid with a 2-0 shutout in this World Cup's semifinals. Yamal has been involved in both heartbreaks, scoring a spectacular equalizer against France in 2024 before winning the penalty that opened the scoring in their 2026 semifinal.

The admiration goes both ways, with Messi and Yamal expressing their respect for each other. "That photo is incredible… the fact that we're both playing in the World Cup now is crazy," Messi said. "I wish him luck because his success will be Barcelona's success, (but) we'll try to keep him from playing at his best." So when Argentina and Spain face off in the final, Wembanyama will be watching with a mix of emotions, hoping for a great game from his idols, but not wanting either team to win.

What's next for Victor Wembanyama?

The San Antonio Spurs star will have to wait and see how the final unfolds, but one thing is certain-he will be watching with a mix of emotions, hoping for a great game from his idols, but not wanting either team to win.

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