Héctor Villar, host of the sports program 'La Jugada Perfecta' from Cuban state television, appeared this Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, during the FIFA World Cup 2026 final between Spain and Argentina.
Just five weeks after being denied entry by U.S. immigration authorities while attempting to enter the country to cover the same tournament, Villar was spotted in the stands of the stadium hosting the match between La Roja and the albiceleste.
Villar posted two videos on his Instagram account from the stadium, where he is seen enjoying the atmosphere of the final. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to New York, at the grand final. Here we are, who will win?" he said in one of the clips.
In another, he predicted the outcome wearing the shirt of the Spanish national team. "Here we are. The cup is ours. The final is spoken in Spanish. Who wins? The image says it all. I believe that's going to happen: Spain champion," Villar said in his video recorded in the United States.
The prediction turned out to be accurate: Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time, with a goal from Ferran Torres in the 106th minute, before an audience of 80,663 spectators.
On June 13th, U.S. immigration authorities
The rejection occurred in the context of the tightening of the Trump administration's immigration policy toward Cuba. A presidential proclamation signed on June 4, 2025, restricts the entry of Cuban citizens with B-1, B-2, F, M, and J visas, citing Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism.
Additionally, the U.S. Embassy in Havana is applying Section 212(a)(3)(D) of the Immigration Act more strictly, which excludes individuals affiliated with the Communist Party, a provision that directly impacts employees of Cuban state institutions.
That Villar ended up in the most important match of the tournament —with tickets whose average resale price around $11,117 according to the platform TickPick, and where the cheapest ticket cost about $6,861— raises unanswered questions about how he managed to enter the country after being denied entry weeks earlier.
The FIFA has increased the price of the best seats threefold to $32,970, compared to the initial price of $6,730.
Villar's profile aligns with that of a pro-government journalist with access to unusual privileges for the average Cuban. In October 2024, he stirred controversy by promoting the purchase of a Mercedes-Benz in Cuba through leasing, and in May 2025, he repeated the action from Madrid, both situations criticized for contrasting with the economic crisis the island is experiencing.
The MetLife Stadium, with a capacity of 82,500 people, was selected by FIFA in February 2024 as the venue for the 2026 World Cup final, surpassing Dallas and Los Angeles. The event was also attended by President Donald Trump, who arrived on Marine One 90 minutes before the start of the match.
While Villar enjoyed the final in New Jersey, millions of Cubans on the island faced difficulties watching the tournament on television amid the chronic blackouts plaguing the country.
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