Alex Ovechkin and his wife Nastya Ovechkina got to experience one of the world’s greatest sporting events earlier this month: the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final.
The final match of the 48-team tournament, hosted in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, took place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and Ovechkin was in attendance after appearing at Fanatics Fest in New York City the day prior.
Argentina, featuring Ovechkin’s favorite soccer player, the legendary Lionel Messi, were looking to repeat as World Cup victors after claiming the 2022 title in Qatar. They were ultimately ousted by the favored Spain, 1-0, after Spanish striker Ferran Torres scored right at the beginning of the second half of extra time.
“The atmosphere was fantastic,” Ovechkin told Match TV’s Pavel Lysenkov, as translated via Google Translate. “I didn’t like the game, though. It was boring. But I got a huge boost of emotion. It was great. It was incredibly hot, though.”
The July 19 match was played in typical New York summer weather, with temperatures reaching 84°F under a blazing sun and 40 percent humidity. The conditions were much different than those inside a typical NHL arena, where spectators sit in a sometimes chilly 58 to 65°F environment.
Ovechkina pointed out the stark difference in a video posted to her Instagram Story.
“I’ve realized one thing: I’m so lucky my husband plays hockey instead of soccer,” Ovechkina said, as translated by Google Translate. “Because the heat here is intense. It’s just unreal, impossible to sit through. I’m gasping for air; I realize that when it’s cold, you can just bundle up.
“But here, I simply don’t know what to do. Sometimes a breeze comes along, and it gets a little better, but most of the time it’s just scorching and impossible to breathe. So, thank you so much, Alexander Mikhailovich, for playing hockey.”
“All for you, my love,” Ovechkin replied, blowing a kiss to the camera.
Ovechkin has had a very soccer-focused summer, weighing in on the World Cup a few times before making his way back to North America to attend the final. He picked Brazil or Spain ahead of the tournament, successfully choosing the winner, although at the expense of Messi and Argentina.
During his appearance at Fanatics Fest, Ovechkin also met soccer legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic and found an Argentina soccer jersey signed by Messi. Ibrahimovic worked as an analyst for Fox Sports throughout the tournament.
“I saw him in the elevator,” Ovechkin said, per a sports.ru transcription and as translated by Google Translate. “Oddly enough, he recognized me. I asked for a photo — he’s a football legend, after all. Such a significant character and a significant figure in the football world in general. And my wife took the photos.”
Ovechkin is now back in his native Russia for a few more weeks before he’ll return stateside for the beginning of Washington Capitals training camp. The legendary winger will turn 41 years old on September 17 and is set to play his 22nd season in the NHL with the Caps.
