Fireworks Were NOT Blue After FIFA World Cup Final — Real Footage With Altered Colors
The FIFA World Cup final fireworks display at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, did not feature blue smoke, as some social media posts have suggested. According to a fact-check by Lead Stories, the original footage shows white smoke, not blue.
A video clip, allegedly showing the fireworks display, has been circulating online. The clip appears to have been filmed from a live broadcast or a recording of a live broadcast from the subscription streaming platform Fox One. However, the colors shown in this re-recorded footage do not accurately depict the colors of the original footage.
The clip in question was published by the X account @_Zaraquin on July 20, 2026. It was captioned, "If FIFA world cup final was not rigged, why were the fireworks colors of Argentina? Their plans were ruined by Spain." The altered footage shows blue smoke, which some viewers have taken as evidence that the game was rigged in favor of Spain.
However, a copy of the same aerial footage, broadcast by Deutsche Telekom's TV platform MagentaTV, shows white smoke. This footage remains available for download and features the same fireworks display over the MetLife Stadium. The Google translation of the German caption with the video says, "Fireworks over MetLife Stadium following the trophy presentation at the 2026 World Cup final."
Lead Stories compared the colors shown in the two clips, taking screenshots to ensure the moment pictured was synced. The screenshots show that the smoke of the fireworks at this time, and throughout the MagentaTV clip, was white. The traffic moving on the roads outside of the stadium, the image on the jumbotron screen, and the specific zig-zag of several smoke trails crossing the Spanish flag all confirm that the moment pictured in the screenshots was the same.
The altered footage appears to be an attempt to manipulate public opinion by suggesting that the game was rigged in favor of Spain. However, the original footage, which shows white smoke, puts this claim to rest. The incident highlights the importance of verifying information before sharing it online, especially when it comes to sensitive or high-stakes topics like sports.
The fact-check by Lead Stories has shed light on the true nature of the footage, and it remains to be seen how this will affect the online discourse surrounding the FIFA World Cup final.
Source: Yahoo Sports