The Elmhurst neighborhood in Queens, once known as "Little Argentina," was a hub for the Argentinian diaspora fleeing the "dirty war" of the 1970s. Today, only a handful of Argentinian restaurants and bakeries remain, but during the FIFA World Cup, the block transforms into a sea of white and sky blue.

Christian Gimenez, owner of Rio de la Plata Bakery, says he grew up surrounded by Argentinians and now strives to keep the tradition alive. The massive mural of Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona on his bakery wall serves as a constant reminder of the generational significance of football for the community.

Beatriz Jaime, 74, recalls watching the 1978 final at Madison Square Garden and returning to find the neighborhood "loaded with people" celebrating all night. "The roots are here, and they're in Argentina," she says. "You never forget that. I get goosebumps."

Henry Pachaco, 45, calls the block "the center" for Argentinian fans, offering a stadium atmosphere on game days with a closed street, music, an outdoor TV, and street food. With Argentina in the final and Messi possibly playing his last national team match, he says it's a convergence of worlds.

Gimenez addresses racist incidents by some Argentinian fans, stating, "Whatever your race or ethnic background, we don't look into that. If you're supporting us, we love you."

In Brooklyn's Kensington neighborhood, known as "Little Bangladesh," a rapidly growing Bangladeshi community passionately supports Argentina. Shafiqul Alam, 66, says Bangladeshi love for Argentina dates back to the 1980s when Maradona's team defeated England, a match with political significance for post-colonial nations.

Sajid Bhuyan, 31, estimates that 90% of the local Bangladeshi community backs Argentina. Recalling the dramatic semifinal comeback against England, he says, "I almost died when Argentina scored two goals in minutes. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't talk, I had to calm down for five or six minutes."

Source: www.aljazeera.com