Wemby's funny World Cup final take before Spain-Argentina
At Fanatics Fest in New York on Saturday, San Antonio Spurs star Wemby was asked who would win the FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina. His deadpan reply—"I hope neither"—captured lingering French frustration after Spain knocked France out of the tournament, and it quickly sparked a viral buzz clip ahead of Sunday's kickoff.
Key Takeaways
- Wemby answered "I hope neither" when asked to pick Spain or Argentina for the World Cup final.
- Spain beat France 2-0 in the semifinal; France then fell 6-4 to England in the third-place playoff.
- Argentina and Spain meet Sunday at 3 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
- Wemby rejoins France's national basketball team for August 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifying after two years away.
What did Wemby say about the World Cup final?
Speaking at Fanatics Fest, Victor Wembanyama was pressed on whether Spain or Argentina would lift the trophy. According to Bleacher Report, the 22-year-old replied: "I hope neither."
The jab lands after Spain ended France's run with a 2-0 semifinal defeat. Les Bleus then closed the tournament Saturday with a 6-4 third-place loss to England. With Kylian Mbappé out of title contention, the Spurs center's dry humor became an easy viral share among fans still stinging from elimination.
Why does Wemby's timing matter right now?
The clip dropped hours before Argentina and Spain kick off at MetLife Stadium. It also arrived the same weekend the French Basketball Federation confirmed Wembanyama's return to the national team for 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifying—his first Les Bleus duty since the 2024 Paris Olympics.
France 24 reported he is named for the first two main qualifying matches at the end of August against Slovenia and Sweden, plus two warm-up friendlies against Serbia a week earlier. Coach Frederic Fauthoux called the return "extremely important," adding that Victor is "the undisputed leader of this generation."
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When will Wemby play for France again?
Bleacher Report notes the San Antonio star joins a roster that also features Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert and former NBA guard Evan Fournier. France leads Group L at 5-1 in its bid to reach the 2027 World Cup in Doha, Qatar.
Wembanyama had withdrawn from Euro 2025 while recovering from venous thrombosis in his right shoulder that cut short his 2024-25 NBA season. He last suited up for France in the Olympic gold-medal game, scoring 26 points and seven rebounds in a 98-87 loss to the United States.
Fresh off an NBA Finals run with the Spurs—who fell to the New York Knicks—Wemby averaged 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and a league-best 3.1 blocks, earning unanimous Defensive Player of the Year honors. His "I hope neither" line may be a joke, but his August return is serious business for French basketball.