Hospitality worker Nahuel Moran apologised for screaming from excitement and nerves after Argentina won 4-2 in the shootout after a dramatic 3-3 draw after extra time.
"It was such a long game . . . We were awake the whole day yesterday," he said as his friends chanted "Viva Argentina" and waved their national flag.
"We are mostly here because Argentina is so difficult for us to grow and keep going," he said.
Mr Moran said after losing to Saudia Arabia, the Argentinian team won the next six games, bringing "happiness and light" to the people in Wānaka.
"I am so happy. Thank you so much Wānaka and thank you so much New Zealand," he said.
Traffic tooted and waved as the Spanish-speaking crowd danced on the Ardmore St lakefront reserve and jumped in the lake.
