New York crowds fill streets before Spain-Argentina World Cup final
Fans from Spain and Argentina gathered across New York before the World Cup final, with city officials promoting public access to the event.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
3 min read
Spanish and Argentinian fans filled parts of New York City on Sunday ahead of the FIFA World Cup final, turning Midtown Manhattan and other areas into gathering points before kickoff. Al Jazeera reported that supporters arrived from the early morning, bringing drums, songs and hopes of a long night of celebration.
The final between Spain and Argentina was set for New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, near New York. Al Jazeera reported that both US President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani were expected to attend.
In Times Square, Argentinian supporters gathered ahead of the match, according to images credited to EPA and Getty Images. Fans also moved through the city wearing team colors and showing support for Argentina captain Lionel Messi, Al Jazeera reported.
Fans travel in for the final
Nicolas Oliver, a 21-year-old Spanish citizen living in Quebec, told Al Jazeera he felt optimistic before the match. He said Spain’s 2010 World Cup win remained a clear memory from childhood and said he wanted to feel that same unity again.
“I’m very far away from home,” Oliver told Al Jazeera. “And being here with a lot of Spanish people, it feels like home again.”
Mohamed Zidan, a 17-year-old Argentina supporter originally from Hama, Syria, and now living in Springfield, Massachusetts, told Al Jazeera he had arrived in New York only hours earlier. He said it was his first time in the city and that he planned to go to Times Square to celebrate with other fans.
Paola Belmonta, 23, from southern Spain, also told Al Jazeera she was visiting New York for the first time while spending the summer in Virginia. She described the city as both enjoyable and stressful, and said she expected Spain to win behind midfielder Pedro.
Alex Roma, a 50-year-old Argentina fan originally from Argentina who has lived in Washington, DC, for two decades, told Al Jazeera he expected a difficult match. He said Spain and Argentina were both demanding opponents, and praised Argentina’s late-match resilience.
Roma also told Al Jazeera he had not expected Messi, 39, to perform at such a high level in the tournament. He said he initially thought Messi might play a reduced role, but described him as the best player at the World Cup.
City Hall promotes public access
Al Jazeera reported that the tournament gave Mamdani, described by the outlet as New York’s democratic socialist mayor and the city’s first Muslim mayor, a chance to promote his message to an international audience. The city was also coming off a New York Knicks NBA championship, according to Al Jazeera.
Mamdani said New York’s World Cup plans were built around access for residents. Al Jazeera reported that those measures included reduced-price tickets, agreements with local restaurants for lower-cost meals and public viewing events across all five boroughs.
“We said from the beginning that the World Cup belongs to New Yorkers,” Mamdani said, according to Al Jazeera. He also said residents did not need to spend thousands of dollars to take part in the tournament in what he called “the most international city on earth.”
Al Jazeera reported that Mamdani appeared at watch parties around the city, including one at Rikers Island during the Argentina-England semifinal. The outlet said the city’s emphasis on inclusion came as Trump’s immigration policies made travel difficult or impossible for citizens of some countries.
Al Jazeera reported that Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States, and that restrictions affecting Iran’s national team forced its base camp to move to Mexico while allowing only short US stays for matches. Trump was in New York on Friday with FIFA President Gianni Infantino at Trump Tower, according to Al Jazeera.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.