Spanish, Argentinian Fans Flood NYC Ahead of World Cup Final as 39-Year-Old Messi Fuels Hopes
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 19
Spanish, Argentinian Fans Flood NYC Ahead of World Cup Final as 39-Year-Old Messi Fuels Hopes
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 19
Summary
Midtown Manhattan filled before dawn Sunday with Spain and Argentina supporters chanting, drumming and heading to watch parties ahead of the World Cup final at New York New Jersey Stadium.
Fans said the match had drawn them from across North America, with some making first trips to New York and Argentina backers pointing to Lionel Messi’s standout tournament at age 39.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani used the tournament to push an accessibility message, offering reduced-price tickets, low-cost meal deals and public screenings across all five boroughs.
That inclusivity also sharpened contrast with President Donald Trump’s immigration restrictions, which complicated travel for some supporters, denied entry to Somali referee Omar Artan and limited Iran’s team stays in the US.
The final caps a World Cup spread across 3 countries and turns New York into both a fan hub and a political stage, with Mamdani and Trump both set to attend.