NYC swells with Spanish, Argentinian fans anticipating World Cup glory

What the report says

Al Jazeera reported that New York City drew large crowds of Argentina and Spain supporters on Sunday morning ahead of the FIFA World Cup final at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Fans gathered in Midtown Manhattan and elsewhere across the city, with Times Square becoming a focal point for Argentina supporters before the match. The report, published July 19, 2026, described visiting fans and residents expressing excitement, anxiety and national pride as they prepared to watch the final.

The article highlighted several supporters, including Nicolas Oliver, a Spanish citizen living in Quebec, who said being among Spanish fans in New York made him feel closer to home. Mohamed Zidan, a 17-year-old Argentina fan originally from Syria and living in Massachusetts, made his first trip to New York for the event. Other fans interviewed by Al Jazeera pointed to Spain’s hopes and Argentina’s reliance on Lionel Messi, who was described in the report as playing at a high level at age 39.

Al Jazeera also framed the final as a political and civic moment for New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The report said Mamdani used the tournament to promote an accessibility-focused message, including reduced-price ticket access, low-cost restaurant deals and public watch parties across all five boroughs. He was reported to have visited watch parties around the city, including one at Rikers Island during an earlier semifinal.

The article placed New York’s World Cup celebrations against a wider national backdrop, noting tensions around US President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and travel restrictions affecting some participants. Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino appeared together in Manhattan on Friday, and both Trump and Mamdani were expected to attend the final.