Thousands of Argentina fans flocked to the tourist hubs of central Manhattan ahead of the 2026 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Times Square and Penn Station transformed into a sea of blue and white jerseys most bearing the name of 39-year-old Lionel Messi who is likely playing his final World Cup match.
"I'm very nervous because I love Argentina. It's the final. It's probably the last of Messi," said 30-year-old Argentine dentist Florencia Luzinin.
Meanwhile, Spanish fans gathered near Madison Square Garden, confident in their team's chances. Alessandra Pichler a 27-year-old Spain supporter, predicted a 3-1 victory for her team and praised the U.S. for its role as co-host.
Declining Local Interest and Soaring Costs Despite the excitement among international fans, local enthusiasm dipped after Belgium eliminated the United States on July 6. High ticket prices have also alienated many everyday fans. According to TickPick, the average ticket price for the final is $11,327, making it the most expensive in U.S. sporting history.
"A lot of my friends have felt disconnected the entire tournament due to the tickets being unaffordable," said 42-year-old fan Howie Ray. He noted that the elimination of countries with large local immigrant populations combined with New Yorkers leaving the city for summer weekends slightly diminished local excitement.
Additionally the city faced recent distractions, including a Legionnaire's disease outbreak severe storms and smoke from Canadian wildfires. Fortunately, air quality returned to normal ahead of kick-off.
Creative Watch Parties and Local Impact For those unable to afford stadium tickets New York hosted unique watch parties. Global Citizen staged an all-star show in Central Park while the American Museum of Natural History allowed fans to watch the game alongside dinosaur exhibits. The tournament's presence has also boosted interest in local soccer.
The women's team Gotham FC recently recorded the highest attendance for a women's sporting event in New York history. Mayor Zohran Mamdani who watched a previous tournament match with Rikers Island inmates, emphasized the city's connection to the sport.
"We said from the beginning that the World Cup belongs to New Yorkers. This summer we proved it," Mamdani said.
