Trump visit causes security delays at World Cup final
The presence of US President Donald Trump at the FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina led to lengthy queues and tighter security, causing delays for fans, media, and staff.
The FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday faced significant logistical disruptions due to the attendance of US President Donald Trump.
Al Jazeera reporters reported waiting two hours in queues to clear the initial security perimeter, with some journalists who arrived earlier experiencing wait times of three hours or more. FIFA had warned media staff via email to arrive as early as six hours before kickoff and announced road closures 150 minutes prior. Security was further tightened with inspections by Secret Service agents.
Trump’s helicopter landed near the stadium as long lines of spectators waited to enter amid enhanced security checks. One reporter was denied entry despite having tournament accreditation.
Malfunctioning ticket scanners added to the frustration for those queuing in the heat. Numerous media personnel were turned away at the security perimeter and directed to the accreditation centre. Fans also faced lengthy waits, with many reporting two-hour queues despite being advised to arrive four hours early, and some also experienced faulty ticket scanners.
Despite the chaos, a healthy portion of the lower stadium bowl appeared to be full roughly 45 minutes before kickoff, including the majority of allocated supporters' sections.
This is not the first major cup final on US soil to face logistical delays. In 2024, the Copa America final in Miami Gardens was delayed by about 75 minutes due to overwhelmed personnel at fan entrances. Additionally, many un-ticketed fans rushed turnstiles and forced entry as law enforcement worked to clear the venue during the match.
