Noisy Argentine fans brought the World Cup excitement back to New York ahead of their big match against Spain on Sunday. This renewed interest came after the excitement dipped when the US team was eliminated.
“I’m very nervous because I love Argentina. It’s the final. It’s probably the last of Messi. So maybe it’s our day. I don’t know. We came across a few Spaniards but I don’t look at them,” said Florencia Luzinin, a 30-year-old dentist from Argentina.
She was among thousands of Argentina supporters filling busy spots in Manhattan before the final match across the Hudson River in New Jersey.
Interest in the tournament had dropped after the US co-hosts lost to Belgium on July 6. Tickets for the final have become the most expensive in US sports history.
“I think that a reaction for people to lose interest in the World Cup when their country is eliminated is the same as any sporting event,” said Chip Parham, a film festival organizer, as he got ready to watch the game.
“In any city, there is a decline in interest for any sporting event that doesn’t have a local team. With the exception of the Super Bowl.”
A deadly Legionnaire’s disease outbreak, heavy storms, flooding, and smoke from Canadian wildfires have also distracted many New Yorkers in the days leading up to the final. Air quality returned to normal at MetLife stadium before kick-off.
But Argentine fans were out in large numbers as they headed to the 82,500-capacity MetLife stadium. Many gathered in Times Square, the city’s informal hub for the tournament, and began to bring back the World Cup energy.
Penn Station was filled with people wearing Argentine jerseys, most with Lionel Messi’s name on them. Two dogs were even dressed in the famous blue and white colors. Meanwhile, Spain fans gathered around Madison Square Garden, with one fan holding a replica trophy.
Alessandra Pichler, a 27-year-old Spain supporter, was confident about the match. “I expect a 3-1 victory for Spain,” she said. “I think the US has done a great job hosting all the games I’ve been to. I’ve been very impressed.”
Excitement for the World Cup in New York has gone down as countries with large communities in the city, like Mexico and Egypt, have been eliminated.
“It’s been slightly overshadowed. I think there was fatigue after all the games of the group stage and then the US getting eliminated. Spain and Argentina have small immigrant populations in the city,” said Howie Ray, a 42-year-old England supporter after the US was out.
“Also, many regular folks leave for the weekend during the summer.”
Fans have also been turned off by the sky-high prices for the final, the highest ever. The average ticket price is $11,327, according to TickPick.
“A lot of my friends have felt disconnected the entire tournament due to the tickets being unaffordable,” Ray added.
For fans in New York who cannot get or afford a ticket to the final, there are many unique watch parties. Global Citizen will hold an all-star show in Central Park during the match. The American Museum of Natural History will also let fans watch Messi, 39, while checking out dinosaur exhibits.
Despite some lukewarm reactions in parts of the city away from Midtown Manhattan, a World Cup impact has been seen at other matches. Gotham FC, the women’s soccer team, had the highest turnout for a women’s sporting event in New York history this week, according to city comptroller Mark Levine.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani made headlines when he watched England lose to Argentina with inmates at Rikers Island jail. “We said from the beginning that the World Cup belongs to New Yorkers. This summer, we proved it,” Mamdani said ahead of the final.
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