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Supporters faced lengthy delays entering New York New Jersey Stadium ahead of Sunday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, with heightened security measures in place due to the attendance of United States President Donald Trump.
The 82,500-capacity stadium is hosting the tournament’s showpiece event, which kicks off at 3:00pm local time (8:00PM WAT).
According to BBC Sport, fans have been waiting for up to two hours to gain entry as security procedures were intensified for the president’s visit. Trump is attending his only World Cup match of the tournament.
Tightened security ahead of World Cup final kick-off
Security operations at the stadium are being overseen by the United States Secret Service, working alongside the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which typically handles airport security across the country.
Supporters and accredited media have been required to pass through airport-style security screening before entering the venue.
One member of the media said they were redirected to another entrance after arriving at a gate where no security dogs were available to conduct bag searches.
Early arrivals add to congestion
Reports also revealed that larger-than-usual crowds arriving well before kick-off also contributed to the delays.
Volunteers at the stadium reportedly said significantly more supporters turned up early compared to the previous seven World Cup matches staged at the venue.
The stadium opened its gates at 11:00am local time, four hours before kick-off, with organisers opening additional entrances throughout the day in an effort to reduce congestion.
Despite the lengthy queues, there were no indications that the match would be delayed, and organisers were not expecting any disruption to the scheduled kick-off between Spain and defending champions Argentina.