New York and New Jersey Gear Up for World Cup Final as Trump Joins Celebrations

As the FIFA World Cup final approaches, the atmosphere sharply contrasts between Washington, D.C., and the New York-New Jersey area, just over four hours apart by car. While the U.S. capital shows limited signs of the tournament's climax, New Jersey and New York are fully immersed in the event, with Spanish widely spoken and festive preparations underway.

Electronic signs along highways warn drivers to plan for heavy traffic on Sunday, the day of the final, which kicks off at 3 p.m. local time. Authorities expect congestion to begin as early as 11 a.m. FIFA also broke tradition by holding the pre-final press conference not at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey but at the Fanatics fan festival in Manhattan’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, named after the late Jewish senator known for his support of Israel.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams issued a special statement celebrating the tournament’s impact, saying the World Cup "belonged to New Yorkers." He highlighted the city’s efforts to make the event accessible through subsidized tickets, free viewing areas across all five boroughs, and infrastructure investments benefiting the city beyond the tournament. Over one million visitors came to the New York-New Jersey area during the World Cup, boosting small businesses, public transportation, and public spaces.

Former President Donald Trump is also joining the pre-final festivities. At the time of reporting, he was en route from Washington to New York aboard the new Air Force One, gifted by Qatar, the previous World Cup host. Trump will attend an official FIFA reception at the Trump Tower and spend the weekend at his golf residence in Bedminster, New Jersey.