Trump Visit, Faulty Scanners Delay 80,000-Seat World Cup Final Entry
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 19
Trump Visit, Faulty Scanners Delay 80,000-Seat World Cup Final Entry
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 19
Summary
Hours-long queues snarled entry to the Spain-Argentina World Cup final at New York New Jersey Stadium, with fans, media and staff delayed and some turned away despite accreditation or tickets.
Enhanced security for Donald Trump’s expected attendance drove the bottleneck, with Secret Service checks, road closures and airport-style screening layered onto malfunctioning ticket scanners.
Two- to three-hour waits hit journalists and many supporters even after FIFA urged arrivals four to six hours early; Trump’s helicopter landed as lines still stretched outside in the heat.
Roughly 45 minutes before kickoff, much of the lower bowl and most supporters’ sections appeared filled despite the disruptions.
The entry problems echoed the 2024 Copa America final in Miami Gardens, where overwhelmed gates delayed kickoff by about 75 minutes after unticketed fans forced entry.