Trump attendance tightens security at World Cup final

Supporters attending the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium faced long queues on Sunday as heightened security measures were implemented, partly due to the presence of United States President Donald Trump. The match, held at the 82,500-seater venue, kicked off at 15:00 local time (20:00 BST).

Security measures intensified

President Trump attended the final as his only live World Cup match, prompting the United States Secret Service to take over security operations for the game. This led to significant delays for fans entering the ground, with BBC Sport understanding that people were queuing for approximately two hours. Despite the long waits, most fans reportedly had no issues scanning tickets and accessing the stadium once they reached the gates.

Two levels of security were in place at the stadium, run jointly by the Secret Service and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The TSA, typically responsible for airport security in the United States, deployed airport-style scanners that fans and media had to pass through. One media representative reported being directed to a different queue at an entrance because no security dogs were available to search bags at that gate.

Early arrivals and congestion

World Cup volunteers at the ground told BBC Sport that the number of people arriving early before the game was significantly higher than for the previous seven matches held at the stadium. Gates opened at 11:00 local time, four hours before kick-off, and additional gates were opened sporadically to ease congestion. Officials do not anticipate any delay to kick-off or other disruption to the match.