Reporting by Al Jazeera Staff and Reuters.

The presence of a sitting US president at a major international sporting event often necessitates heightened security measures, impacting attendees and operations.

Published On 19 Jul 202619 Jul 2026

Fans, media workers and employees faced lengthy queues to get in to the FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, which is expected to be attended by United States President Donald Trump.

FIFA emailed media staff up to 48 hours before the Sunday finale at New York New Jersey Stadium, advising them to arrive as early as six hours before kickoff and alerting them to road closures starting 150 minutes prior.

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Among the media and stadium employees, the result appeared to be an early crunch to clear tight security that included inspections by Secret Service agents.

Al Jazeera reporters waited two hours from queue entry to clearing the initial security perimeter. Other journalists who arrived earlier experienced waits of three hours or more.

Trump’s helicopter landed next to the stadium as long lines of spectators waited to enter through enhanced security checks because of him.

One reporter was denied entry into the venue despite having tournament accreditation.

Malfunctioning ticket scanners added to everyone’s frustration as they queued in the heat.

Numerous other media personnel were denied entry at the security perimeter of the 80,000-capacity venue and sent to the stadium’s accreditation centre.

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Final - Spain v Argentina - New York/New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S. - July 19, 2026 Members of the media and staff queue outside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
Media workers and staff queue outside the stadium before the match. [Jeenah Moon/Reuters]

The same scenario was true for many fans, according to online reports. Despite warnings advising ticket-holders to show up four hours early, there were numerous reported waits of two hours or more in fan queues, with some also reporting malfunctioning ticket scanners.

However, when players from Spain and Argentina first took the field roughly 45 minutes before kickoff, a healthy portion of the lower stadium bowl appeared to be full, including the overwhelming majority of allocated supporters’ sections.

It is not the first major cup final on US soil to have logistical delays for fans.

In 2024, the kickoff of the Copa America final in Miami Gardens, Florida, was delayed by about 75 minutes due to overwhelmed personnel at fan entrances.

Significant numbers of un-ticketed fans then rushed turnstiles and forced entry before law enforcement gradually worked to clear those without paid admission as the match progressed.

The logistical challenges highlight the complexities of hosting high-profile events with VIP security demands. For media and fans, the experience underscores the need for advance planning and contingency measures. The incident may prompt discussions about balancing security with accessibility at future major tournaments.