EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey — After nearly six weeks of drama, heartbreak, and unforgettable moments, the World Cup tournament is down to its final two teams. The New York New Jersey stadium in East Rutherford was gearing up Sunday to host the championship match pitting a composed and confident Spain — chasing their second world title — against a fired-up Argentina, looking to defend their crown in what many hope will be the perfect farewell chapter to Lionel Messi’s legendary career.
Concerns about air quality, which had been a worry due to a heavy blanket of smoke from Canadian wildfires settling over the region for several days, faded along with the haze. Temperatures that had been oppressively hot in recent weeks also eased, and fans arrived to find clear skies and pleasant conditions at the New Jersey venue.
The expected presence of U.S. President Donald Trump added significant security measures to an already high-profile event. Hundreds of journalists, entertainers, and event volunteers endured lines stretching up to three hours, with Secret Service agents using wands to screen everyone entering. Fans experienced somewhat faster entry at the gates but then faced lengthy waits inside for food and merchandise.
Supporters dressed in Argentina’s iconic blue and white or Spain’s red and yellow began making their way into the stadium well ahead of the 3 p.m. ET kickoff. A pre-match closing ceremony featuring Post Malone and Tom Cruise was scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. ET.
The ceremony also included American singer Jennifer Hudson performing the U.S. national anthem and tenor Christopher Macchio singing “America the Beautiful,” giving the event a distinctly American feel. It marks the first time since the inaugural World Cup in 1930 that two Spanish-speaking nations have met in the final.
The tournament has embraced a number of American sporting traditions throughout — some of them not without controversy. These include mid-half “hydration” breaks that broadcasters have used to air additional commercials, as well as championship rings for the winning team.
Sunday’s finale added yet another American tradition: a star-studded halftime show in the style of the Super Bowl, featuring pop icons Madonna and Shakira. That addition is expected to push the standard 15-minute halftime break to at least 20 minutes, and possibly as long as half an hour.
Despite ticket prices running well into the thousands of dollars, fans have been eager to witness the clash between two of soccer’s all-time great programs. Dozens of ticketholders lined up at merchandise stands hoping to grab keepsakes from the historic occasion, with jerseys priced at $130 each. Support inside the stadium appeared to be fairly evenly divided between the two nations. The stadium is normally home to the NFL’s New York Giants and Jets.
“I was in the final in 2010 in South Africa, when Spain won the other World Cup,” said Dxema Azcarate, sporting a Spain jersey and the country’s flag painted on his cheek. “I’m not sure I’m going to have an opportunity for a third time in my life.”
