Thousands of soccer fans hoping to watch Argentina and Spain battle for the World Cup title encountered chaos before they could even get inside the New Jersey stadium Sunday.
Long lines stretched around MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford for hours as ticket-scanning problems and heightened security tied to President Donald Trump’s visit slowed fans, journalists and stadium employees attempting to enter, according to reports.
FIFA had urged ticket holders to arrive as much as four hours before the 3 p.m. match. But even those who arrived early reported long waits and confusion as crowds were redirected between entrances, according to multiple reports from the stadium.
Some fans said FIFA’s digital ticketing system was not scanning their passes, creating another bottleneck after they reached the front of the lines, GB News reported.
Security workers were also reporting glitches with FIFA’s system as long lines began forming four hours before kickoff, according to Yahoo Sports.
“People being misdirected around the stadium with a lack of stewarding and staffing,” Rob Harris, a correspondent for British broadcaster Sky News, wrote on social media.
Trump’s attendance brought another layer of security to the 80,000-seat stadium. Fans underwent additional screenings, while journalists carrying cameras and other equipment faced inspections by Secret Service agents, according to reports.
Some journalists said they waited about two hours to pass through the first security checkpoint, while others reported waits of three hours or longer. Some media workers were turned away despite having tournament credentials and directed to an accreditation center, according to Al Jazeera, a Qatar-based news organization.
Trump, the first sitting U.S. president to attend a men’s World Cup final, is expected to join FIFA President Gianni Infantino in presenting the trophy to the winner Sunday.
Despite the problems outside, much of the stadium’s lower bowl appeared full when the players took the field about 45 minutes before kickoff.
The match began at about 3:06 p.m., six minutes later than scheduled, after a series of pregame performances and ceremonies, according to Yahoo Sports.
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