Heavy rainfall and flash flooding inundated New York City and its surrounding areas, causing significant travel disruptions just hours before the World Cup final is scheduled to take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The downpour led to submerged vehicles, stranded drivers, and widespread flight delays and cancellations.
The deluge, with rainfall between two and four inches, overwhelmed drainage systems, turning streets into rivers and prompting a tornado warning. The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway became impassable, with some drivers seeking refuge on the roofs of their submerged cars. Emergency services, including the FDNY, were engaged in rescue operations.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued ground stops for LaGuardia, JFK, and Newark airports, exacerbating travel woes for the approximately 80,000 fans expected to attend the match between Spain and Argentina. Many attendees faced significant delays or cancellations, potentially jeopardizing their arrival for the 3 p.m. ET kickoff.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged residents to exercise caution, advising against travel through floodwaters and recommending public transit. A flood watch remained in effect for parts of New Jersey and New York City until early Sunday morning. Despite the severe weather on Saturday, there were hopes that the final would proceed on schedule.
In a potential silver lining, the heavy rains were expected to help clear Canadian wildfire smoke that had previously affected air quality in the region. An air-quality health advisory had been in effect until midnight Saturday due to fine-particle pollution, but meteorologists anticipated an improvement to moderate levels before the game.
The inclement weather also led to the cancellation of the New York Yankees' baseball game against the Dodgers on Saturday, with a rescheduled game planned for Sunday afternoon. Preparations for the final were not entirely unaffected, as Argentina's training session was delayed by 45 minutes and Spain's flight experienced delays.