MetLife Stadium drew a mixed World Cup crowd on June 30. Brazil is next there on July 5, and the venue is also set for the World Cup Final on July 19.
Mazen Abdulla of Parsippany showed up in a red No. 10 Egypt jersey for Mohamed Salah and said, "I'm super happy France won. I think they're going to go far, but not as far as Egypt," after France's knockout-round match with Sweden. He added, "If I wasn't rooting for Egypt, I'd be rooting for Mexico."
That mix carried through the stadium. Diego Rosas, a recent Newark East Side graduate, wore his white Mexico jersey and described the scene as "It's like one big family, one big community," while saying, "It's very inspiring to up-and-coming soccer players who have big dreams."
Moses Singleton put the crowd in sharper terms with his line, "France is the African European team." The roster blend behind that view matched what was in the stands, where France, Egypt, Mexico, Morocco, Germany, Jamaica, and Colombia all showed up in jersey form.
MetLife Stadium crowd mix
Jerome Campbell repped Germany, and Ryan Lynch wore Jamaica colors while saying, "On a regular day, the United States. On Thursday, CR7. And on Sunday, Vicinius," a reminder that the same seats can swing from one national pull to another. Rich Kijak of Point Pleasant said the crowd felt close to New York Giants games he has attended, and Matthew Flaherty of Nutley said the two of them took the shuttle bus from the Clifton park-and-ride, a ride he estimated at 16 minutes.
The venue's calendar gives that crowd pattern a real edge. France's knockout-round match with Sweden on June 30 was one stop in a run that includes another knockout-round match on July 5 and the final on July 19, which is why the same building is drawing fans with more than one national allegiance at once. The winner of France vs. Sweden will face Paraguay in the Round of 16 on July 4 in Philadelphia, after Paraguay knocked Germany out of the World Cup in a penalty shootout on June 29.
Brazil and Norway next
Brazil vs. Norway is the next knockout-round match at MetLife Stadium on July 5, and that pairing should bring another split crowd into the building. For fans who treat one trip as a multi-country watch party, the question now is simple: how many different national fan bases will be represented when the next whistle goes at MetLife Stadium for the World Cup?
