Severe weather hit New York and New Jersey the day before the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium. This caused flooding in multiple areas.
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Videos and photos posted on social media showed the extent of the problem in the states. Images showed cars stuck in the flowing water. One video showed a fire truck driving through the deep water so that fire fighters could rescue stranded citizens.
In Queens, a firetruck had to drive through water deep enough to float an SUV so firefighters could rescue drivers stranded on the hood of a truck. More: https://t.co/Ldm4RLDfiA pic.twitter.com/fbh2CPr5tv
— Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) July 18, 2026
The heavy storms traveled through the Tri-State area on Saturday and quickly overwhelmed the drainage systems.
Streets in Queens, New York, became rivers while sections of the New Jersey Turnpike flooded to the point that drivers had to climb on top of their vehicles. The issues also extended to lower Manhattan and Brooklyn.
The flash flood warning remained in place through 11:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. Though residents began posting on social media about improving weather conditions. This created some optimism that the World Cup Final would take place without any delays.
FLOOD RESCUE 🚘: Heavy rain inundated parts of the New Jersey Turnpike on Saturday, triggering a water rescue after a resident became trapped inside a vehicle amid rapidly rising floodwaters. Photos show the resident exiting out of the window with water just below the headlights. pic.twitter.com/5k1QAB8aVT
— FOX Weather (@foxweather) July 19, 2026
The final match of the 2026 World Cup will take place on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. Spain and Argentina will face off with the biggest prize on the line, and they will do so in the stadium that hosts the New York Giants and New York Jets.
The four-hour pregame show will begin at 11 a.m. ET on Fox. This show will feature a packed lineup of analysts that includes Alexi Lalas, Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimovi?, Carli Lloyd, Landon Donovan, Peter Schmeichel, and Stu Holden alongside hosts Rebecca Lowe, Rob Stone and Jules Breach.
The World Cup Final will air on Fox at 3 p.m. ET. John Strong will lead play-by-play while Holden will join as a match analyst. Jenny Taft, Tom Rinaldi, Natalie Gedra, and Geoff Shreeves will serve as reporters in the New Jersey stadium while Katie Shanahan will work as a reporter across New York City.
Mark Clattenburg will serve as the dedicated rules analyst for Fox Sports during the championship match.
