Despite the temperature soaring to 95 degrees Fahrenheit on June 11, hundreds of soccer fans still flocked to the Intrepid Museum in Manhattan to watch the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup between Mexico and South Africa, marking the beginning of a 39-day World Cup viewing season in New York City.
The Intrepid Museum launched a free World Cup viewing event on that day, setting up a large outdoor screen at Pier 86 and allowing the public to enter for free. According to museum officials, the maximum standing capacity at Pier 86’s event space can accommodate up to 3,000 people.
On-site, many fans wearing green Mexico national team jerseys gathered in front of the screen, waving scarves, sporting Mexico-themed accessories, and sitting on the ground with family and friends to watch the game. Despite the scorching sun and sweltering weather, the audience’s enthusiasm was undiminished, with cheers and applause echoing through the atmosphere like a carnival.
Kayla Gray, a 24-year-old from Rockaway Beach in Queens, unexpectedly stumbled upon the World Cup viewing event while visiting the museum with her 3-year-old son for the first time. “I didn’t know there was a World Cup game here today,” Gray said. “But my son was very interested in being here, so we decided to stay and turn today into a picnic.” She mentioned that both she and her friends have Latin backgrounds, which is why they particularly support the Mexico team.
“My son is having a great time right now; this might be one of the happiest days of his life,” Gray said.
Another fan, Oscar, expressed full confidence in the Mexico team, saying, “Mexico will win.”
Oscar believed that open public viewing spaces like this provide fans with rare opportunities to interact. “The space here is large, and it’s an outdoor venue, it feels great. We will come back next time and bring more friends and family to join us,” Oscar said.
In addition to local residents of New York City, the event also attracted visitors from overseas. Peter from Europe mentioned that he and his friends were looking for a place to watch the World Cup game the day before and were pleasantly surprised by the viewing event at the Intrepid Museum.
“This place is really nice and perfect for watching the games,” Peter said.
Peter stated that they specifically traveled to New York to experience the atmosphere of the World Cup and would continue to plan their schedule around the football matches in the coming days.
Despite the high temperatures causing many spectators to sweat profusely, Peter believed that this was also a part of the unforgettable experience.
“It’s really hot here. The temperature in our hometown never exceeds 20 degrees Celsius, so this weather is very unusual for us,” he said. “But we’ve been staying hydrated, trying to keep ourselves cool.”
Observing the situation on-site, Mexican fans stood out as the main force among the crowd of viewers that day, with a few wearing yellow South Africa team jerseys. Many families brought children to participate, showcasing a strong sense of community and family atmosphere.
The Intrepid Museum stated that the free World Cup viewing event would continue until the final day on July 19, broadcasting over 50 matches, providing a public space in New York City for both residents and visitors from around the world to share in the excitement of the football event.