Recently, Alibaba founder Jack Ma made a low-key appearance at the ordinary stands of the New York Metropolitan Life Stadium, watching the 2026 World Cup final between the United States, Canada, and Mexico with Lenovo Group Chairman Yang Yuanqing, sparking discussions across the internet.
On July 20, at the New York Metropolitan Life Stadium, where the 2026 World Cup final took place, numerous heavyweights from the political, technology, and industrial sectors gathered to watch the game.
A netizen captured a photo of Jack Ma dressed casually, attending the World Cup final. Lenovo Group Chairman Yang Yuanqing sat beside Jack Ma, watching the game together and chatting.
A netizen using the username “Happy Little Rabbit” mentioned that after the game, Jack Ma discreetly left the venue, avoiding the crowded main pathways and declining media interviews throughout, purely enjoying the game as a fan.
Weibo user “Some Internet Matters” stated that Jack Ma was spotted at an affordable restaurant in New York just before watching the World Cup final.
Whenever Jack Ma appears in public, he always becomes the center of attention. His presence at the 2026 World Cup final once again sparked discussions.
In recent years, Jack Ma has been recognized for his significant influence on artificial intelligence, Alibaba, and the technology industry. Alibaba has long been a key player in the field of AI in China. This led some netizens to question why Jack Ma did not attend an AI conference.
From July 17 to 20, the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global Artificial Intelligence Governance were held in Shanghai. Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the conference and delivered a speech.
In June, overseas netizens encountered Jack Ma at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology campuses in the US, and shared photos online. Jack Ma was accompanied by two staff members throughout. While walking around the campuses, Jack Ma would greet passersby.
This year, Jack Ma has been frequently seen in mainland China, such as earlier in the year when he was spotted heading to Alibaba’s headquarters in Hangzhou for a program recording.