New York City is often referred to as a melting pot. In a city with hundreds of cultural groups and more than 200 languages spoken, it's impossible not to consider the city as such.
What better place, then, to watch the beautiful game on the world's biggest stage than in New York City?
From Colombian fans lighting up the streets of Jackson Heights to Senegalese fans celebrating with vuvuzelas in Harlem, diaspora communities across the five boroughs came out in droves to support their national teams play in the 2026 World Cup. Despite the increasing fear caused by unpredictable immigration policy in the United States, fans draped themselves in flags and jerseys to dutifully watch their country play for 90 minutes (sometimes more).
Travel bans and visa restrictions left many fans from several countries unable to come to the United States, much less watch their country play a World Cup match. With the lingering threat of ICE at World Cup stadiums hanging over US-based fans, watch parties in neighborhoods like Little Egypt and Little Accra became somewhat of a haven to enjoy the games.
I traveled around the city throughout the World Cup to witness how the world's game brought communities together in a time of uncertainty. Here's how a few of those communities celebrated.
Senegal in Harlem
Senegalese fans eager to celebrate their country's first match of the 2026 World Cup match were met with setbacks compared to other diaspora groups.
Dozens of cops blocked off West 116th Street in anticipation of "disorderly groups" converging if Senegal were to win their match against France, the Deputy Commissioner of Public Information's office told me. According to the office, it was a necessary precaution to ensure a repeat of what followed Senegal's AFCON win did not occur.
Fans were understandably upset when they arrived in Little Senegal decked out to the nines in supporters' gear only to get told they would not be allowed inside the barricade. Some managed to sneak in, other were let in, but the overwhelming hostility of the situation for the fans themselves would have been enough to put a damper on the match at hand. Not the Senegalese.
Megha Gupta
Despite being told multiple times to mind the barrier as police continued to press fans onto the sidewalk, several Senegalese fans took to the street just outside the Senegalese Association of America to let out their excitement at holding France to a draw in the first 45 minutes. Restrictions did not hinder them from celebrating with each other when Senegal scored five minutes into stoppage time nor did it prevent them from sharing hugs with their friends when Mbappe scored 60 seconds later.
"Next time, next time," one man told a young boy in French as they watched the match from his phone. "Two to go."
Vuvuzelas were still blown and flags still proudly worn despite the loss.
Brazil in Long Island City and East Harlem
Brazil, the most successful nation at the men's World Cup with a rich footballing history built by legends such as Pelé, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Neymar Jr., is known for its vibrant soccer celebrations.
It came as no surprise to see the flood of canary yellow jerseys outside of Beija Flor in Long Island City, although a few Haitian jerseys were among the crowd, as well. Yellow-and-green streamers hung from the ceiling as fans packed the Brazilian restaurant with dozens of others attempting to watch outdoors on the outside screens alongside several Haitian fans.
"New York City is something else," Lucia Cruz, owner of Beija Flor, said. "It's an amazing city. I think the diversity from all these people, from all over the world together makes New York what it is."
Cruz, who came to New York City 40 years ago from Ceará, Brazil, opened Beija Flor in 2013 after finding inspiration from her father, who opened a restaurant in Brazil to be able to send his children to school. For Cruz, her restaurant was the perfect place to share the Brazilian love for soccer with the rest of New York City throughout the World Cup.
Brazilian fans watch their nation face Haiti outside Beija Flor.
"In Beja Flor, I feel like I'm in a place where I can give a little bit of Brazil to the community," Cruz said. "I think it's where they feel like they are in Brazil. It's the right place for them to come, and it's the right place for anybody else, Americans or any people from the world, to learn about more with the Brazilian culture."
Two weeks later, a similar scene emerged at Bar Goyana in East Harlem. The Brazilian cocktail bar known for its bright yellow outdoor seating and refreshing caipirinhas welcomed Brazilian fans on East 100th Street as Brazil took on Norway for spot in the quarterfinals.
Fans wore everything from vintage Ronaldo jerseys from the 2002 World Cup to Real Madrid jerseys embroidered with Endrick and Vinicius Jr.'s names as they enjoyed coxinhas and pão de queijos. Brazil eventually lost to Norway, and while the scenes were more somber in East Harlem, the entire street comforted each other with hopes for another chance in four years.
Egypt (and Morocco) in Astoria
Astoria is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in Queens.
You're bound to know when an Arabic country has won a World Cup or AFCON match just from the cheers erupting on Steinway Street on match day. Although perhaps none louder than those that greet Egypt.
Steinway Street, known as Little Egypt due to the large number of Egyptians living in the area, held its breath as Australia and Egypt stepped up to take penalty kicks at the end of their Round of 32 match. Several fans watching inside Chocolate House had covered their eyes with their hands, unable to watch, while others anxiously sat forward, legs bouncing up and down in anticipation.
The moment Hossam Abdelmaguid nailed the final penalty that sent Egypt into the Round of 16, an uproar echoed down Steinway as fans emerged from nearly every store and restaurant on the street to celebrate the country's historic win.
Fireworks were immediately released into the sky as colored smoke bombs and confetti poppers erupted nearby. Several fans climbed atop a truck waving Egyptian flag proudly in the air while a much larger flag was unfurled amongst a dozen fans just beneath them.
Despite the sweltering heat, the crowd continued the thicken as horns and whistles joined the elated cries on hundreds of people celebrating their country's first World Cup knockout win. Everywhere you turned you would be met with someone draped in red, cheeks marked in red, white, and black paint. One fan even wore a pharaoh hat as he proudly waived the Egyptian flag for nearly 45 minutes.
"It's like family here," a manager of Hayati lounge, one of the many places on the street broadcasting the match, said. "Everybody knows everybody, and we get to play music. We enjoy it. It's a good time."
Colombia in Jackson Heights
Colombian fans dance at a bar in during Colombia's game against Switzerland.
Fireworks also greet Northern Boulevard as Colombia advanced to the Round of 16. A wave of yellow overtakes the streets as Colombian fans let their joy known while 'En Barranquilla Me Quedo' blasts from someone's speaker just down the road.
Amidst a sea of yellow, red, and blue, small peeks of a green emerging in the crowd every now and then are not to be ignored.
As the tournament progressed on and fewer countries advanced, a running joke began to emerge amongst fans that Colombia was the only country left representing Latin America despite Argentina's advancement in the tournament. The joke stems from a long-running feud between Argentina and other Latin American countries due to the Argentines' reputation for believing themselves to be more European, given a majority of their population claims ancestry from European immigrants.
That cultural rift translated on the pitch, with many Latinx fans actively rooting against Argentina. It could explain the wide array of Mexico, Paraguay, and Brazil jerseys arm in arm with the Colombians on Northern Boulevard that evening, but it would most certainly explain the amount of those jerseys packed into cafes and bars up and down Jackson Heights a few days later.
With Argentina staging one of the most mind blowing comebacks of the tournament against Egypt just hours prior, Colombia remained the last South American country (aside from Argentina) standing. Bright yellow overwhelmed Northern Boulevard, but waves of green, blue, and red joined it as fans waited to see if Colombia would face Argentina in the quarterfinals.
It wasn't meant to be, as Colombia went down to Switzerland on penalties, but despite the loss, Latinx fans were quick to target their next bandwagon: Norway.
Mexico in Sunset Park
Just off the R stop at 25th street station in Sunset Park, the faint beats of a DJ booth drift through the night. Just down the street, a line of people wearing green jerseys wraps around the block.
Mexico fans numbering over one hundred have gathered at Bear Burgers Backyard to watch as El Tri takes on South Korea in their second group stage match.
Bear, the owner of the Backyard, joined forces with DJ Cabrera, a New York City-based DJ, to host watch parties for the Mexican community in Sunset Park, who make up 42% of Hispanic/Latinx residents in the neighborhood.
"It's just great to see the spot change," Bear said. "They come out strong. They come out with their flags and with their jerseys on. They gave me a jersey just to be an honorary brother for the night...it's just a beautiful thing for us to all come together."
Fans sat on long picnic tables while a Telemundo broadcast of the match played on a projected screen. Despite the tense atmosphere at halftime, some supporters danced with friends. When Luis Romo scored in the 50th minute to put Mexico in the lead, the entire Backyard erupted in deafening cheers as flags waved in the air. Free shots of tequila and balloons in the colors of the Mexican flag were handed out after Mexico secured their win, with the dancing going on well into the night.
"To see the World Cup bring everybody together from different backgrounds, from different countries all celebrating together, it's a beautiful thing," Bear said. "It really makes me happy that I can give them a place to come watch it, come enjoy the space, and come cheer together."
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