NYC flooding horror brings travel chaos just as 80,000 set out for World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium

New York was hit by severe flooding ahead of the World Cup final, leaving hundreds of fans at risk of missing the match as the USA battled the conditions for the final time at this tournament.

Spain and Argentina will face each other in the final of the competition this evening, with the match to be played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, about five miles from New York City.

The tournament focused most on the weather; Both France and England have seen matches postponed due to nature such as extreme heat or lightning warnings.

And once again, doubts have arisen over the start time of this evening’s final, set for 15.00 ET (20.00 BST).

On the eve of the tournament’s final, the streets of New York were flooded and heavy rain caused chaos. Cars were submerged and pedestrians were seen wading through chest-deep water.

It was said that two to four inches of rain fell, and a tornado warning was also issued.

One driver said they waited up to 20 minutes for flood water near MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to recede before driving through

The flood watch covering eastern Bergen County, where MetLife is located, northeastern New Jersey and New York City remained in effect until 2 a.m. Sunday.

Although the heaviest rain had shifted south and east by Saturday afternoon, the National Weather Service warned that more storms could produce rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour.

The final showdown between Spain and Argentina can go on unaffected, but many fans may miss the opportunity.

The previous day’s showery conditions left chaos in their wake on Sunday morning as the worst of the terrible weather passed, leaving behind blue skies.

The hazardous conditions caused further mayhem at the region’s three major airports and wreaked havoc on thousands arriving in New York and New Jersey, where 80,000 fans were expected to pack MetLife Stadium for Sunday’s finale.

Hundreds of flights from across the United States to the New York area have been hit with delays or worse, cancellations, as torrential rains compound travel woes.

The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered multiple stoppages at LaGuardia, JFK and Newark until at least 5 p.m. ET on Saturday due to thunderstorms.

Meanwhile, the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway was flooded and drivers were stranded on the worn-out road. As the water rose up to the windows of the cars in some regions, many people sought safety on the roof or hood of their vehicles.

Former England goalkeeper and BBC pundit showed conditions on social media

An FDNY fire truck was caught driving through flooded water to rescue drivers, with water nearly reaching its windshield. Firefighters helped New Yorkers slowly move along a ledge toward dry land.

There have been calls for the World Cup final to be postponed and severe storm warnings remain in place for parts of New Jersey as conditions begin to improve.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani shared the following on social media: ‘Do not risk your safety in these dangerous conditions. – Be careful when traveling.

‘Use public transport whenever possible. Never walk, cycle or drive through floodwater. ‘No destination is worth risking your safety.’

However, it appears there are hopes that there will be no delays in tonight’s hearings.

The showers were a stand-alone benefit, along with the downpour expected to help clear Canadian wildfire smoke from the air.

A health warning for air quality in New York City remained in effect until midnight Saturday after fine particle pollution pushed the Air Quality Index above 100.

Meteorologists interviewed by The Associated Press said storms should improve air quality from unhealthy to moderate before they begin.

The final will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, about five miles from New York.

Hundreds of Argentines flocked to Times Square after heavy rain stopped

On Saturday, New York residents received a warning from the National Weather Service describing conditions as a “life-threatening situation.”

It said: ‘A FLASH FLOOD WARNING is in effect for this area until 3:30 PM EDT’.

‘This is a very dangerous and life-threatening situation. Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area prone to flooding or not under an evacuation order.’

The New York Yankees’ baseball game against the Dodgers at Yankee Stadium was canceled due to weather conditions on Saturday, but the game is scheduled to be postponed until this afternoon.

Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart, who worked as a pundit for the BBC throughout the tournament, was in New York and highlighted the difficulties ahead of kick-off.

The likes of Hart and Wayne Rooney were in Salford until the BBC ended their World Cup coverage on home soil ahead of England’s semi-final defeat to Argentina.

‘The weather is absolutely fine here. “Shoes are off, coaches are devastated,” Hart said in the video he shared on Instagram. He was seen walking drenched in heavy rain.

On Saturday, Argentina’s training was postponed by 45 minutes, while Spain’s flight from Kansas to New York was also postponed.

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