NYC Braces for Gridlock as 80,000 Fans Descend on World Cup Match

New York City, Tuesday, 16 June 2026.
New York City faces unprecedented traffic chaos today as 80,000 fans flood MetLife Stadium for the France-Senegal World Cup match. Officials have closed key Midtown streets, including West 42nd Street, and restricted access around Penn Station—stranding commuters like Jennifer Charles, who called the transit planning ‘chaotic.’ With NJ Transit reserved for ticketholders and Uber shuttles priced at $49, locals and businesses are scrambling. The gridlock alert, lasting until 8 p.m., reveals the high stakes of hosting global events in urban hubs.