MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, was the place to be on Saturday as Brazil and Morocco squared off in one of the most anticipated matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup’s opening days. The star power in attendance matched the occasion, with NFL legend Tom Brady, rapper Travis Scott and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani all making their way to the stadium for the showdown.
Brady Swaps the Broadcast Booth for the Sidelines
Tom Brady, 48, is no stranger to MetLife Stadium. The seven-time Super Bowl champion has spent time in the broadcast booth at the home of the NFL’s New York Jets and Giants as a Fox Sports analyst. On Saturday, however, he was there in a different capacity entirely, soaking up the atmosphere of the world’s biggest soccer tournament from the sidelines.
Tom Brady and his daughter nailed the handshake. pic.twitter.com/Wm6gTgFU3h
— 3sidedstory 🇺🇲 (@3sidedstory) June 13, 2026
Brady was given VIP access before kickoff and was spotted greeting Brazil superstar Neymar during the team’s warmup session, the two legends from different sports sharing a moment ahead of the match. He was also seen alongside rapper Travis Scott, who showed up for the occasion in a vintage Brazil jersey.
Later in the evening, Brady was spotted in the stands with his 13-year-old daughter Vivian, the two of them wearing matching blue Brazil jerseys as they watched the action unfold together.
City and State Leadership Show Up
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New York Governor Kathy Hochul were also in attendance at the stadium. Mamdani had spent much of the day encouraging fans across the city to use public transit to reach the venue, urging them to arrive at the Meadowlands four to five hours before the 6 p.m. kickoff to avoid the heavy traffic and delays that were expected throughout Midtown Manhattan.
👀 New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has been spotted at Brazil vs Morocco. 🇧🇷🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/PFh2AjNVg9
— Sports on Predict (@predictdotsport) June 13, 2026
“I encourage you to take the subway, walk or ride a bike instead,” Mamdani said earlier in the day, asking New Yorkers to help ease congestion across the city.
Fans Pack Into Shuttle Buses Hours Before Kickoff
Long before any of the celebrities arrived, fans were already making their way to the stadium in force. Supporters draped in yellow Brazil jerseys and red Morocco kits lined up outside the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown and at Columbus Circle as early as 11 a.m., a full seven hours before the opening whistle, to board shuttle buses heading to the Meadowlands.
The energy in the crowd reflected the weight of the matchup. Brazil, the most decorated team in World Cup history with five titles, were opening their 2026 campaign against Morocco, one of Africa’s strongest sides. The match was one of four played on day three of the tournament.
A Historic World Cup on a Massive Scale
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, running from June 11 through July 19, is a landmark edition of the tournament in several respects. It is the first World Cup to feature 48 teams and the first to be co-hosted by three countries, with the United States, Mexico and Canada sharing duties across 16 host cities.
The United States is hosting in 11 cities, including New York and New Jersey, Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia, Seattle, Kansas City and San Francisco. Mexico is hosting in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey, while Canada’s two host cities are Toronto and Vancouver.
MetLife Stadium, which hosted Saturday’s Brazil vs Morocco clash, will also serve as the venue for the tournament’s final later in July.