This is The Montclair Pod’s running recap of World Cup matches at New York New Jersey Stadium, the eight games happening 12 miles from Montclair between now and the Final on July 19. We’ll update after each one with the result, what it means for your commute and your week, and what’s coming next.
Brazil 1, Morocco 1 — Saturday, June 13
Morocco led through Ismael Saibari before Vinicius Jr. curled an equalizer in the 21st minute. Both teams left with a point. Morocco was the better team in the first half and, given the muted locker room afterward, considered the draw a missed opportunity. For the full match breakdown, see FIFA’s match centre.
How Saturday went for everyone else
Not cleanly. Mass gridlock hit New York City and New Jersey as tens of thousands of fans descended on Midtown, with streets around Penn Station shut down and NJ Transit reserved for ticket holders, leaving regular commuters to scramble for alternatives. NJ Transit moved 21,578 fans by rail and bus — well short of the 40,000 it had committed to carry. Hundreds of fans were still stranded at the stadium more than three hours after the final whistle, with reports that no more rideshare vehicles were being allowed into the designated pickup area a mile away. Traffic on Route 3 backed up so badly that some shuttle bus trips stretched to 90 minutes. Agencies are now reviewing transit and traffic plans ahead of the remaining seven matches.
Tuesday is harder
France vs. Senegal kicks off at 3 p.m. ET Tuesday, meaning fan transportation directly overlaps with the afternoon commute. NJ Transit trains out of Penn Station will be restricted to ticket holders starting at 11 a.m. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know the Knicks won the title Saturday night — which matters here because a potential Game 6 at Madison Square Garden on June 16 would have put two massive crowds through Penn Station simultaneously. That nightmare is off the table. Tuesday’s commute will still be disrupted, but the worst-case scenario didn’t happen.
If you’re commuting into the city Tuesday, regular commuters not attending the match can use PATH from 33rd Street or NJ Transit buses from Port Authority during the restricted window. Full commuter guidance is at njtworldcup.com.
France vs. Senegal — Tuesday, June 16, 3 p.m. ET
France opens their 2026 World Cup against Senegal in a Group I heavyweight tie at MetLife Stadium. Senegal’s base camp is at Rutgers in Piscataway; their fans will have made the journey. France is the heavy favorite, but a leaky French back line means a clean sheet is far from guaranteed. Watch on FOX or stream on Fox One. For the full NYNJ Stadium match schedule through the July 19 Final, see our complete guide to the World Cup in New Jersey.
Image Source: Gemeni
