French supporters flood New York ahead of World Cup opener against Senegal

A sea of tricolor on Times Square

Starting Monday evening, 15 June, hundreds of French supporters organised by the Irrésistibles Français group descended on Times Square, singing, dancing and waving flags. They were joined by fans from Argentina, Algeria, Brazil, Scotland and Senegal in what one onlooker described as a spontaneous assembly of football nations. By Tuesday the crowd had swelled further, unfurling a giant French flag in the heart of Manhattan while competing chants echoed off the skyscrapers.

MetLife and La Marseillaise

Roughly 5,000 French fans who bought tickets through the French Football Federation packed into MetLife Stadium, belting out the national anthem before kick-off. Supporters expressed a mix of excitement and nerves. Many voiced faith in coach Didier Deschamps and the squad, with one fan summing up the mood as hoping the team would live their own American dream.

Fan zones and security

Back in France, the town of Sablé-sur-Sarthe set up a fan zone at the Place Raphaël-Elizé, with a large screen and a capacity authorised for more than 1,000 people. Municipal police and gendarmes monitored the area, and bags were searched at every entrance. A second fan zone is planned for the final in a month's time.

New York's World Cup tapestry

The broader tournament atmosphere enveloped the city. Shirts of Brazil, Argentina and Scotland were everywhere on the streets, and the Classic Football Shirts vintage store in Soho did brisk business. The buzz competed briefly with celebrations for the New York Knicks' recent NBA title, but for a few days football took centre stage. A brief scuffle between Argentine and Algerian fans on Times Square interrupted the festivities, yet no injuries were reported and the party quickly resumed.

The Senegal challenge

Senegal enter the contest as reigning African champions, a fact that kept French optimism in check. Crowd predictions for the scoreline hovered around 2-1 in France's favour. Sports minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra was present in New York, underscoring the national importance of the occasion.