NEW YORK – June 13, 2026 — As soccer fever grips the host city of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hundreds of Moroccan supporters transformed a corner of Times Square into a vibrant display of national pride and political solidarity on Saturday, waving Palestinian flags and chanting “Free Palestine” ahead of their team’s Group C opener against five-time champions Brazil.
The gathering, captured in videos circulating widely on social media, showed fans in red Morocco jerseys packed amid the bright lights of the iconic Manhattan landmark. Many climbed onto elevated spots to wave large Palestinian flags, blending football excitement with calls for Palestinian rights.
The match, scheduled for 6 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, pits Morocco — fresh off a historic semifinal run in 2022 — against a star-studded Brazil side led by manager Carlo Ancelotti and featuring talents like Vinícius Júnior.
Moroccan fans have a well-documented history of expressing solidarity with Palestine, and this pre-match rally highlighted how the World Cup serves as a global stage for both sport and geopolitics. Similar scenes unfolded with Brazilian supporters nearby, turning parts of Times Square into a colorful carnival of green-and-yellow Brazil flags and samba rhythms.
No major incidents were reported, though New York authorities had ramped up security for the massive influx of international fans. The match itself is one of the highlights of the early group stage, with both teams eyeing strong starts in a competitive Group C that also includes Haiti and Scotland.
As the 2026 tournament — co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico — unfolds, such fan displays underscore the passion that football inspires far beyond the pitch. The game is live on major networks including Fox Sports in the U.S.
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