When MetLife Stadium was officially chosen as one of the stadiums for the World Cup, I just wanted to go to a game. Any game. It didn't matter what date. It didn't matter who was playing. I just wanted to be there to experience it live. Getting tickets proved to be a much harder (and more expensive) task than I thought it would be, but I was able to get one for Norway-Senegal (the original plan was to go with my brother-in-law and nephew, but I couldn't get three). And the price of admission was certainly worth it.
I had actually singled out Norway-Senegal as the game that I wanted to go to. One of the reasons for that was because it was one where I thought I had a shot that it wouldn't already be sold out. (With Brazil, France, Germany and England playing the other MetLife games during group play, I figured it might be my only shot.) As it turns out, it was the only game still available when I finally got into the queue, which was fine with me. Because I truly didn't care which game I went to.
For all the talk about the exorbitant price of game tickets, there was just as much about the cost of tickets for the train. And I agree that $100 for the 20-minute trip from Penn Station was excessive. But I also knew that it would be the easiest, most convenient way of getting there. That was especially true after all the horror stories of people who decided not to take the train getting stranded at the stadium after the Brazil game.
Taking the train was 100 percent the right call. It only took about 25 minutes to actually get on a train once I got in line. And, because the NJ Transit side of Penn Station was closed to non-World Cup commuters, the station was otherwise empty, making things even easier. In total, it only took about an hour between arriving at Penn Station and arriving at the stadium.
Going back (in a downpour!) was just as easy. We were given wristbands when we first got on the train, and all we needed to do on the way back was show our wristband. Even with all 25,000 people who took the train to the stadium leaving at the same time, the wait wasn't that long. As one train filled up, another empty one pulled in and the other left. Then, when that one filled up, another empty one was ready. Rinse and repeat. It took me slightly longer to get home, but I was still back before the late game was over.
Getting into the stadium itself was also surprisingly easy. FIFA took over all of the stadium parking lots (another source of frustration for fans), but it really did make sense why they did. There was the Fan Fest, all kinds of food, the outdoor sets for all the different international broadcasters (Norway's crew was either live or about to be), and the merchandise stands. As for actually getting in, there were so many lines that it was a breeze. I was expecting airport security lines, so it was a pleasant surprise to be thru the gates within about 10 minutes.
Another pleasant surprise was that food prices were the same as they usually are. With the prices for everything else getting jacked up for the World Cup, I was expecting it to be the same for concessions. So, imagine my relief when I found out that wasn't the case! Although, my guy also took forever, so, despite the fact that I got in line for food at like 7:25, I only got to my seat as the teams were walking out. Which was fine. Since the walkouts and anthems are one of the best parts of any World Cup match.
As a neutral fan, I didn't have a rooting interest one way or the other going in. I initially thought I'd end up cheering for Senegal since I was expecting their fans to be more fun. That opinion quickly changed when I saw how fun the Norwegian fans were. Their Viking Row has gone viral, so you know what a good time it is, and the train was full of red-clad Norwegians. I'd say the stands were at least 75 percent red, if not more, with their fan section taking up the entire area behind the goal opposite me. They broke into the Viking Row several times, and each time it was amazing!
There was another reason why I ended up rooting for Norway. Erling Haaland. He's incredible! The Manchester City striker is a rock star! He scored twice at the goal right in front of me (the second of which was absolutely ridiculous), and that should've been a hat trick. He had a wide open net in the first half, but hit the post.
After Norway went up 2-0, I thought it was game over. Boy, was I wrong! Senegal cut it to 2-1, then, after Haaland's second goal, scored again in stoppage time to pull within 3-2. That's how it ended, with Norway clinching a spot in the round of 32 with the win. They went undefeated in qualifying (in a group that included Italy) and looked every bit the part. I give Senegal credit for coming back, though. They made it a game at the end.
If you think that was it, though, you'd be sadly mistaken. They went over to the fans and joined in the Viking Row. It was so cool to watch! It was like watching the All Blacks doing the Haka (BTW, I really hope New Zealand plays at MetLife in the 2031 Rugby World Cup...and that getting tickets is easier and less expensive than it was for the FIFA World Cup). Haaland said afterwards that they were thinking about it after the first game, but decided they would only do it if they won. Which they did.
Something I've noticed while watching the World Cup games on TV was the lack of a visible clock on the field. I was shocked by this, so it had me curious whether there was one that you just couldn't see on TV or if there actually wasn't. It was the latter. No scoreboard clock at all. The only place where the game time was visible at all was on the graphic for the live video. Otherwise, nothing.
The last thing worth noting is the weather. It had been gorgeous in New York for the entire World Cup. The first two MetLife matchdays had beautiful weather. So, of course, that wasn't the case for Norway-Senegal. A storm was expected, and it rained in the afternoon. It was clear throughout the game, though. (Unlike France-Iraq in Philadelphia, which had an hour-long lightning delay.) The rain came literally as the game ended and got bad pretty much immediately. They even made a lightning warning announcement as we were exiting the stadium. But it could've been worse. We could've been sitting there in the rain for two hours, but weren't.
My first World Cup game was almost everything I was hoping it would be (there were no cards or VAR reviews). It didn't beat the experience of being there for the World Series, but it was a different kind of experience. And it was a worthwhile one nonetheless. More importantly, had I not gone, I would've regretted it. I couldn't miss out on the opportunity to go to the World Cup. I'm glad I got it. It's one of those sporting memories I'll definitely never forget.
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