Excitement and nerves in the US as football fans get ready for the World Cup
It's been more than 30 years since fans in the United States have had a World Cup in their own backyard.
In the lead up to the 2026 tournament, which is also co-hosted by Canada and Mexico, there have been several issues to contend with. Geopolitical tensions, anger over visa restrictions and expensive ticket prices have been major talking points.
But there is also great excitement among fans and small businesses, who are ready to see the famous tournament play out on home turf.
With the first match just days away, there are nerves and anticipation over how the 2026 World Cup will unfold.
At the Red Bull training facility in Morristown, New Jersey, Brazil's national team has set up its base camp.
As the team runs through drills and train, excited fans watch from the sidelines to catch the rare glimpse of their favourite players in the flesh, and some children are even rewarded with autographs and photos.
Brazil and Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha told the BBC the fans have been amazing, and so far, it's off to a good start.
He compliments the facility, the pitch and everything else, including the weather which reminds him of Brazil.
"The only thing, it's called football, not soccer," he jokes.
Getty ImagesAt Brooklyn's Prospect Park, several young players from the S.C. Gjøa Soccer club tell the BBC they were lucky enough to score tickets to the tournament.
Dennis Wyrwoll is excited that he is able to take his 10-year-old son Nicholas to four matches.
"I was here in 1994, when we had the last World Cup, and at that point, nobody knew anything about football," he says.
"It was easy to get tickets and everything. I think this time around, there's lot of excitement in New York but I'm curious to see how it builds outside of the big cities where there aren't as many soccer fans."
The beautiful game may have a smaller footprint in the United States, but the public interest has grown over the years. Coach Kaha Tavadze says in just this past year, the club has had triple the amount of players joining and trying out.
He believes that's directly due to the World Cup being hosted here. Tavadze says children now follow the sport more closely, know every player and wear their favourite team's jersey.
This tournament could even potentially inspire some to dream of going professional, he suggests. "Watching live games, especially at that level, will change their mindset."
But high ticket prices for matches have made it a challenge for many fans who want to watch the tournament in person.
Shantay Armstrong's 7-year-old son has been playing football with the Brooklyn club for five years, and they really want to go see a match live.
She recently tried the raffle for affordable tickets offered by New York, but says within minutes the website said the raffle was closed for any more submissions.
"It's almost heartbreaking that there's like a lack of accessibility for people who can't afford to go," she tells the BBC. "I wanted to give him that opportunity, but that lack of opportunity makes me feel locked out, ad almost like, we're here but we're not here."
Officials are hosting free fan zones where those without tickets can still join in on the experience. And there's also a push to get residents and visitors into local businesses, in hopes that they will benefit from Fifa's financial windfall.
Owner Enda Keenan from Legend's Bar across from the Empire State Building, the home bar to many overseas clubs, believes New York businesses will see a massive boost.
Pratiksha Ghildial / BBCHe has had to turn down business, including from Fifa. "I said we can't help ourselves, it's going to be so crazy, we'd love to help, but there's nothing we can do."
Keenan says he expects the whole of New York City to "be crazy", and even people who don't watch football will be trying to get in to bars and fan zones to see matches. "It'll be that much of a buzz."
For the Champions League final, Legends had 1,300 people inside the bar and another 700 outside where they had set up an 85 inch television and sold beers right on the sidewalk.
Keenan said he sent the overflow of customers to five other nearby bars.
The World Cup will be even busier, he anticipates, saying it's "a whole different level altogether".
Approximately 1.2 million visitors are expected to travel to the New York, New Jersey region during the tournament. Whether the US is ready, or not, will be quickly apparent.
Thirteen-year-old goalie Baxter Rowland is attending two matches, one with his family and the other with a group of friends who have chartered a bus.
But it turns out getting tickets was only the first battle. His mother Alice Baxter has decided to drive.
She says she's been researching and is worried about the traffic getting to the stadium, parking and then leaving the stadium.
"I think it's going to be a little bit stressful, and I think it might be difficult for the first few games, at least. And hopefully it'll get better and they'll work out the kinks before, especially the final here in New Jersey and New York," she says.
