Soccer supporters decked out for Ecuador and Germany packed into Times Square ahead of the teams’ matchups, turning the Midtown tourist magnet into a loud display of national pride — complete with an impromptu battle of the bands.
Lively footage captured crowds of fans from both sides pounding drums, crashing cymbals and trading chants in their native languages at the Crossroads of the World.
The fan bases were easy to tell apart: Ecuador supporters lit up the scene in bright yellow jerseys, while Germany faithful mostly wore white T-shirts — with a few European fans adding extra flair by dancing around in giant inflatable costumes.
The street celebration rolled on ahead of Thursday’s 4 p.m. game. Mateo Armijos, 25, who traveled to Times Square from his home in Cuenca, Ecuador, said he came to cheer on his national team and described the atmosphere as electric, especially because the United States is home to so many expatriates.
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Armijos said he attended the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but felt the excitement there still did not match the energy he experienced in New York City.
“I think you can do a lot of things in New York. You never get bored, you can meet a lot of and go to a lot of places, and it’s a good city for young people. It’s chaotic, but it’s nice,” said Armijos.
The two sides are set to meet Thursday at NY/NJ Stadium in their final group-stage match.
The national teams come from different confederations and have met only a limited number of times in recent years, with Germany winning most of those encounters.
