Violent Clash Between Argentina and Algeria Supporters in New York

Darwin, 17 June : Just hours before their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, supporters of Argentina and Algeria became involved in a violent clash in Times Square, New York. The incident took place late Monday night (June 15, local time) at one of the world’s busiest and most popular tourist destinations, where fans from both sides exchanged punches and kicks.

The sudden outbreak of violence among thousands of football fans gathered to celebrate the World Cup atmosphere caused panic in the area. Tourists fled in different directions in fear for their safety, while the New York Police Department quickly arrived at the scene to restore order.

A video of the clash was posted on the popular X (formerly Twitter) account “Football Away Days,” which has 393,000 followers. The footage has already been viewed more than 45,000 times and has spread rapidly worldwide as the first major incident of fan violence at this year’s World Cup.

Ahead of the opening Group J match, Argentine supporters had gathered in Times Square for their traditional “Banderazo” — a large-scale flag-waving rally commonly held before FIFA World Cups and other major tournaments. As a result, the area was filled with blue-and-white Argentine flags. At the same time, a significant number of Algerian supporters were also present, joined by some fans from France and Senegal. What began as a festive atmosphere eventually escalated into intense confrontation.

According to the French newspaper Le Parisien, cited by Argentine outlet Infobae, supporters from both countries began exchanging offensive gestures and provocative chants. The verbal altercation quickly turned into a physical fight, leading to open street brawls.

Footage shared on social media shows minors and ordinary pedestrians running for cover to avoid objects being thrown from above, while some individuals attempted to calm the situation and separate the opposing groups. Spanish newspaper Diario AS described the scene as an “open battlefield” and referred to it as the “first ugly image of the World Cup.”

French newspaper Le Figaro and Infobae reported that police intervened swiftly to stop the violence and arrested several supporters. Although the incident unquestionably occurred in one of New York’s busiest locations, authorities have not yet released any official figures regarding the number of arrests or injuries.

Source: New York Sports Day.