The US sporting triumph that is overshadowing the World Cup

New Yorkers have endured a 53-year wait to see their team capture an NBA title

Published 14 June 2026

"We care way more about the Knicks than the World Cup right now."

New York is experiencing a historic sports moment — and it has nothing to do with soccer.

On Saturday evening, the New York Knicks secured their first NBA championship in 53 years, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the series, and the long-awaited triumph sent supporters into a frenzy.

Less than 10 miles away, Brazil took on Morocco in the sixth match of the football World Cup, but it was at Madison Square Garden where the atmosphere was electric.

Thousands of fans assembled — outside the Knicks' home venue, often called 'the mecca of basketball' — for an outdoor viewing party, even though the game was taking place in Texas.

Nearby bars were packed with anxious New Yorkers who clung to every shot and call during the extremely tight game five of the best-of-seven series.

It is an unusual situation for a city that is co-hosting the World Cup.

"People live and shed tears here for basketball," Knicks fan Raymond Yu told the BBC.

"We care way more about the Knicks than the World Cup right now."

While Americans were never seen as the world's biggest soccer enthusiasts, New York in particular — with its varied communities — always had a stronger connection to the sport. But the Knicks' victory has eclipsed the World Cup for the moment.

At the Molly Wee Pub, when a win appeared probable, a young college student remarked to his friends: "Oh my god, I'm going to see the Knicks win the Finals. I can't believe it."

Once it became official, he and everyone else in the bar rushed into the streets shouting at the top of their lungs and hugging complete strangers.

The celebrations grew and continued well into the early morning hours, with people climbing light poles and setting off fireworks, while police on foot and even on horseback attempted to keep the chaos under control.

Among them was Matthew Sorbonne, who told BBC Sport what the victory meant to him.

"I watched them since I was a kid. This means everything to me. For 25 straight years they've been garbage. Finally we have a win," he said.

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New York prepares for Knicks celebrations

This victory, for a fanbase accustomed to disappointment and heartbreak, is a dream come true.

New York's mayor Zohran Mamdani quickly announced that a ticker tape parade along the canyon of heroes would take place on Thursday for the Knicks. City Hall and municipal buildings across the city will also be lit in blue and orange on that day to mark the triumph.

Mamdani said: "New Yorkers have cheered for our team from packed living rooms in the Bronx to watch parties in Brooklyn, from bars in Queens to Staten Island to Manhattan, and Madison Square Garden itself. Now it's time for our city to celebrate together. Bing bong."

That, along with the Knicks players' return from San Antonio, will keep this city focused on basketball for a few more days.

Even those wearing soccer jerseys on the streets of Manhattan acknowledged the World Cup could never match this excitement in the US.

Wearing a Lionel Messi jersey, Jeff, who did not provide his surname, said that, while he liked the Argentina icon, the Knicks were more significant at this moment than the World Cup. "Messi has a championship. I want the Knicks to get one," he said.

New Yorkers have also waited longer for a Knicks win than the chance to host another World Cup, which was last held in the US in 1994.

But with the city riding on positive energy from the Knicks, that could easily carry over into upcoming World Cup matches.

In fact, the end of the series means avoiding a nightmare scenario where game six of the NBA Finals would have conflicted with the France-Senegal match in the city on Tuesday.

One fan said he would try to watch some World Cup games, given he has enjoyed seeing fans from other countries in New York showing their pride and witnessing their love of the sport.

Those international fans probably did not realize they would also get to experience New York's true passion.

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Do Americans care more about the Knicks than the World Cup?