Expect enhanced security at MetLife Stadium for Club World Cup final as President Trump plans to attend
Local security expert Brian Higgins tells News 12 that despite the extra attention and security processing wait times, it’s a benefit for fan safety.
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The month-long FIFA Club World Cup wraps with Sunday’s finals matchup between Paris Saint-Germain F.C. and Chelsea F.C. The work for the security team begins much earlier to make MetLife Stadium one of the safest places in the nation.
The existing security protocol will be heightened even further to meet Secret Service standards as President Donald Trump announced this week that he will be attending the match.
Local security expert Brian Higgins tells News 12 that despite the extra attention and security processing wait times, it’s a benefit for fan safety.
“It's the highest level, so that will bring a completely different level of security,” said the retired police chief of Bergen County and founder of security company Group77. “But fans should know that that's a positive. The stadium will be secured to allow for the safety of the president, and in this current climate and what we've seen in the last year, I'm sure that the president's security has been increased exponentially.”
Higgins worked at the MetLife Stadium-hosted Super Bowl in 2014. His staff provided bomb technicians, tactical teams, and EMS. Things have changed since then.
“There is an uptick in terrorism-related threats,” Higgins said. “That's another element that you know when you bring in people from other countries - there has to be some vetting. Deliveries coming in have to be screened at the same level as the stadium itself. All individuals, whether they're the coaches, the players, the fans or staff, all have to be screened as well.”
He said task forces are constantly updating protocol after learning from similar events. Higgins mentioned the chaos last year in Miami when ticketless fans rushed the gates at the Copa America.
As a result, fans nationwide at this year’s Club World Cup have observed extra checkpoints and a heavy police presence.
Trump’s "big beautiful bill" allots $625 million for security at next year’s World Cup. Those finals will also take place in East Rutherford.
“Everything that's being done tomorrow will be done real world, but it will be in preparation for a much larger event next year. So, it is a dress rehearsal, but it's the best exercise you can get because it's the real deal.”
News 12 New Jersey will be at the finals match. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m., and MetLife Stadium is asking fans to be in their seats by 1:30 p.m. Parking opens at 10 a.m., NJ Transit rail service begins at 11 a.m., and gates open at 12 p.m.
