Soccer fans repping Ecuador and Germany swarmed Times Square to show off their national pride in the hours before the team’s matchups — including by igniting a battle of the bands in the tourist hub.
Exhilarating video shows throngs of fans from both teams banging drums and clashing symbols in between chants in their respective languages in the Crossroads of the World.
The rival fans were clearly split, with Ecuadorian fans donning bright yellow jerseys and German diehards repping their team with white T-shirts — though some of the Europeans also danced in giant inflatable costumes.
The massive party continued before the two team’s 4 p.m. game on Thursday. Mateo Armijos, 25, was there in Times Square from his home in Cuenca, Ecuador to support his national team — saying the energy was electric because the US is home to so many ex-pats.
Armijos had been to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but said the energy did not compare to that of the Big Apple.
“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 teams will face off at the NY/NJ Stadium Thursday in their final group round game.
The soccer teams belong to different confederations and have only faced off a handful of times in recent years, with Germany claiming most of the victories.
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