Being in New York during the World Cup is unlike anything else. The tournament is not just happening inside stadiums. It is unfolding across streets, subway stations, giant screens, fan zones and spontaneous gatherings everywhere. As a guest of Uber Türkiye, I also had the chance to experience one of the most important behind-the-scenes elements of such a massive global event: mobility and the new Uber Travel experience.
In tournaments of this scale, the real challenge is not only the match itself, but getting to and from the stadium smoothly. Especially across the New York-New Jersey corridor, transportation can easily become the hidden drama of the day. Yet our journey to the stadium was seamless and surprisingly effortless.
Funda Karayel attends the Brazil vs. Morocco FIFA World Cup match, New Jersey, U.S., June 13, 2026. (Photo by Funda Karayel)
Before heading to the Brazil vs Morocco match, I learned the story behind Uber Travel from Jodie Auster, Global Head of Airports & Travel, and Adib Roumani, Head of Engineering for Uber Travel. One of the most interesting features they introduced is “Choose Your Team,” which allows fans to select their national team inside the app and customize the vehicle icon with their country’s flag. This feature is available in the United States, Canada and major global cities. Another innovation introduced during the World Cup is Uber Max. Designed for large groups, it allows up to 14 passengers to travel together in a single vehicle, making stadium transfers more social and efficient.
