A recent study by Doc's Sports has placed John F. Kennedy International and Newark Liberty International airports among the worst-performing hubs for the upcoming World Cup. While LaGuardia Airport managed a mid-pack finish, the other New York-area gateways struggle with efficiency and cost.

The 10 Million Fan Stress Test for 11 Host Cities

The World Cup, scheduled for June 11 to 19, is poised to be one of the most significant logistical challenges for American infrastructure in recent memory. According to Doc's Sports, more than 10 million fans are expected to fly into the 11 host cities, creating a massive coordinated travel test that will strain existing airport capacities.

This surge in travel echoes previous global sporting events where infrastructure bottlenecks led to widespread delays. For travelers, the stakes are high; the ability of these hubs to handle a sudden influx of millions of passengers will determine whether the tournament is remembered for the sport or for the chaos of getting to the stadium.

JFK's 28.8-Minute Taxi-Out and $462 Fare

John F. Kennedy International Airport finished dead last in the rankings with a dismal overall score of 16.2 out of 100. The report says that the airport's efficiency was the primary driver of this low score, highlighted by an average taxi-out time of 28.8 minutes from the gate to takeoff—the longest of all 25 airports studied.

Affordability is another critical failure for John F. Kennedy International Airport,where the average domestic fare was recorded at $462. While the airport maintains reasonable reliability—with 78.8% of departures and 77.3% of arrivals arriving on time—these figures were not enough to offset the operational sluggishness. Compounding these issues is a major development program currently underway at the airport, which inclludes an overhauled roadway network and new terminals, potentially adding more friction to the traveler experience during the June event.

Newark's 23rd Place Finish vs. Ontario International's Top Spot

Newark Liberty International Airport also struggled significantly, ranking 23rd out of 25 with an overall score of 29.4. Like its neighbor, Newark Liberty International Airport was dragged down by poor scores in affordability and efficiency, though it managed to stay slightly ahead of Philadelphia International Airport, which landed in 24th place.

In stark contrast, Ontario International Airport (ONT) was identified as the best option in the study.. For fans heading to Inglewood, the report suggests that LaGuardia Airport, which ranked 18th, is the least operationally pianful choice among the New York options. To mitigate risks, Doc's Sports recommends that travelers build extra padding into their schedules and avoid tight connections when using these lower-ranked hubs.

The Inclusion of LHR and GRU in a US-Centric Ranking

One notable anomaly in the data is the inclusion of international hubs like London Heathrow (LHR), São Paulo-Guarulhos (GRU), and Toronto Pearson (YYZ) in a list that primarily evaluates airports serving 11 US host cities. The source does not explain why these non-US airports were factored into a ranking designed to test the domestic readiness for the World Cup.

Furthermore, while the study utilizes federal government stats on reliability and connectivity, it remains unclear which specific government agencies provided the data or how the "overall score" was weighted between cost and efficiency. Without this transparency, it is difficult to determine if the ranking reflects long-term systemic failure or temporary dips caused by the ongoing construction at John F. Kennedy International Airport.