SportsTravel

2026 FIFA World Cup Host City Guide: New York New Jersey

MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final

In advance of this summer’s FIFA World Cup, SportsTravel is delving into each of the 11 U.S. cities that will host matches during the event. This year’s edition will be the largest ever, with 48 teams (up from 32), and it will be the first to be staged in three countries — Canada, Mexico and the United States — with 16 host cities in total.

Up next in our series: New York New Jersey, which was one of the sites of the Men’s FIFA World Cup matches in 1994, albeit in a different stadium. MetLife Stadium, which will be known as New York New Jersey Stadium during the World Cup because it is located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just seven miles west of Midtown Manhattan, opened in 2010 and replaced Giants Stadium, which hosted several World Cup matches in 1994, including a semifinal. The stadium has extensive sporting pedigree, too, as the home of the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets, respectively, and is part of the Meadowlands Sports Complex that includes the Meadowlands Arena that served as the longtime home of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils and NBA’s New Jersey Nets, among other teams.

The newer stadium comes with a new responsibility: This time, East Rutherford will host the World Cup final on July 19.

[Editor’s Note: Click here to read our past features on Philadelphia, Kansas City, Houston, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta and Boston]

[For the full list of confirmed base camps so far, click here.]

Stadium

Stadium: MetLife Stadium / New York New Jersey Stadium

Capacity: 82,500

Opened: 2010

World Cup Hosting Experience: N/A

Games: Eight matches including:

• Brazil v Morocco | Group C | Saturday, June 13

• France v Senegal | Group I | Tuesday, June 16

• Norway v Senegal | Group I | Monday, June 22

• Ecuador v Germany | Group E | Thursday, June 25

• Panama v England | Group L | Saturday, June 27

• Match 77 | Round of 32 | Tuesday, June 30

• Match 91 | Round of 16 | Sunday, July 5

• Match 104 | World Cup Final | Sunday, July 19

Location

In February 2024, MetLife Stadium was selected as host of this year’s World Cup final. Last year, it got a test run of sorts when it served as the host of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, which was contested by Chelsea and Paris St-Germain.

The venue opened in 2010 at an approximate cost of $1.6 billion, making it the most expensive stadium in the country at the time. It replaced the Giants Stadium, the former home of the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets, and continues to house those two teams, making it one of two NFL stadiums to be shared by two teams; SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, is the home venue for the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers.

With a capacity of more than 82,000, MetLife Stadium is one of the largest venues in the country, though it will be known as New York/New Jersey Stadium during the World Cup due to FIFA stadium sponsorship regulations. The stadium has also previously hosted Super Bowl XLVIII at the end of the 2013 season and WrestleMania, as well as music and entertainment concerts.

Team Base Camps

Four national teams have confirmed team base camp training sites in New Jersey during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Brazilian Men’s National Soccer Team will stay at The Ridge Hotel in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, and train at the nearby Columbia Park Training Center in Morristown during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Owned by Red Bulls New York FC, Columbia Park Training Center features state-of-the-art facilities, modern training areas, fitness centers, locker rooms and administrative offices.

The Moroccan Men’s National Soccer Team will utilize The Pingry School in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, as its team base camp training site during the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. At the same time between training sessions and matches, the team will stay at The Somerset Hills Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, in Warren.

Senegal’s Men’s National Soccer Team has selected Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, as its chosen team base camp training site for the duration of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The team’s specific lodging destination in New Brunswick has not yet been disclosed.

Haiti is also set to stay and train in Galloway, New Jersey, for the duration of the World Cup, but the exact training ground and lodging facilities are yet to be confirmed publicly.

Fan Experience and Activations

According to 2026 FIFA World Cup NYNJ Host Committee CEO Alex Lasry, fans can expect an “authentic” New York New Jersey experience.

In addition to the matches themselves, the Host Committee is creating major fan destinations, including a Fan Village at Rockefeller Center in the heart of Manhattan and Fan Zone Queens at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Both activations will bring together live match viewing, entertainment, cultural programming, interactive activations, food, music, and fan experiences throughout the tournament.

The Committee has also announced a NYNJ World Cup 26 Jersey Fan Hub at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, which will feature live match broadcasts on a 60-foot screen on the pitch, entertainment, sponsor activations, and community programming across 16 tournament dates. An official FIFA Fan Festival planned for Liberty State Park in Jersey City was canceled just four months before the start of the tournament, but New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has confirmed that smaller-scale free fan events will be held in the city’s five boroughs — Queens, Manhattan, The Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island — during the tournament.

In addition, Mamdani announced a “neighborhood passport” initiative, which will help New Yorkers and visitors experience the five boroughs via immigrant neighborhoods, cultural institutions and small businesses.

In terms of transport, it was previously reported that NJ Transit was planning to increase the cost of a return trip from MetLife Stadium to Penn Station in Manhattan to $150 from its normal $12.90, when major events are not being held. However, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has announced a partial U-turn on those prices, with shuttle bus prices dropping from $80 to $20 (18,000 tickets available per match) and the train service being reduced from $150, firstly to $105 and then to $98.

NJ Transit and the FIFA NYNJ Host Committee originally suggested that the heightened prices were necessary to avoid passing on the cost to taxpayers, as FIFA does not typically subsidize public transportation costs during major tournaments. Governor Sherrill then argued that FIFA should help to pay for train tickets, but the governing body responded by saying that the expensive train tickets would have a “chilling effect” on the overall fan experience.

In the end, NJ Transit confirmed that it had received financial support from “sponsors and other sources” that allowed it to lower train ticket prices. The governor thanked partners including DoorDash, Audible, FanDuel, DraftKings, PSE&G, South Jersey Industries and American Water for making the reduction possible in a social media statement.

Accommodation Supply

For the group-stage games in Newark/Jersey City, the 2026 occupancy rate is up 45 percent compared to a year earlier, and before the expanded FIFA Club World Cup was being held in the state. The games with the largest year-over-year demand increases are England vs. Panama (+93 percent) on June 27 and Germany vs. Ecuador (+95 percent) on June 25, seeing 50 percent and 49 percent occupancy rates respectively.

As the tournament progresses, the World Cup Final on July 19 is already driving an 89 percent YoY increase in demand, at the same time that the occupancy rate is up 54 percent on 2025 levels.

As per data intelligence platform Key Data, New York/New Jersey Metro is seeing a 95 percent increase in short-term rental reservations per property, positioning it in the middle pack of U.S. host cities receiving bookings during the tournament. The average length of stay, however, remains relatively stable with a drop-off of only 11 percent this summer compared to January, suggesting that the length of stay is either very short typically or travelers are booking multiple-night stays during the World Cup. For the hotel segment, reservations per room sees a dropoff of 12 percent compared to January dates, but average daily rates see a steady increase of 44 percent around the same period.

And, according to CoStar forecasts, New York/New Jersey Metro unsurprisingly has the highest average daily rates of all the U.S. host cities for June and July. The average hotel daily rate in June is $361.11 (with an ADR change of 0.087 percent from 2025), although that figure drops to $318.54 in July. That decrease in ADRs can be attributed to fewer World Cup matches in July, although MetLife Stadium will host one Round-of-16 encounter in addition to the World Cup Final in that month.

Interview: NYNJ Host Committee CEO Alex Lasry

ST: What does it mean to you to host the World Cup?
LASRY: “Hosting the World Cup is a defining moment for New York and New Jersey and for the United States. Our region has a long history of hosting the world’s biggest events, and we are excited to do it again — this time on the biggest stage possible. This is an opportunity to show the world what New York and New Jersey do best. Beyond the tournament itself, we want people to leave inspired to come back, invest here, and continue engaging with our region long after the final match is played.”

ST: What are the major opportunities the tournament will bring?

LASRY: “The opportunities are massive — for our region and for the country as a whole. Economically, culturally, and socially, this will be one of the most impactful events the United States has ever hosted. This is really the beginning of an unprecedented era for sports and global events in the United States. Between the FIFA World Cup in 2026 and the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028, the next several years are going to shape how the world experiences the U.S. There is an enormous opportunity not only to showcase our cities and infrastructure, but also our culture, diversity, hospitality, and ability to bring people together. For New York and New Jersey specifically, this is a chance to highlight the communities, small businesses, artists, restaurants, and neighborhoods that make this region unlike anywhere else in the world.”

ST: What are some of the logistical or operational challenges that have to be negotiated before and during the tournament?

LASRY: “The scale of this tournament is unlike anything most cities have ever experienced. Millions of visitors will be moving across one of the busiest regions in the world over a very concentrated period of time. That means transportation, public safety, emergency management, and communications all have to work seamlessly together. A huge part of our job is coordination across two states, multiple transit systems, and our government stakeholders. We want the World Cup to be an amazing experience for both visitors and residents alike.”

ST: Are you working on any legacy campaigns for after the tournament has ended?

LASRY: “Definitely. One of the biggest priorities for us is making sure the impact of the World Cup lasts long after the final match is played.

“That includes investments in youth soccer access, community programming, public art, and initiatives that support local businesses and neighborhoods. We are also thinking about legacy in a broader sense — how this tournament can strengthen civic partnerships, inspire young people, and continue creating opportunities in communities throughout the region long after 2026.”

Once-in-A-Generation

Between its numerous sports teams, theaters, concert venues and performing arts spaces, New York is the most popular entertainment location on the planet, but even local leaders know the World Cup represents something rare for the Big Apple and the surrounding region.

“No place does big events on the world stage quite like New York City, and we cannot wait to welcome the FIFA World Cup to our region,” said Julie Coker, president and CEO of New York City Tourism + Conventions. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to showcase the best of our city, from free and affordable match screenings, community events and cultural offerings across all five boroughs, and we look forward to welcoming the teams and their fans very soon.”