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With the national teams from Brazil, France, Germany and England all heading to the region – alongside the 2026 FIFA World Cup final itself – New York and New Jersey are preparing to host an action-packed summer of football.
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The 80,000-seat MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford’s Meadowlands Sports Complex will host eight matches during the tournament, including group-stage clashes such as Brazil vs Morocco, France vs Senegal and England vs Panama, plus knockout fixtures and the final on 19 July.
Already familiar with hosting global spectacles – from the NFL Super Bowl to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour – the stadium is once again set to become the centre of the sporting world as football fans descend on the region from across the globe.
World Cup fixtures in NY/NJ
- 14 June – Group C: Brazil vs Morocco
- 16 June – Group I: France vs Senegal
- 23 June – Group I: Norway vs Senegal
- 25 June – Group E: Ecuador vs Germany
- 27 June – Group L: Panama vs England
- 1 July – Round of 32: Winner Group I vs best third-placed team
- 6 July – Round of 16: Winner Match 76 vs Winner Match 78
- 19 July: 2026 FIFA World Cup final
Landmarks and places to see
From the bright lights of Times Square and panoramic views from the Empire State Building to ferry rides past the Statue of Liberty, New York City offers no shortage of world-famous attractions for visitors during the World Cup.
Visitors can unwind in Central Park, explore the beachfront amusements of Coney Island or spend evenings watching Broadway and off-Broadway productions. Radio City Music Hall remains another iconic stop, hosting concerts, comedy shows and the famous Rockettes performances, while museums, rooftop bars and neighbourhood food tours offer countless ways to experience the city beyond the football.
Beyond MetLife Stadium, visitors to New Jersey can explore a mix of waterfront views, shopping and entertainment hubs. The nearby American Dream complex combines indoor skiing, a water park, restaurants and retail outlets just minutes from the stadium.
Located directly on the shores of the Hudson River in Jersey City, Liberty State Park offers some of the best skyline views of Manhattan alongside ferries to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Further south, the Jersey Shore remains one of the region’s classic summer escapes, with beach towns, boardwalks and Atlantic City’s famous casinos drawing visitors throughout the warmer months.
Sporting culture
New York and New Jersey are home to one of the world’s most famous sporting landscapes, with teams spanning almost every major US league.
In the NFL, the Giants and the Jets share the MetLife Stadium. Baseball fans can watch the Yankees at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx and the Mets at Citi Field in Queens. The Yankees and Mets each have plenty of home games, including the Los Angeles Dodgers at Yankee Stadium the weekend of the World Cup final.
Madison Square Garden hosts the NBA’s Knicks and NHL’s Rangers, while the Brooklyn Nets play at Barclays Center.
Football also has a growing presence through two MLS sides: New York City FC, who primarily play at Yankee Stadium, and the New York Red Bulls, who are based across the Hudson River at Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey.
Taste the food scene
Start with a bagel and a slice of pizza and go from there to any type of cuisine your heart desires. There are 72 restaurants in New York City and the surrounding areas with a Michelin star, and there are quality eats at every price point.
Some of the best steakhouses and Italian restaurants can be found all over, especially in Manhattan, and Flushing in Queens features an array of excellent Asian food.
Fan zones
There will be a free one in each of New York City’s five boroughs: Rockefeller Center in Manhattan; Billie Jean King National Tennis Center – home of the US Open tennis tournament – in Queens; on the East River waterfront and in Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn; a shopping mall near Yankee Stadium in the Bronx; and a minor league baseball stadium in Staten Island.
Another is taking place in Harrison, New Jersey, at Sports Illustrated Stadium at a cost of $10 for adults and free for children 12 and under, though a ticket is required.
Transportation options
A round-trip train ticket from Penn Station in Manhattan to East Rutherford on NJ Transit costs $98 – down from the $150 initially unveiled but still significantly more than $12.90 for other events – and it’s not direct.
Ticket-holders must buy ahead for a specific time slot, board in one of two designated zones and then transfer at Secaucus Junction.
Fans can also take NJ Transit from Secaucus or Hoboken Terminal. FIFA’s official shuttle bus is $20 and departs from Grand Central Station, the Port Authority Bus Terminal, a to-be-determined site in north Midtown or a park-and-ride site in Clifton, New Jersey.
Despite vast lots surrounding the stadium with more than 20,000 spots usually available, the only parking on site will be what FIFA calls premium and limited availability at the American Dream mall. Ride share pickup and drop-off is at the Meadowlands harness racing track.
Stadium tips
Allow plenty of time to get in and even more patience to get out. A regular-season American football game leads to long lines and logjams, and the logistical complications of no parking or tailgating combined with the amount of fans unfamiliar with the stadium and the transportation there could cause lengthy delays.
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