2026 World Cup Guide: New York/New Jersey

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FIFA World Cup 2026 Travel Guide

New York/New Jersey is one of 16 North American cities selected to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, serving as the venue. The stadium will stage eight games, including the tournament’s final, drawing fans from across the globe to the New York metropolitan area. MetLife Stadium is about 10 miles west of downtown Manhattan and is accessible via public transportation, including NJ Transit rail and bus services, as well as dedicated shuttle options on event days. It’s one of the most connected venues of the 16 cities, despite not technically being in New York, meaning visitors can stay in various parts of the city and still reach the stadium with relatively little hassle.

Here’s your guide to all things NY/NJ World Cup.

• About MetLife Stadium
• Tickets and matches
• Getting to NY/NJ
• Getting around during the World Cup
• Details on the FIFA Fan Zone
• Hotels, soccer bars, and what else to do
• More about NY/NJ

Venue: MetLife Stadium

MetLife Stadium opened in 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It’s technically about five miles outside New York City, making it accessible for fans of both teams that call it home (the Giants and the Jets). It’s the largest venue in the NFL, with a capacity of more than 82,500, and is one of only two NFL stadiums shared by two teams. Both teams split construction costs equally, coughing up about $8 million each. The stadium’s exterior lighting switches colors depending on which team is playing (blue for the Giants, green for the Jets), each team has its own locker room, and markings on the field are swapped out between home games by a dedicated crew — a process that takes about 18 hours. For the finals, a temporary natural grass surface will be installed over the current artificial turf to meet FIFA match requirements.

The NY/NJ World Cup schedule

MetLife Stadium will host eight FIFA World Cup 2026 matches, including the final match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

• June 13, 2026: Brazil vs. Morocco — Group C, 6 PM ET
• June 16, 2026: France vs. Senegal — Group I, 3 PM ET
• June 22, 2026: Norway vs. Senegal — Group I, 8 PM ET
• June 25, 2026: Ecuador vs. Germany — Group E, 4 PM ET
• June 27, 2026: Panama vs. England — Group L, 5 PM ET
• June 30, 2026: Round of 32 match — Group I winner vs. a TBD third-place team, 5 PM ET
• July 5, 2026: Round of 16 match — winner of Match 76 vs. winner of Match 78, 4 PM ET
• July 19, 2026: World Cup Final, 3 PM ET

Tickets are on sale for all World Cup matches, though they’re currently limited to fans who have won various ticket-buying lotteries. FIFA uses dynamic pricing, meaning that prices for tickets change as demand ebbs and flows. General purchase ticket prices are expected to start around $140, but NY/NJ is likely to be one of the most in-demand destinations, with tickets getting purchased quickly as soon as they become available. As of March 2026, resale tickets for the first match (Brazil vs. Morocco via StubHub start at just over $1,000 each for the nosebleed (further back) seats.

How to get to NY/NJ

The New York metro area is served by three major airports: John F. Kennedy International (JFK) in Queens, Newark Liberty International (EWR) in New Jersey, and LaGuardia (LGA) in Queens. JFK and Newark handle the bulk of international traffic and are connected to the city via subway (JFK’s AirTrain links to the A and E trains) and NJ Transit rail from Newark, respectively. Driving from any of the three airports into Manhattan typically takes 30 to 60 minutes depending on traffic, with rideshare and car rental available at all three.

Driving in New York City is notoriously terrible, to the point where it’s unusual for people who live in the area to even own a car. Using public transportation or shared airport shuttles to get from the airports to your hotel or Airbnb will save you a lot of headache (and a lot of money on the city’s very expensive parking fees).

Getting around town during the World Cup

On event days, the most efficient way to reach MetLife Stadium is via public transportation on the NJ Transit Meadowlands Rail Line, which runs between Secaucus Junction and the Meadowlands Station adjacent to the stadium. If you’re coming from NYC, you’ll first take an NJ Transit train from New York Penn Station to Secaucus Junction, then transfer to the Meadowlands shuttle train. The entire trip typically takes about 30 to 50 minutes, though travel times may vary on major event days.

Alternatively, Coach USA operates the 351 Meadowlands Express bus service between the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan and MetLife Stadium. This direct bus service typically runs on major event days and provides a convenient option for attendees who prefer not to transfer trains.

For those opting to drive, expect traffic. Parking is available on site, but spaces can fill quickly during major events. It’s advisable to purchase parking passes in advance through the MetLife Stadium parking portal. Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft have designated drop-off and pick-up zones near the stadium, usually in Lot E.

For getting around NYC, the subway is by far the best option. You can use tap to pay on your mobile phone and find a full map and planning tool online on the MTA official website. The system is extensive, and some trains may not stop at all stations, so pay attention to signage and announcements in the stations. But when in doubt, just ask. New Yorkers may have a reputation for being brisk, but most people are more than happy to help point you in the right direction.

The Official NY/NJ FIFA Fan Zones

The NY/NJ region’s fan zone plans have evolved considerably since they were first announced. The weeks-long Fan Fest planned for Liberty State Park in Jersey City, originally announced in February 2025 and billed as open for all 104 matches, was cancelled in February 2026. Instead, the host committee is planning two separate FIFA Fan Zones in New York, plus a mobile touring experience, and lots of community-wide events in local neighborhoods.

Fan Zone Queens will run from June 17–28 at Louis Armstrong Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens. Entry is free but requires an advance ticket through Live Nation. There’s also going to be a Fan Village at Rockefeller Center, hosted in partnership with Telemundo, running from July 4–19. The Rink will be converted into a football pitch with large screens for live match broadcasts, and the celebration extends across the entire three-block campus including Rockefeller Center.

Perhaps the most unique is the “Skyline to Shoreline Road Tour,” a roving experience set to begin May 11. It’ll be stopping at parks, boardwalks, and neighborhood events across New York and New Jersey with interactive soccer challenges, music, giveaways, and more. The full schedule will likely be posted on the NY/NJ Host Committee Instagram page. The host committee also said it plans to announce more official events, such as player meet-and-greets or watch parties, as it gets closer to kick off.

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