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FIFA World Cup 2026™ — Host City Guide

New York / New JerseyNew York

Eight matches. The Final. The most iconic sports stage on Earth. Here's everything you need to navigate the biggest tournament in World Cup history — in the greatest city in the world.

8Matches
82,500Capacity
Jun 13First Kickoff
Jul 19The Final
The Venue

MetLife Stadium

Home of the Giants and Jets, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey hosts the tournament's most coveted matches — including the Final on July 19. During the World Cup, FIFA officially renames it New York New Jersey Stadium.

🏆 This is where the World Cup champion will be crowned — July 19, 2026.
FIFA Name
New York New Jersey Stadium
Official designation during the tournament
Address
1 MetLife Stadium Dr
East Rutherford, NJ 07073
Capacity
82,500
Largest venue in the tournament
Playing Surface
Natural Grass
Open-air stadium — weather dependent
🚫
No parking at MetLife on match days. This is not a suggestion — it is FIFA and NJ TRANSIT policy. The only ways to the stadium are transit, rideshare, chartered buses, or the American Dream Mall parking ($225). Plan accordingly.
🕐
Arrive early — especially for the Final. Security checkpoints operate at Penn Station, Secaucus Junction, and MetLife itself. The July 19 Final will be the most attended event in New York sports history. Add at least 90 minutes of buffer beyond the usual recommendation.
🌦️
MetLife is open-air. Unlike SoFi Stadium in LA, there is no roof. Check the forecast before matchday — June and July in New Jersey can bring afternoon thunderstorms. Bring a poncho; umbrellas are not permitted in most seating areas.
🎒
Clear bags only. Max 12"×6"×12". No backpacks, no outside food or drink. FIFA's bag policy is stricter than standard Giants/Jets game policy. Check FIFA.com before matchday.
Match Schedule

8 Matches in NY/NJ

New York/New Jersey hosts five group stage matches, the Round of 32, the Round of 16, and the Final. All times Eastern.

Group Stage
Round of 32 / Round of 16
The Final
13June
Brazil vs. Morocco
Group C · 6:00 PM ET · New York New Jersey Stadium
Group C
16June
France vs. Senegal
Group I · 3:00 PM ET · New York New Jersey Stadium
Group I
22June
Norway vs. Senegal
Group I · 8:00 PM ET · New York New Jersey Stadium
Group I
25June
Ecuador vs. Germany
Group E · 4:00 PM ET · New York New Jersey Stadium
Group E
27June
Panama vs. England
Group L · 5:00 PM ET · New York New Jersey Stadium
Group L
30June
Round of 32 — TBD vs. TBD
Round of 32 · Time TBC · New York New Jersey Stadium
Round of 32
5July
Round of 16 — TBD vs. TBD
Round of 16 · Time TBC · New York New Jersey Stadium
Round of 16
19July
🏆 FIFA World Cup Final
The Final · 3:00 PM ET · New York New Jersey Stadium
The Final
The group stage matches here — Brazil vs. Morocco, France vs. Senegal, Ecuador vs. Germany — are among the most anticipated in the entire tournament. These are the games that will sell out first and fill the city fastest.
Getting There

Transportation

There is no general spectator parking at MetLife on match days. Transit is the only practical option. The good news: New York has the best public transit infrastructure of any World Cup host city. The challenging news: NJ Transit match day tickets are expensive, capped, and require advance purchase.

🚆
NJ Transit Train
The primary route. From Penn Station (Midtown Manhattan) → Secaucus Junction → Meadowlands Rail Line directly to MetLife. The journey takes approximately 35 minutes from Penn Station. Only available to World Cup match ticket holders. Only 40,000 round-trip tickets are sold per match — they sell out.
$98 round trip · Buy via NJ Transit app immediately when available
🚌
Shuttle Bus
Bus service operates from Port Authority Bus Terminal (Midtown West) and a Midtown East shuttle pickup near Grand Central. In New Jersey, a park-and-ride option runs from Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine in Clifton. A bus-only TransitWay lane will be active for hours before and after each match.
Separate bus tickets — check nynjfwc26.com for pricing
🚗
Rideshare
Uber and Lyft will operate but roads near MetLife will be heavily restricted on match days. Expect significant surge pricing and extended wait times post-match. For most fans arriving from Manhattan, rideshare to the stadium is slower and far more expensive than transit.
Variable — heavy surge expected for major matches
🅿️
American Dream Mall Parking
The only official parking option on match days is at American Dream Mall, adjacent to MetLife. Walking between the two is manageable. This is the right choice if you're driving in from New Jersey or elsewhere in the region and have already missed the transit ticket window.
$225 per vehicle
Buy NJ Transit tickets the moment they go on sale. Only 40,000 round-trip tickets are sold per match. They will sell out — particularly for the France/Senegal, Brazil/Morocco, and Final matchdays. Tickets are only available to holders of World Cup match tickets. Download the NJ Transit or RidePATH app before you travel.
From Manhattan
Penn Station is your hub. NJ Transit train to Secaucus, then the dedicated Meadowlands Rail Line directly to the stadium. Allow 35–45 minutes travel time plus security checkpoint time at Penn Station, which will partially close for up to 4 hours before major matches. Plan to be at Penn Station at least 2 hours before kickoff.
From the Airports
Newark Liberty (EWR) is the closest — take the AirTrain to Newark Penn Station, then NJ Transit toward MetLife. JFK and LaGuardia require getting to Manhattan first, then connecting to NJ Transit. Do not attempt to rideshare or taxi directly to the stadium from any airport on match days — traffic will be severe.
Where to Stay

NYC Neighborhoods

MetLife Stadium is in New Jersey, but the World Cup experience lives in New York City. Most visitors will base themselves across the river and commute to matches via NJ Transit. Here are the neighborhoods that make most sense.

Midtown Manhattan
Penn Station access — the practical center
Penn Station is where you catch the NJ Transit train to the stadium. Staying in Midtown — especially between 30th and 50th Streets — minimizes your matchday morning. The Rockefeller Center Fan Village is here too. Dense with hotels at every price point; book early, prices will be extreme.
5 min walk to Penn StationRockefeller Center Fan Village (Jul 6–19)
Hell's Kitchen
Walkable to Penn, dense with restaurants
West of Midtown, Hell's Kitchen is one of the best restaurant neighborhoods in the city and a short walk from Penn Station. A strong base for fans who want easy stadium access but also want to eat well every night. More character than the average Midtown hotel corridor.
10 min walk to Penn StationBest pre-match dining in the area
Brooklyn — Williamsburg / Park Slope
Local feel — soccer bars, great food
For fans who want to experience New York rather than just endure it between matches, Brooklyn delivers. Williamsburg's soccer bar culture will be fully activated for the tournament. Take the L or G train to Penn Station area, then NJ Transit. Adds 20–30 minutes to your matchday trip but the neighborhood is worth it.
30–45 min to Penn StationBest soccer bar atmosphere in NYC
Upper West Side
Residential, calmer — good value
If Midtown feels too chaotic, the Upper West Side offers slightly better value and a more residential feel. Lincoln Center, Riverside Park, and the Museum of Natural History are walkable. Take the 1/2/3 train south to Penn Station — about 15 minutes.
15–20 min to Penn StationBetter hotel value than Midtown
Jersey City / Hoboken
Across the river — PATH train access
Staying in New Jersey itself puts you closer to the stadium and can mean better hotel availability and pricing than Manhattan. Jersey City and Hoboken are vibrant, well-connected, and a PATH train ride from Midtown. For the Final, this could be the smartest base in the region.
PATH to Secaucus connectionBetter availability for Final week
Queens — Flushing / Jackson Heights
Diverse, authentic — World Cup in miniature
Queens has some of the largest Brazilian, French, Senegalese, and German communities in North America — teams that are all playing here. The Flushing Meadows fan zone is in Queens. Jackson Heights along Roosevelt Avenue has one of the most authentic soccer bar cultures in the city.
Fan zone at Flushing MeadowsBest international food in the region
Food & Drink

Where to Eat

New York is the best food city in North America. Unlike some host cities where you need to seek out good options, here the challenge is narrowing it down. Eat in the city before you head to New Jersey — food options around MetLife are limited compared to what the city offers.

Before the Match — Eat in the City
Hell's Kitchen · Midtown
Hell's Kitchen Dining
The stretch of 9th Avenue between 40th and 57th Streets is one of the densest restaurant corridors in Manhattan — Italian, Thai, Mexican, French, Brazilian, diner classics. If you're catching the NJ Transit from Penn Station, this neighborhood is your pre-match dining strip. Walk down 9th, pick what looks right.
10 min from Penn Station$–$$$Best pre-match area
Chelsea Market · West 15th St
Chelsea Market
A full block of food vendors, bakeries, fishmongers, and restaurants in a converted factory building. Los Tacos No. 1, the Lobster Place, Corkbuzz wine bar, and dozens more. Easy subway access on the A/C/E/L. Good for groups with different tastes — everyone finds something.
Chelsea$–$$Groups & variety
Jackson Heights, Queens
Roosevelt Avenue
If you're watching at the Flushing Meadows fan zone or staying in Queens, Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights is mandatory. Arguably the most diverse food street in the world — Colombian, Ecuadorian, Mexican, Bangladeshi, Tibetan, all within a few blocks. Lunch here before a match is an experience of its own.
Jackson Heights, Queens$Most diverse food street in NYC
Flushing, Queens
Flushing Chinatown
The largest Chinatown outside of Manhattan and one of the great food destinations in New York. Dumpling houses, Sichuan spots, Taiwanese bakeries, Korean BBQ, and everything in between. If you're heading to the Flushing Meadows fan zone, arrive an hour early and eat here first. The neighborhood on a World Cup matchday will be an event unto itself.
Flushing, Queens$Near Flushing Meadows fan zone
Soccer Bar · Williamsburg
Banter Bar
Brooklyn's most dedicated soccer bar, known for opening early for big international fixtures and drawing a lively, genuinely global crowd. The kind of place where you'll be celebrating with strangers by halftime. For matches you're watching on screen rather than attending, this is where you want to be.
Williamsburg, Brooklyn$–$$Best watch party bar
Soccer Bar · Carroll Gardens
Bar Bruno
A laid-back Euro-Mexican café vibe with a deep love for soccer and a frozen margarita that earns its reputation. Less hectic than Banter but equally passionate about the game. Good for afternoon matches and the kind of crowd that actually knows what they're watching.
Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn$$Relaxed match viewing
New York's Brazilian, French, Senegalese, and German communities — all whose national teams play here — will be hosting neighborhood watch parties that feel like mini-tournaments of their own. Follow the flags.
Fan Events

Fan Zones & Festivals

New York/New Jersey is running the most geographically distributed fan event program of any host region — official zones in all five NYC boroughs plus a dedicated New Jersey hub, spanning the full duration of the tournament.

01
Fan Village at Rockefeller Center — with Telemundo
July 6–19, 2026 (Finals Week)
The flagship NYC fan experience transforms Rockefeller Center into a global football celebration — live match broadcasts centered on a temporary pitch at the Rink, interactive fan experiences across the three-block campus, a free "Legacies of Champions" FIFA Museum exhibit (timed entry required), and programming through the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Final. Open-access — no capacity limits like the borough sites. Take the B/D/F/M to 47–50th Street.
Free · Open access · Jul 6–19
02
Sports Illustrated Stadium Fan Hub — Harrison, NJ
Throughout the tournament (select dates)
The official New Jersey fan destination. SI Stadium — home of the NY Red Bulls and Gotham FC — is a soccer-first venue that gives the hub real football character. Fans watch matches on the stadium floor on a 60-foot screen on the pitch itself. The Hype House features 20 large screens, a 360-degree bar, and a stage for live music. From Midtown, take the PATH train from 33rd Street or Christopher Street to Harrison station — a 25–35 minute journey and a short walk to the stadium.
Check nynjfwc26.com for schedule and tickets
03
Flushing Meadows Fan Zone — Queens
Group stage dates
Set at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, this Queens fan zone brings live match screenings to one of the borough's most significant cultural sites. Capacity 5,000–10,000. Arrive early and spend time eating in Flushing before the event — it will be one of the best pre-match experiences available anywhere in the region. Free tickets required via nynjfwc26.com.
Free · Tickets required
04
Brooklyn Bridge Park Fan Zone
Selected match dates
Live match screenings with the Manhattan skyline as a backdrop — one of the most visually spectacular settings of any fan zone in the tournament. Take the A/C to High Street–Brooklyn Bridge or the 2/3 to Clark Street, or use the NYC Ferry (East River route). Free tickets required.
Free · Tickets required
05
Bronx Fan Zone — Bronx Terminal Market
Mid-June, group stage
A concentrated two-day event during the opening weekend of the group stage, with capacity for 5,000–10,000 fans. The Bronx has some of the deepest soccer roots of any borough — this event will reflect that. Take the 4/B/D train to 161st Street–Yankee Stadium (20–25 min from Midtown).
Free · Tickets required
06
Staten Island Fan Zone
Round of 16 dates
Four days of watch parties during the Round of 16 at Staten Island University Hospital Community Park, upgraded with a new LED scoreboard for the World Cup. Capacity 5,000–10,000. Take the Staten Island Ferry from Whitehall Street (free) then Staten Island Railway or a local bus — allow 45–60 minutes from Midtown.
Free · Tickets required
Before You Go

Essential Tips

Ten things that will make your New York World Cup experience significantly better — and save you from the most common mistakes.

01
Buy Transit Tickets the Moment Sales Open
NJ Transit sells only 40,000 round-trip tickets per match. They will sell out, and they're only available to World Cup match ticket holders. Check njtransit.com for the on-sale date and buy immediately. No transit ticket = no easy way to the stadium.
02
Book Hotels 6+ Months Out for Final Week
The Final on July 19 will bring an unprecedented number of visitors to New York. Hotels within reasonable distance of Penn Station are filling up fast. The Final week (July 13–19) will see the highest prices in New York hotel history for that period.
03
Penn Station Partially Closes Before Matches
For major matchdays, Penn Station will partially close for up to 4 hours before kickoff to manage crowd flow. This is not a rumor — it is confirmed NJ Transit policy. Plan to arrive at Penn Station well before the closure window, or board from a different NJ Transit point of origin.
04
Eat in the City — Not at MetLife
The MetLife/Meadowlands area has very limited dining options beyond the stadium itself. Have a full meal in Manhattan or wherever you're based before heading to Secaucus. Hell's Kitchen, Chelsea Market, or your neighborhood of choice — but eat before you board the train.
05
Download the RidePATH App
RidePATH covers PATH train service between New Jersey and Manhattan. If your route involves the PATH (especially if staying in Jersey City or Hoboken), this app provides real-time arrivals, trip planning, and alerts. Download it before you travel.
06
Register for Fan Zone Tickets Early
All five NYC borough fan zones require free tickets, registered through nynjfwc26.com. The Rockefeller Center Fan Village is open-access. Register for borough zones as soon as tickets are available — capacity is capped and popular match screenings will fill up.
07
MetLife Is Open-Air — Prepare for Weather
New Jersey in June and July averages 85°F but can produce afternoon thunderstorms. A compact poncho is smart — umbrellas may not be permitted in your seating section. Check the forecast the morning of your match. Rain during the Final would be historically memorable, not catastrophic.
08
Spend Time in Queens
Jackson Heights and Flushing are two of the most underrated food destinations in the country and two of the most international neighborhoods in the world. Brazil, France, Senegal, Ecuador, Germany — teams playing at MetLife — all have large communities in Queens. Spend a day here between matches.
09
For the Final: Arrive Extraordinarily Early
The July 19 Final will be the largest sporting event in New York history. Security processing, transit bottlenecks, and Penn Station crowd management will all be at maximum intensity. For the Final specifically, plan to be in position at Penn Station at least 3 hours before kickoff.
10
Verify Everything at FIFA.com and nynjfwc26.com
Transportation plans, fan zone schedules, security protocols, and ticket policies are all subject to change in the weeks before the tournament. The official sources are FIFA.com and nynjfwc26.com. Don't rely on secondhand information for anything that affects how you get to the stadium.
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