New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced today that the Host Region of New York New Jersey (NYNJ) has been awarded the rights to host the FIFA World Cup 26™ Final and seven other matches throughout the tournament at New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
FIFA revealed the match schedule today, which includes the dates and locations for each event.
“As an advocate for this region, and a lifelong soccer fan, I am thrilled that FIFA chose to place their trust in New York New Jersey to host the historic FIFA World Cup 26 Final,” Phil Murphy, governor of New Jersey, said in a statement.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our entire region; hosting the Final provides NYNJ an unparalleled platform to brilliantly showcase what we stand for – diversity, equality, access, and inclusion.”
“The FIFA World Cup 26 Final will be a generation-defining moment for New York New Jersey, and there’s no better place to host the world’s biggest game than the world’s biggest stage,” Eric Adams, mayor of New York City, said in a statement.
“New York New Jersey is ready for North America to be the center of the soccer world, and the history we’ll be making in 2026 will create lifetime memories for fans, provide new opportunities for our communities, infuse billions into our economy, and help shape our region and propel it forward for decades to come.”
“New Jersey is thrilled to host eight FIFA World Cup matches with our New York neighbors in 2026,” stated New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy.
“Future generations will remember this watershed event in our region’s history as we give an unforgettable experience for millions of fans in New Jersey, New York, and throughout the world. Following years of hard work by many, we are excited to have the opportunity to display the finest of our state, especially our rich cultural variety, as we welcome the world in 2026.”
The FIFA World Cup 26™ will be the largest athletic event ever, with three host countries, 16 host cities, 48 teams, and 104 matches uniting a whole continent to showcase a historic new tournament structure.
With more countries, cities, teams, and games, FIFA World Cup 26™ will be the most inclusive tournament ever, involving millions of fans in person at 16 distinct stadiums and billions of spectators worldwide.
The event will last 39 days, with the first match scheduled for June 11, 2026. The event will conclude with the Final in New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) on July 19, 2026, followed by unmatched fan experiences throughout the NYNJ region. MetLife Stadium in New York, New Jersey, will host eight matches throughout the tournament.
Beyond its historical significance, hosting the tournament will be extremely advantageous to the region. The FIFA World Cup 26™ matches at New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium), including the final, are expected to create over $2 billion in economic effect for the NYNJ region, supporting over 14,000 employment. Furthermore, the event is expected to attract over 1 million tourists to the region, with almost half of them being non-ticketholders.
Leadership in both New York and New Jersey has worked relentlessly and seamlessly to put the region on display and highlight its world-class hosting credentials. With the help of partners and stakeholders, NYNJ has proven to be more than capable of managing logistics, safety, and event execution throughout the tournament and in the Final.
“This is a memorable day for New York New Jersey,” stated Bruce Revman and Lauren LaRusso, co-host city managers of the FIFA World Cup 26™ NYNJ Host Committee.
“Our region’s world-class venues, transportation connectivity, and famous cultural sites will provide an unforgettable fan and player experience. This will be an incredible celebration for our diverse and dynamic community. We can’t wait to greet the world and show off everything we have to offer.
Governor Murphy spoke this afternoon at a match scheduling announcement watch party at MetLife Stadium hosted by the New York New Jersey Host Committee. A video of his comments is accessible here.
This evening, landmarks throughout the region, including the Empire State Building, One World Trade Center, MetLife Stadium, New York City Hall, Madison Square Garden, One Vanderbilt, One Bryant Park, America Dream, the Javits Center, 425 Park Avenue, Empire Outlets, One Five One, and Sven, will light up Lady Liberty green to commemorate this occasion.
Fans can pre-register for FIFA World Cup 26™ at fifa.com/tickets. Pre-registration for hospitality package details is also accessible at fifa.com/hospitality.
MetLife Stadium will be renamed New York New Jersey Stadium for the FIFA World Cup 26™, in line with other host cities.