New York/New Jersey: What you need to know about the 2026 World Cup host region

Countdown to 2026

More than football

New York/New Jersey: What you need to know about the 2026 World Cup host region

MetLife Stadium is in East Rutherford, New Jersey and will host the 2026 World Cup final.

New York City. Photo by Jörg Schubert (used under CC)

The New York/New Jersey region is among the list of host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Soccer history: New York City boasts a vibrant soccer legacy that began with the founding of the American Soccer League in 1921. This was followed by the emergence of the North American Soccer League (NASL) and the iconic rise of the New York Cosmos during the 1970s, a team that brought legends like Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer and Carlos Alberto to play in the United States. Today, the city’s soccer scene continues to thrive with the presence of two Major League Soccer teams: New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls.

During the 1994 World Cup in the U.S., Giants Stadium in New Jersey hosted seven matches, including a semi-final.

Population: 19.6 million

Airports: The NY/NJ region has three main airports:

John F. Kennedy International in NYC (23.5 miles from MetLife Stadium — shortest route)

LaGuardia in NYC (15.5 miles from MetLife stadium — shortest route)

Newark Liberty International in NJ (12 miles from MetLife Stadium — shortest route)

Stadium: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Credit: Gabriel Argudo Jr. (used under CC)

Capacity: 82,500

Surface: Turf (before World Cup)

Roof: Open air

Refurbishing plans for MetLife Stadium? According to Bleacher Report, there are plans to eliminate 2,000 seats from MetLife to allow for a wider field for the World Cup. FIFA requires a playing field larger than an NFL field, along with an additional five meters of runoff space around it.

According to Business Sports Journal: “Work is underway.” The Journal explains the work will be done in two phases in 2024 and 2025 focused on “removing permanent seating in the stadium’s lower bowl corners, as well as installing necessary infrastructure to support a natural grass playing surface specifically for the tournament.” According to the report, $30 million in public funding will pay for the stadium’s World Cup renovation project, although the project’s price tag hasn’t been fully detailed, it says.

MLS teams: New York Red Bulls and New York City FC (none of them play at MetLife Stadium)

Other teams: New York Giants (NFL) and New York Jets (NFL)

2026 matches in NY/NJ: