New Jersey is ready to take center stage in the World Cup.
MetLife Stadium will host eight matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including the championship final on July 19, putting the Garden State at the forefront of the biggest sporting event.
The Final Draw, held in Washington, D.C. at noon, revealed the full 48-team tournament lineup and group assignments. The spotlight now turns to New Jersey, where fans, infrastructure and venues are gearing up for a summer of world-class soccer.
Liberty State Park in Jersey City will host the official Fan Festival, running from June 11 through the final. Bars, parks and public viewing spaces across the state will bring the World Cup experience to local communities. From East Rutherford to Hoboken, New Jersey will transform into a global soccer hub.
MetLife Stadium has already hosted youth tournaments and pre-event activities leading up to the event. The venue will showcase international talent and iconic matches, highlighting New Jersey’s unique ability to host events on the world stage.
For the Garden State, the World Cup has become more than just a series of soccer matches. The state’s hospitality, energy and intense sports culture will be catapulted to the global stage. It’s the most popular sporting event in the world and New Jersey is at the top of it. Millions of viewers around the globe will witness New Jersey’s streets, stadiums, festivals and culture come alive.
It is no exaggeration to say that the world tunes in to the World Cup. New Jersey is ready for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.