The Hoboken Girl Team 
The FIFA World Cup is coming to New Jersey in June of 2026, with eight matches being held at MetLife Stadium. Organizers had announced a five-week FIFA Fan Festival at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, but as of February 19th, 2026, the event has been cancelled. Instead, several statewide fan activations will take place, billed as a community initiative and led by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) . Read on for more about the changes to the World Cup fan activities in New Jersey.
The FIFA World Cup is Coming to New Jersey: What to Know
The FIFA World Cup is a sporting event held every four years, where men’s national teams of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) compete for a championship via organized competitive matches + a 32-team tournament phase.
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted throughout sixteen cities in North America, including the Garden State’s very own East Rutherford. 8 of the event’s 104 matches will be held at MetLife Stadium, including the World Cup Final:
- Match 7 – Saturday, 13 June 2026
- Match 17 – Tuesday, 16 June 2026
- Match 41 – Monday, 22 June 2026
- Match 56 – Thursday, 25 June 2026
- Match 67 – Saturday, 27 June 2026
- Match 77 – Tuesday, 30 June 2026
- Match 91 – Sunday, 5 July 2026
- Match 104 – Sunday, 19 July 2026 (Final)
This is only the second instance of the World Cup coming to the United States, with the first being in 1994. The occasion will result in plenty of local events + cultural recognition for New Jersey, including Liberty State Park’s upcoming FIFA Fan Festival.
Statewide Events
On February 19th, 2026, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill announced a $5 million effort to create a series of statewide events in light of the 2026 World Cup games being played in New Jersey. “New Jersey is the beating heart of the 2026 World Cup, and this initiative makes sure that every New Jerseyan — no matter where they live — can be part of this once-in-a-generation moment,” said Governor Sherrill, via a statement. “From fan zones to neighborhood watch parties to street fairs, we are investing in the communities and small businesses that make New Jersey extraordinary. The World Cup is coming to our state — and we are going to make sure it belongs to New Jerseyans first.”
The initiative will support two distinct categories of World Cup programming statewide. First, it will fund major fan zone experiences strategically distributed throughout New Jersey, creating large-scale public viewing destinations for fans across the state. Second, it will provide targeted support for small and mid-sized community watch parties, festivals, and street fairs, ensuring that celebrations are accessible and locally rooted in communities of all sizes.
As part of this initiative, the NJEDA will prioritize supporting events that are high-impact, beneficial to small businesses, and reflective of the rich and diverse cultures that will be represented by competing World Cup nations, according to a statement.
This initiative is funded by previously appropriated Fiscal Year 2026 dollars. Pending approval by the EDA Board, more information about this initiative will be announced by the NJEDA and the Host Committee in the coming weeks. Organizations and community groups interested in learning more are encouraged to monitor the NJEDA’s and the Host Committee’s official communications for updates.
The weeks-long Fan Festival in Liberty State Park has been cancelled.
Nathaniel Styer, spokesperson for Jersey City Mayor James Solomon, shared the following statement. “The Governor made the right call. It became increasingly clear that there was no workable, cost-effective way to manage the influx of tens of thousands of fans into Liberty State Park, while maintaining access to the members of the Jersey City community. We are very excited for the opportunities that the World Cup is bringing to Jersey City and we will be rolling out more plans for residents and fans to celebrate this historic event at America’s Golden Doors.”
About the Fan Festival
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Event organizers had previously announced a five-week-long fan festival at Liberty State Park. From Thursday, June 11, to Sunday, July 19, Liberty State Park was to be the site of the FIFA Fan Festival, giving fans an opportunity to gather together and watch World Cup matches. According to the World Cup’s official website, the festival will include live match screenings, music performances, family-friendly programming, a diverse range of food options, + celebrity appearances.
It’s unclear if any of the events or activities that were part of the festival will be incorporated into the new model. The Hoboken Girl will update this piece as more information becomes available.
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