Isiah Christie 
The World Cup is coming to New Jersey in June of 2026, with eight matches being held at MetLife Stadium. To celebrate the major event, Liberty State Park in Jersey City will be hosting a five-week Fan Festival where fans can enjoy live match screenings, food, performances, + more. Continue reading to learn about Liberty State Park’s Fan Festival and what it will offer.
The World Cup is Coming to New Jersey: What to Know
The 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 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 Fan Festival.
About the Fan Festival
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From Thursday, June 11, to Sunday, July 19, Liberty State Park will be the site of the 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.
Live match viewings will be shown on big screens, and festival attendees can expect to meet local vendors at the event. There will also be access to interactive soccer experiences + meet and greets with players. Concerts will be held on days when there are no matches.
Via its Instagram, it is confirmed that Liberty State Park will remain open for passive recreation during the festival. However, picnicking opportunities, the park’s public boat ramp, + the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway will be limited. Group picnic reservations will be paused from May to July.
Parking lots will also be limited or closed, so transportation via public transit or walking is recommended for visitors to the park. Surrounding attractions, including ferries to the Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Landing Marina, + Liberty Science Center, will still be available.
Tickets to the opening week of the Fan Festival are now available and can be purchased here. Information on future festival dates + ticket reservations has not been released, but we will update this article as more is revealed.
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