Isiah Christie 
The World Cup is coming to New Jersey in 2026, marking the second time the event has been held in the United States. With plenty of related events, changes to schedules, and international traffic on the way, it’ll be a busy summer in The Garden State. But no fear – The Hoboken Girl has compiled a list of everything you need to know about the World Cup. Read on for a guide to the 2026 World Cup in New Jersey.
What is the FIFA World Cup + How Does it Work?
The FIFA World Cup (which is affectionately referred to as just the “World Cup”) is a competitive men’s soccer tournament hosted every four years. The teams involved are members of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), who each represent a national association, whether that be a country, territory, region, or colony.
The members of the event are based on a “qualification phase” that takes place over the preceding three years to determine tournament eligibility. Qualifying teams are determined by geographical region, with each region having its own requirements. All require a qualifying team to win a regional group or playoff bracket, which punches their ticket to the World Cup. This year’s World Cup is unique in that it will feature 48 qualifying teams, versus the previous tradition of 32.
Read More: Liberty State Park in Jersey City to Host a Fan Festival for the FIFA World Cup
The World Cup is hosted in a different location (or set of locations) each year, and this will mark the second time the tournament reaches the United States, with the first being in 1994. Canada and Mexico will also host this year’s games alongside the U.S.
Who Will Compete?
42 of the 48 World Cup participants have been confirmed. The following teams are confirmed to participate, organized by their FIFA region:
- Hosts: Canada, Mexico, United States
- Europe: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland
- South America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
- Africa: Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia
- Asia: Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Korea Republic, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan
- North America: Curaçao, Haiti, Panama
- Oceania: New Zealand
Note that each national association team plays for a specific FIFA organization, which may not be based where they are geographically located. For example, Australia is located in Oceania geographically, but plays for Asia’s FIFA organization, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Dates to Know + Venue
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The World Cup will be hosted at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. The tournament will run from June 11, 2026, to July 19, 2026, with eight matches hosted in New Jersey, including the World Cup Final. The dates are as follows:
- June 13: Brazil vs. Morocco
- June 16: France vs. Senegal
- June 22: Norway vs. Senegal
- June 25: Ecuador vs. Germany
- June 27: Panama vs. England
- June 30: Round of 32 (teams undecided)
- July 5: Round of 16 (teams undecided)
- July 19: World Cup Final
The first five matches are “group stage” games to head to the best-of-32 playoffs, which will include the game days on June 30 and July 5. Liberty State Park will be hosting watch parties as part of a “FIFA Fan Festival” as well.
How to Buy Tickets
To purchase tickets to the World Cup, fans must know:
- The World Cup does not sell tickets through third-party platforms, like many sporting events. You must register for a FIFA ID, which can be done here.
- First-come, first-served tickets will be available to the public in April, although a specific date has not been disclosed.
Tickets were available for pre-sale through a random lottery draw from December 2025 to January 16, 2026, and the remaining tickets will be processed and released to the public for purchase at a future date, which has not yet been disclosed.
Transportation: What to Know
NJ Transit will have dedicated lines for event ticketholders on game days. To access MetLife Stadium via NJ Transit, fans must first take a train to Secaucus Junction before transferring to the Meadowlands Rail Line, which will bring them to the stadium. Information on ticket purchase + verification during event days has not yet been released, but NJ Transit has confirmed that only World Cup ticketholders will be permitted on the Meadowlands Rail during game days.
Hudson-Bergen Light Rail trains are also expected to receive an increase in traffic, as they are the primary link to the Fan Festival in Liberty State Park. NJ Transit has confirmed that bus + shuttle service will increase in frequency during Fan Festival hours to compensate.
Airbnb listings are also increasing, with hosts charging steep prices of up to $40,000 online. Due to New York City’s Local Law 18, which bans the rental of homes for under 30 days, New Jersey has drawn the majority of incoming homestay rental interest.
The Impact on New Jersey
While the World Cup is being hosted in 16 different locations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, New Jersey will receive more attention due to the World Cup Final being held at MetLife Stadium. The state will serve as a major hub for international traffic during the event and is expected to showcase its culture to a variety of global figures, with over 1.2 million visitors expected.
The World Cup is also expected to bring a $3.3 billion economic boost to the state, with over 26,000 jobs generated and over $1 billion in visitor spending expected. Over 65,000 volunteer opportunities have also been created from the event.
More information on the World Cup in the New York-New Jersey region can be found here.
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