Soccer enthusiasts around the world look forward to the FIFA World Cup that happens every four years. In 2026, USA, Mexico, and Canada are joining forces to bring together the sports event of the year. As of February 4th, 2024, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford has been named as the final venue to host the FIFA World Cup 2026 final game. The FIFA World Cup 2026 will take place from June 11th through July 19th, 2026. Since the announcement, other details have come out surrounding what Metlife and the surrounding area are doing to prepare for the event. Read on for more information surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup and how to get to and around MetLife Stadium.
MetLife’s Role in the World Cup Final
Back in early February, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford was named as the venue that will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final on July 19th, 2026, per NJ.gov. MetLife Stadium can accommodate up to 82,500 fans — it is the largest NFL stadium in the United States.
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The FIFA World Cup 2026 isn’t the first World Cup that MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford has participated in. Previously, the stadium took part in the 1994 FIFA World Cup. During that year, the United States of America was the host country of the tournament. In May 2023, New Jersey joined forces with New York City in a joint press conference to unveil the region’s joint FIFA World Cup campaign #WEARENYNJ to celebrate being one of the host cities of the tournament. It was a competitive process to be chosen as a host city of the 2026 World Cup, and an even more competitive process to be chosen as the World Cup final venue. Other cities that are participating besides NJ + NYC include Boston, Dallas, and Philadelphia, among others.
Since the initial announcement of Metlife Stadium as the 2026 World Cup Final venue, other details have been released surrounding how the East Rutherford area is preparing for the major sporting event after the Meadowlands Chamber of Commerce held a discussion on Friday, March 22nd. Per NJ.com, these plans include:
- Seven new buildings that will be constructed near the stadium.
- Widening the soccer pitch to meet FIFA standards, which requires a 68-meter wide by 110-meter long playing field.
- Designing rows of removable seating that can be restored for other events.
- Moving the existing stadium perimeter and security screening to create room for fan experiences, sponsor facilities, and other needed structures.
- Creation of a new state tourism slogan and campaign — “Little state, lotta wow” — which looks to make it easier for visitors and tour companies to explore all that New Jersey offers when matches are not being played.
- Ensuring that NJ Transit and the rest of the state transportation system are able to handle the volume of fans attending as well as daily users by splitting traffic between the existing Meadowlands rail line and the Transitway bus-rapid transit project — which is currently under design and is expected to start work this year and be completed in spring 2026. Multi-level train cars, backup trains, and buses will also be used.
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About the 2026 FIFA World Cup
For those unfamiliar with the FIFA World Cup, this event is billed as the world’s “most prestigious football tournament” per the FIFA website. It is an international men’s soccer championship event that occurs every four years. The upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the 23rd edition of this tournament. Host countries of this World Cup will be USA, Canada, and Mexico. Out of those three countries, only 16 cities will be participating. Previously, only a total of 32 teams participated but FIFA has increased the total participating teams to 48. With this increase in total teams, it can bring in more revenue, in terms of ticket sales, and content for audiences worldwide.
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The last time USA was a host country of the FIFA World Cup was back in 1994. Per Statista, the total attendance was 3,568,567 for the 1994 FIFA World Cup hosted right here in the USA. Fast forward to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the final match had a total of 1.5 billion viewers according to FIFA. While comparing this total to the Super Bowl LVII final, it is a drastic number difference as the Super Bowl rang in only a total of 115 million viewers right here in the U.S.
How to Get Tickets
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup being two years away, information about tickets is still being finalized. On the FIFA website, soccer fans can now only register their interest in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This interest form allows fans to provide their names and email addresses. With this information, fans will soon find out the latest news + information and on how to apply for FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets.
Traveling to MetLife Stadium
Driving
There are numerous ways to get to MetLife Stadium. Driving is one choice. MetLife has parking lots that usually open five before an event and will close two hours after an event has ended. Since these FIFA World Cup games are classified as non-NFL events, the parking fees are as follows at the time of this article: cars are $40 each, bus + RV are $160 each, and limousines are $100 each. Something to note is that these parking fees are subject to change.
Rent a Party Bus or Limousine
For those traveling in a large group, a party bus or limousine may be an ideal choice. Several party bus and limousine companies offer “tailgating” services to those heading to sports events. In this case, it can be for soccer fans heading to the FIFA World Cup 2026 games. New Jersey LimoBus + Limousine, BBZ Limo, and Party Bus Express are among the options to choose from. These companies each have contact information for further inquiries or instant quota forms in terms of how much these party bus or limo services may cost.
Rideshare
Rideshare is another option. MetLife Stadium has a specific Rideshare Zone that is located in Lot E off of West Peripheral Road, right outside of the Verizon Gate. Once a ride is requested, guests can walk over to this zone and wait for their driver’s instructions to know which row they are parked in. Also, since there is a high demand for rideshare after an event, pricing may surge and change from what was originally the price guests paid.
Public Transportation
As a third traveling option, public transportation is accessible to the stadium. NJ Transit has a Meadowlands Rail Service which leaves soccer fans just steps away from MetLife Stadium. In order to use this service, guests must arrive at the Secaucus Junction stop. There are several trains from different regions of New Jersey that are connected to arrive at the Secaucus Junction stop. Participating train routes include the Main-Bergen County Line, Montclair-Boonton Line, Morris + Essex Line, Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast Line, Pascack Valley Line, and Port Jervis Line.
Purchasing a ticket for the NJ Transit in advance is a convenient option for travelers coming in from out of state. NJ Transit has its very own mobile app which has a vast range of ticket purchase options to choose from. Monthly passes, weekly passes, and one-way tickets are among the ticket selections featured on NJ Transit. Rail maps are also available to refer to when boarding public transportation, which can be found here.
Accommodations for Soccer Fans
With the World Cup being open for both local and international fans alike, hotel accommodations may be needed to get to and from the games at MetLife. There are various hotels in close proximity to the stadium. Hilton Meadowlands, Hampton Inn Carlstadt, SpringHill Suites by Marriott East Rutherford, and Renaissance Meadowlands Hotel are some of the nearby hotels in the surrounding area. Some of these hotels also provide local shuttle service for those needing to go to the MetLife Stadium.
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Short-term rentals may be an option for those traveling from out of state. However, each town has its own restrictions and laws regarding short-term rentals. Some towns consider it illegal or have certain guidelines. Therefore, it is important to research fully when it comes to these accommodations.
Keep up with more information surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup and MetLife Stadium’s role in the sports event of the year here.
