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New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill wants to remind New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani where the 2026 FIFA World Cup will actually take place.
Earlier this week, Mamdani said he was excited to host the global football event.
“I’m so excited about the fact that we’re going to host eight World Cup games next summer,” Mamdani told CBS News.
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Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., delivers remarks during his election night event at the Hilton East Brunswick Hotel on November 4, 2025, in East Brunswick, NJ (Eduardo Muñoz Álvarez/Getty Images)
While Mamdani can’t wait for the games, Sherrill told 1010 WINS who will actually handle the logistics and hosting responsibilities – New Jersey.
“With all due respect to Mayor-elect Mamdani, maybe he doesn’t know where the games are going to be played because it’s going to be in New Jersey,” she said.
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The host venue in the tri-state area will be MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey in June and July, which will include the World Cup final.
New York City will, however, be a hub for gaming, given the cultural breadth of the population. Mamdani even said he was promising to appoint a “World Cup czar” to manage ticket prices that continue to skyrocket for the games.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced new executive orders Wednesday that could be seen as a challenge to Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, pictured. (PK Press Club Digital/Deirdre Heavey)
But Sherrill will circle dates on the calendar when MetLife Stadium and northern New Jersey will be on full display during the tournament.
She also mentioned that she would consider imposing a congestion charge for New Yorkers who use one of the many ways to get to New Jersey for the games.
“It’s possible that people coming into our state from New York will pay congestion fees to be able to enjoy the game,” Sherrill said, referring to a similar price New Jersey drivers must pay below 60th Street during rush hour in Manhattan.
“We look forward to working with New Jersey to have very robust traffic management plans for these events,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul said during a press conference Thursday, via the New York Post.
Zohran Mamdani, Mayor-elect of New York City, and Mikie Sherrill, Governor-elect of New Jersey (Photograph by Udo Salters/Getty Images; John Lamparski/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The first match at MetLife Stadium will be played on June 13, 2026, a Group C match between Brazil and Morocco. The final match will be played on July 19, 2026.
