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Jersey City, NJ – Wednesday marks exactly a year before the kick -off of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America, and the party began in the state where the final will be played.
It is the first time since 1994 that the continent has welcomed the most popular sporting event in the world, and the New Jersey of Phil Murphy will be the final site.
The Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford will host eight games in total, including five in the group phase and sleeve games of 32 and 16.
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Governor Phil Murphy with the World Cup trophy, which will be played in New Jersey in 2026. It was part of Murphy’s budgetary address for the state 2025 of the State. (Chris Pedota, Northjersey.com / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Addressing the media on Wednesday at the Liberty State Park in Jersey City, the site of the official festival of the 2026 World Cup fans, Murphy predicted that the final at the Giants and New York Jets will be “the most watched event in human history”.
And for those present, “the Metlife experience will be exceptional,” said Murphy.
“It will be secure and safe, easy to enter and go out, a great experience for fans once in the stadium,” continued Murphy.
“This is what it is about. A bunch of preparation, and now being able to show our vision and obtain the reaction that we have obtained, which was excitement, energy, interest.
A general vision of the Metlife Stadium before a match between the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills at the Metlife Stadium on September 11, 2023, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Michael Owens / Getty Images)
With the World Cup exactly 1 year, the USMNT legends say that the pressure is revealed from a notch
“It’s real. We have come out of a year, and see everyone’s reaction of the quantity of excitement for the World Cup makes us even more excited.”
Liberty State Park is home to huge views of New York rooftops and the statue of freedom, well filled with greenery, making it the ideal place for fans. Thus, while Murphy will undoubtedly be at the eight World Cup games played in Metlife, there is another responsibility to make sure that fans are entertained for the other 96 competitions played in the other 15 host stadiums.
“The Fan Fest, it will be beyond the words. Twenty-two screens, capacity of 45,000. When we are not in Metlife, we will be here to look. These experiences are extraordinary. It will be no exception,” added Murphy.
2026 The promotion of the FIFA World Cup is presented at Metlife Stadium after an FIFA announcement on February 5, 2024, at East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Eduardo Munozalvarez / View Press Getty Images)
“When you look at the ability of people to arrive here from New York and New Jersey, the emblematic roofs and the views of this, then, when you just think of celebrating, there is nowhere better,” said Lasry. “It is a unique place to organize the most emblematic fans of fans that we examine. To be able to do it in New Jersey with the sight of New York, it brings together the partnership.”
THE 2026 FIFA World Cup Take place in North America next year and will be presented on Fox Sports.
