World Cup 2026 Host Cities Guide
New York / New Jersey (MetLife Final City)
A comprehensive guide for singles & families—written by a soccer tragic
If you're picking one U.S. base for the biggest World Cup ever, make it New York / New Jersey. The region hosts eight matches at MetLife Stadium—including the World Cup Final on Sunday, July 19, 2026—plus five group games, a Round of 32, and a Round of 16. It doesn't get more marquee than that.
FIFA's published MetLife slate (listed under "New York New Jersey Stadium") is:
- Match 7 (Sat Jun 13)
- Match 17 (Tue Jun 16)
- Match 41 (Mon Jun 22)
- Match 56 (Thu Jun 25)
- Match 67 (Sat Jun 27)
- Match 77 (Tue Jun 30, Round of 32)
- Match 91 (Sun Jul 5, Round of 16)
- Match 104 (Final, Sun Jul 19)
MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey—rebranded by FIFA as "New York New Jersey Stadium"—seats roughly 82,500 and has already hosted mega‑events (including the Copa América Centenario 2016 Final, where Chile beat Argentina on penalties). It's tailor‑made for the World Cup's closing chapter.
Beyond the final, New York City's cultural gravity means every non‑match hour can be as memorable as the football itself. And across the river, Jersey City and Hoboken offer skyline views, PATH‑train convenience, and calmer late nights without dousing the buzz.
The NY/NJ Host Committee site is your official regional hub for venue, dates, and festival info as it drops. Bookmark it.
You've got three major airports to play with—each with workable rail/bus options:
EWR (Newark Liberty)
Take AirTrain Newark to NJ Transit for a one‑seat ride to New York Penn Station (Midtown) or to Secaucus Junction (key if you're MetLife‑bound). This combo is usually the fastest way into Manhattan from EWR.
JFK
Take AirTrain JFK to Jamaica for LIRR (fast) or E subway (cheaper). Either way, it's a predictable, road‑traffic‑proof approach to Midtown.
LGA (LaGuardia)
Use the Q70 SBS to link into the subway; taxis/rideshares are plentiful but traffic‑sensitive.
If you're splashing out on a pre‑booked shuttle or car service, book well in advance—vendors are already warning of surges during the tournament window.
Two smart bases for most fans:
Manhattan (Midtown/Herald Square, Penn Station area)
You'll have direct access to NJ Transit trains that stop at Secaucus Junction, where you transfer to the Meadowlands rail shuttle on event days. Great if you want nightlife and museums outside match hours.
Jersey City / Hoboken (on the Hudson waterfront)
Steps from PATH trains into Manhattan; quick Hudson‑Bergen Light Rail and ferry links to Liberty State Park (Fan Festival), and easier logistics to MetLife via Secaucus. Hotels near Exchange Place, Grove Street, and Newport PATH stations are fan favorites for cutting commute friction.
Best practice is rail to rail:
Step 1:
From New York Penn Station or most NJ points, take NJ Transit to Secaucus Junction (look for trains marked "SEC" on departure boards). There's no direct train from New York Penn to the stadium.
Step 2:
Transfer at Secaucus to the BetMGM Meadowlands Rail Line shuttle straight to Meadowlands Station (at the stadium). Buy a round‑trip ticket to "Meadowlands" from your origin to avoid queues and surcharges.
NJ Transit has a dedicated Meadowlands page and a World Cup landing page—both reiterate the Secaucus transfer and often run "load & go" trains post‑event for up to three hours. It's the easiest way out after final whistle.
Coach USA 351 Meadowlands Express runs express buses from NYC Port Authority to the stadium when activated—an excellent fallback if a rail disruption arises (rare, but plan‑wise, we learned in 2025 that strikes or non‑event days can limit stadium rail).
Pro tip:
MetLife events routinely enforce a clear‑bag policy and advise early arrival; concert KBYG sheets show the same patterns you'll see on matchdays—expect bag checks, rideshare congestion, and strictly defined drop/pickup zones. Always check MetLife's event page the week of your match.
This is the heartbeat of the region for the full 39‑day tournament—June 11 to July 19, 2026—with match broadcasts, live entertainment, brand activations, and rest‑day concerts curated by Live Nation/DPS. Expect capacities in the tens of thousands, panoramic skyline views, and an all‑day festival vibe.
Getting there: From Manhattan, take PATH to World Trade Center or Hoboken, then the Hudson‑Bergen Light Rail to Liberty State Park; ferries to Liberty Landing Marina are another beautiful option (Brookfield Place → Liberty Landing) if you want a skyline cruise baked into your day.
NY Waterway maintains frequent Hudson River ferry routes (Hoboken, Paulus Hook/Jersey City, Port Imperial/Weehawken) to Midtown and Lower Manhattan—useful for mixing festival days with city nights.
Base yourself with intent.
If your priority is late‑night food and seamless match exits, Midtown Manhattan near Penn Station lets you bolt from the stadium back to a barstool or ramen bowl fast—one transfer at Secaucus and you're home. Double‑down on convenience by staying within a few blocks of Penn or 34th Street; the NJ Transit → Secaucus → Meadowlands chain is the default pipeline for tens of thousands on game days.
Prefer a slightly calmer scene (and better value)? Jersey City (Exchange Place / Grove Street / Newport) and Hoboken deliver PATH connectivity to Manhattan, ferry views, and effortless access to Liberty State Park. Nights out in Paulus Hook or Hoboken's waterfront carry big‑game energy without Midtown's crush.
Pre‑match ritual:
Meet friends near Koreatown (W 32nd) or NoMad for early eats, then roll down to Penn Station to beat the rush to Secaucus. On weekends, leave earlier than you think; stadium rail shuttles can get shoulder‑to‑shoulder 2–3 hours pre‑kick. NJ Transit's Meadowlands page details the cadence (10–20‑minute intervals before events; "load‑and‑go" after).
Post‑match strategy:
Unless you love queueing, linger for 15–20 minutes inside or in the plaza, then ride back to Secaucus. If trains and platforms are packed, watch for NJ Transit's supplemental buses running straight to Secaucus—your Meadowlands rail ticket is valid on those. From Secaucus, choose Manhattan or Hoboken/Jersey City depending on the party.
Rest‑day menu:
- Fan Festival at Liberty State Park (giant screens, concerts, global food). It's the official gathering spot and will be one of the tournament's signatures here.
- Waterfront runs and ferries between Hoboken/Jersey City and Manhattan—fast, scenic resets after a night out.
- If you're stacking cities, intercity buses have announced intent to blanket all host cities—a budget‑friendly alternative to short‑haul flights for your multi‑city soccer safari.
- Final is July 19, 2026 at MetLife; matchdays at the venue: Jun 13, 16, 22, 25, 27, 30; Jul 5; Jul 19 (Final). Copy/paste this into your calendar now.
- Rail is king: Penn Station → Secaucus → Meadowlands on event days; no direct Penn → Stadium trains. Round‑trip to "Meadowlands" on the NJT app speeds you through.
- Coach USA 351 runs from Port Authority if/when activated; a reliable plan B if rail is constrained.
- Fan Festival (Jun 11–Jul 19) at Liberty State Park—Live Nation/DPS programming, giant screens, 39 straight days.
- PATH + Ferries are your museum‑and‑lunch connectors (Jersey City/Hoboken ↔ Lower Manhattan/Midtown), and your scenic route to Fan Fest days.
- Airports: EWR (AirTrain → NJ Transit), JFK (AirTrain → LIRR/E), LGA (Q70 SBS). Choose rail when possible to dodge traffic.
- Expect big‑event policies at MetLife (clear bags, early gate times, defined rideshare zones). Don't plan to walk to the stadium from nearby hotels—the complex is ringed by highways; use official transport.
A) Singles, Midtown base (Penn Station area)
- Day −1 / Arrival: EWR → AirTrain → NJ Transit → Penn. Dump bags, quick bite in Koreatown, then Times Sq/High Line stroll.
- Matchday: Midtown brunch → NJ Transit to Secaucus, transfer to Meadowlands Rail. Post‑match: let the first crush clear, then back to Penn → late‑night spot near NoMad.
- Rest day: PATH to WTC → ferry to Liberty Landing → Fan Festival. Sunset back to Manhattan for dinner in the East Village.
B) Families, Jersey City base (Exchange Place / Newport)
- Day −1 / Arrival: EWR → NJ Transit to Newark Penn → PATH to Exchange Place. Waterfront playgrounds and early dinner.
- Matchday: PATH to Newark/WTC corridor → NJT to Secaucus → Meadowlands Rail. Bring ear protection and snacks; exit 10–15 minutes after whistle for a calmer trip home.
- Rest day: Hudson‑Bergen Light Rail to Liberty State Park for the Fan Festival, ferry back to Brookfield Place for a short Lower Manhattan wander and an early bedtime.
World Cups are about more than 90 minutes—they're about the trains full of strangers singing the same chorus, the kid seeing the skyline for the first time, the collective gasp before a free kick. New York / New Jersey wraps all of that in one region: the Final, the Fan Festival, and a web of transit that can move millions if you work with it instead of against it.
Put simply: sleep near PATH or Penn, ride rail to Secaucus, transfer to the Meadowlands shuttle, and stitch your off‑days around Liberty State Park and the Hudson ferries. The rest? That's football.