Quick Navigation

• City Overview
• Airports & Flights
• Match Schedule
• Getting There
• Where to Stay
• Soccer Bars
• Must-See vs Local Favorites
• Local Resources
• Walk/Bike Guide
• Pickup Soccer
• Outdoor Activities

City Overview & Practical Information

Official Sites:

• FIFA World Cup New York New Jersey Host Committee​
• NYC Tourism + Conventions – Official Tourism​
• FIFA Host City Info: New York New Jersey​

Weather in June/July:

• June average: High 80°F (27°C), Low 64°F (18°C), Precipitation: ~4.0in (warm, humid, a mix of sunny and rainy days)​
• July average: High 84°F (29°C), Low 69°F (20°C), Precipitation: ~4.6in (hot, humid, occasional afternoon thunderstorms).
  • Note: July can get very hot in a heat wave where the subways feel like an oven. Keep an eye on the weather and heat advisories.​​

Safety Tips:

• NYC is generally safe in tourist areas; always be alert in crowded places for petty theft.
• At MetLife Stadium: Security checks are strict. Check bag policy and arrive early.​
• Transit: Only use official taxis or rideshare; when traveling to/from MetLife Stadium, follow marked, official transport routes; at night, favor busy, well-lit areas.

Public Transit:

• FIFA 2026 Specific page from New Jersey Public Transportation Corporation 
• NYC offers an extensive, reliable 24/7 subway and bus system, plus regional trains and ferries across the city and to New Jersey; MetroCard and OMNY tap payment accepted on most services.​
• Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is a very comprehensive NYC subway, bus, and commuter rail.
• MTA Trip Planner Official trip planner with real-time service alerts.
• MTA App Official MTA transit apps for schedules, service changes.

• Essential Apps:
  MTA – Official transit trip planning and real-time updates.
  Uber – Main rideshare service in NYC.
  Citi Bike – Dominant bike share with docking stations citywide.
  NYC Official Visitor Guide App – Attractions, maps, event info.

New York/New Jersey Flights & Airports

Match Schedule & Host City Details for New York City / New Jersey

New York City World Cup Ticket Prices

• View FIFA Prices

Buying World Cup Tickets in NY / NJ:

• Official Source – FIFA.com/tickets
• Official Resale – FIFA.com/tickets
• Open 3rd Party Marketplace – LiveFootballTickets for NY/NJ
  • If you are wanting to go an unofficial route and assume your own risk, do your research.
  • For example, at least a platform like LiveFootballTickets.com offers a 150% refund policy for the tickets in NY/NJ

World Cup Simulator

Visit our custom created World Cup Simulator. This is meant to be a fun way to help guess and identify where teams will play for knockout rounds, given there are 495 combinations for 3rd place finishes.

It’s at no cost and a fun way to choose Group Winners, 3rd Place, Knockouts and share with friends. We are working on adding points, leaderboard, etc.

New York City World Cup 2026 Schedule

• Full Official FIFA Schedule: World Cup 2026 Match Schedule

All matches will be played at MetLife Stadium (venue name for FIFA: New York New Jersey Stadium).​

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Stadium

• Stadium Capacity: 82,500 (expandable for FIFA matches).​
• Stadium Review: MetLife Stadium – Stadium Review. Per article: It’s a boring stadium — which is something universally agreed on by both Giants and Jets fans, a rarity — both in look and feel. The food is poor. And it’s always a disaster exiting the stadium, especially for fans.​

Fan Fest

Note the official, full blown “Fan Fest” in Liberty Park was CANCELED.

Stay up to date on official site.

• Fan Zone Queens
• Fan Village Rockefeller Center
• Additional “Fan Zones” to be announced in Spring 2026

• For More Information:
  • ​Our Fan Fest Page

Getting to the Stadium & Fan Fest

Stadium: MetLife Stadium

• Public Transport:
  • NJ Transit Meadowlands Rail Service runs direct trains from NYC Penn Station and Newark Penn Station to the stadium on event days.​
  • NJ Transit Meadowlands Rail Info
  • Use NJ Transit App and MTA App for live updates.
• Driving & Parking:
  • FIFA’s Parking Site
  • Heavy traffic expected near Route 3, Route 17, and New Jersey Turnpike before and after matches; allow extra time.​
  • Rideshare drop-off points in Lot D and Lot E; follow event signage and staff directions.
• Walking & Biking:
  • Walking or biking to the stadium from NYC or Jersey City is discouraged due to infrastructure.
  • Scooter rentals prohibited at the stadium on event days.
• Helicopter Transfers:
  • Available in select host cities on match days. Fly from your arrival airport or hotel directly to the stadium area, bypassing road closures and ground traffic entirely.
  • Match-day gridlock is expected, and this can dramatically reduce transfer time and stress.
  • Atlas Jet Charter coordinates helicopter transfers as part of a charter itinerary or as a standalone booking. Contact Atlas for availability.

Neighborhoods to Stay In (NYC/NJ near MetLife Stadium)

Best Sites to Book Lodging

Best For Hotels / Bed & Breakfasts

• Booking.com options in NYC area
• Expedia options in NYC area
• Hotels.com options in NYC area

Best For Apartment / Loft / Home Rentals

• Airbnb
• Vrbo options in NYC area

Top Soccer Bars & Watch Spots

Further Research Sources:

• NYC Footy Top 10 Best Soccer Bars — Authoritative, updated annual list by local league organizers.​
• SecretNYC Soccer Bars List — Locals share crowdsourced picks by atmosphere.​

Tourist Hits vs Local Favorites

Tourist Must-Sees

Local Favorites

Local Activity Booking Options

• Book an Experience in the Host City:
  • Airbnb Experiences – NYC – Locally hosted tours and soccer activities.
  • Viator – NYC – Wide range of touring, sports, and activity opportunities.
  • GetWithGuide for guided activities

Bike/Walk Friendly Score & Articles

• Walk Score: 88/100 (“NYC is a walker’s paradise; almost every daily errand can be accomplished on foot.”)
• Bike Score: 70/100; mixture of dedicated bike paths, protected lanes, and bridges connecting neighborhoods, but rapid traffic and bridges to NJ limit true inter-state biking
• Best Neighborhoods for Biking/Walking: Manhattan (Hudson River Greenway), Brooklyn Waterfront, Jersey City/Hoboken Waterfront, DUMBO, Upper West Side, and Harlem.​
• Bike Rental/Share: Citi Bike, Bike Rent NYC, JerseyBike
• Walking Tours:
  • Big Onion Walking Tours
  • Free Tours by Foot NYC​
• Transit/Bike Integration: Bikes are allowed on NJ Transit trains (collapsible anytime; standard off-peak), PATH trains, and ferries; plan with NJ Transit Meadowlands and NYC Bike Map 2024 PDF.​

Pickup Soccer & Casual Play Locations

• Check Meetup NYC Soccer and OpenPlay for current game schedules.
• Most city spots have competitive and casual games; bring photo ID, small fee for organized play, and cleats for turf.

Outdoors & Hiking Trail Recommendations

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