Quick Navigation

• City Overview
• Match Schedule
• Getting There
• Where to Stay
• Soccer Bars
• Must-See vs Local Favorites
• Local Resources
• Walk/Bike Guide
• Local Creators
• 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.​

• Airport(s) Information:
  • John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) – Serves as a major international hub; home to Delta, American, JetBlue​
  • LaGuardia Airport (LGA) – Closest to Manhattan, upgraded terminals, major domestic hub.
  • Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) – Across the river in New Jersey, easy access to NYC and MetLife Stadium; hub for United.

Flight Booking Sites

• Going – Finds flight deals departing from NYC and other major airports.
• Google Flights – Powerful tool for comparing NYC flight options.
• Expedia – Aggregates flights and hotels.
• Kayak – Flexible multi-airport searches with price alerts.

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

New York City World Cup Ticket Prices

• View the list of Ticket Prices during Phase 1 for New York City matches

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).​

MetLife Stadium will host a total of eight matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including:

• Five Group Stage matches
• One Round of 32 match
• One Round of 16 match
• The Final

​

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

• Location(s):
  • Fanaticts Fest— The Fanatics Fest, a multi-day sports fan festival taking place at the Javits Center in Manhattan, is a private event organized by Fanatics​.
  • Liberty State Park — The Official FIFA Fan Fest at Jersey City’s scenic riverfront with open-air activities and stunning NYC skyline views.
    • ​NOTE: it will reportedly have a fee to gain entry so pay attention!
• For More Info: Official Host Committee 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
  • Typically, non World Cup, you’d look at MetLife Stadium Parking Portal.​
  • 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.
  • Bike racks available at Liberty State Park fan fest site.
  • Scooter rentals prohibited at the stadium on event days.
  • Use Citi Bike for NYC fan fest areas.

Fanatics Fest: Javatis Center in Manhattan

• Public Transport: The Javits Center is accessible via the 7 subway line at 34th Street-Hudson Yards station, numerous bus routes, nearby Penn Station train connections, and ferry services from across the Hudson River.​
• Driving/Parking: Limited on-site parking is available and should be pre-booked, though driving is generally discouraged during events.​
• Best Practices: Use public transit whenever possible, arrive early to avoid crowds, follow security protocols including bag checks, and consult real-time transit apps for smooth travel to the venue.​

FIFA Fan Fest: Liberty State Park in NJ (CANCELED!)

The Fan Fest in Liberty Park has been canceled! Smaller events across New Jersey will be utilized instead.

Best Practices: 

• Visitors should utilize public transit or ferries when possible, check shuttle schedules in advance, bring suitable footwear for walking the expansive park area, and be prepared for weather changes as the park is largely outdoors.​

Top Neighborhoods to Stay In (NYC/NJ near MetLife Stadium & Liberty State Park)

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

You can also use a platform like Hello Tickets to find deals on many ticketing activities in New York City.

Tourist Must-Sees

Local Favorites

Local Activity Booking Options

• Experience Platforms:
  • Airbnb Experiences – NYC – Locally hosted tours and soccer activities.
  • Viator – NYC – Wide range of touring, sports, and activity opportunities.

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.​

Modern Explorer: Creators to Follow

Creators

• Coming soon…​

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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