World Cup 2026 travel guide: New York and New Jersey
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup final will be held at MetLife Stadium – New York/New Jersey Stadium for the short future – in East Rutherford, New Jersey in July. That’s right, don’t let the name fool you: New Jersey, not New York.
There will be exactly zero World Cup games held within borders of New York state in 2026, so don’t let the marketing deceive you. This is New Jersey’s show: Home of Bruce Springsteen, pork roll (or Taylor ham), Six Flags Great Adventure, the incandescent light bulb, the famed Jersey Shore and the best damn bagels and pizza in the galaxy.
That said, East Rutherford is but a stone’s throw from Manhattan: Resting a comfortable, short train ride on New Jersey Transit to Penn Station, those looking for the full Big Apple-experience can hop on a train or take a short drive across the river to satisfy the craving.
What games are in New York/New Jersey?
There will be eight games, including the final, held at New York/New Jersey Stadium over the course of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Here’s the list:
Group stage:
- Saturday, June 13: Brazil vs. Morocco
- Tuesday, June 16: France vs. Senegal
- Monday, June 22: Norway vs. Senegal
- Thursday, June 25: Ecuador vs. Germany
- Saturday, June 27: Panama vs. England
Knockout rounds:
- Tuesday, June 30: Round of 32
- Sunday, July 5: Round of 16
- Sunday, July 19: Final
Where are the games in New York being played?
There will be no games held in New York, despite the best marketing efforts of FIFA. All games will be held in MetLife Stadium – “New York/New Jersey Stadium” if you want to be pedantic – the home of the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets, which is nestled comfortably within the borders of New Jersey.
MetLife Stadium has seen a number of massive sporting events over the years, including soccer. It played host to Super Bowl 48, WrestleManias 29 and 35, matches in the 2011 and 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
How to get around in New York/New Jersey
If you want to get to World Cup soccer in the greater New York metropolitan area, then you better get to learn to the magic that is NJ Transit:
If traveling from NYC
On any other day, in any other year, it would be a bit more simple to make it from Penn Station in New York City to Secaucus Junction Train Station in New Jersey. During the World Cup, though, it’s a bit more complicated: In order to travel on gamedays to MetLife Stadium courtesy of NJ Transit, then you will have to have a ticket for the game, and there are some more bells and whistles to go along with it.
Tickets are limited to 40,000 per gameday, and can be purchased ahead of time via the NJ Transit app. Round trip tickets from any NJ Transit station to NYNJ Stadium will run you a pretty penny at $98.
There will be three boarding stations to NYNJ Stadium: Penn Station (NY), Hoboken Station and Secaucus Junction.
Those using New York Penn Station must use the boarding zone assigned to their ticket: Boarding Zone A (Red) is at 32nd Street and 6th Avenue, while Boarding Zone B (Blue) is at 33rd Street and 7th Avenue. There are single boarding zones for both Hoboken and Secaucus.
In order to have everyone in your party assigned to the same boarding zone, one person must purchase all tickets in a single transaction.
Trains will run continuously beginning five hours prior to the start of the game and ending one hour prior to the start of the game.
If traveling within NJ
The New Jersey Turnpike would normally be your best friend (and your worst enemy). That said, there will be no personal car parking at NYNJ Stadium during the World Cup, and those looking to make the stadium for gameday will have to take a shuttle to the venue. There are four shuttle pickup locations:
- Manhattan: Port Authority Bus Terminal
- Mahattan: Southwest corner of Central Park
- Manhattan: East side of Grand Central Terminal
- New Jersey: Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine in Nutley
Where to stay in New York/New Jersey
If you’re still looking for hotel space, you should have one question to ask yourself: Why?
While the greater New York metropolitan area is more than capable of handling the excess visitors for the World Cup, convenient rental space is drying up ahead of the first matches of the event in mid-June.
Still, depending on your price point, here’s some spots you may consider. (NJ hotels via NorthJersey.com’s Maddie McGay):
In New York
- Courtyard by Marriott, Manhattan/Chelsea
- Holiday Inn Express, W 29th Street
- Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites New York Midtown Manhattan/Penn Station
- Midtown West Hotel
In New Jersey
- Hampton Inn Carlstadt-At The Meadowlands
- World of Blue
- Homewood Suites by Hilton East Rutherford-Meadowlands
- Renaissance Meadowlands Hotel
Where to eat in New York, New Jersey
First and foremost, you should know that New Jersey pizza and bagels are far superior to anything New York has to offer. But, make sure you try both delicacies to form your own opinion on the ages-long debate.
Once you scarf those down, consider some of these options – depending on where you stay, and how far you’re willing to travel:
New York
You can get anything, anywhere, anytime in New York. Here are a few suggestions if you’re looking for a quick bite or a good meal:
John’s of Bleecker Street: Looking for a good New York pie? John’s of Bleecker Street has you covered. You can get a good pizza anywhere in the city, but John’s is one of the few standouts.
Peter Luger Steak House: It’ll take you a subway ride over to Brooklyn, but if you’re interested in dropping a lot of money to take in one of New York’s most notable restaurants, then see if you can check out Peter Luger during your stay.
Katz’s Deli: Well, if you’re going to New York, then why not stop in and see what the hubbub of the City’s most famous deli is all about? Pastrami on rye, ’nuff said.
Carmine’s: If you’re looking for big portions to split amongst friends, Carmine’s is another good option with a couple of locations in the City. The chicken parm is *chef’s kiss*.
Sbarro: If you’re interested in trying Michael Scott’s favorite New York pizza joint.
New Jersey
Rutt’s Hut, Clifton: Looking for some blissful glizzy experiences? Consider Rutt’s Hut in Clifton, N.J., a few towns over from East Rutherford.
Slap Burger, Clifton: Also in Clifton, Slapburger is one of the better burgers in the area, and won’t be a burden on your wallet. Their signature Slap Sauce really ties it all together.
Star Tavern, Orange: Looking for some good NJ pizza? Check out local favorite Star Tavern. A bit of a hike, but worth it.
Harold’s Deli, Edison: Home of gigantic sandwiches and family-style eating, if you want to hop in an Uber to try some famed and acclaimed New York-adjacent deli food, Harold’s Deli is a good option for you. That’s especially true if you want to split some massive servings amongst friends and families. That said, it’s roughly a half hour from NYNJ Stadium, so it’s not exactly on the way – but worth the travel, and plenty of bang for your buck.
Taliercio’s, Middletown: Again, not entirely close to NYNJ Stadium, but if you’re looking for one-of-a-kind food during your trip, then Taliercio’s is well worth the trip. Don’t believe it? Just visit their Instagram page.
What else to do in New York/New Jersey
Go shopping at one of NJ’s luxurious strip malls, visit a Wawa, take a scenic trip down Route 287, go indoor snowboarding at American Dream Mall.
If none of that tickles your fancy, then consider some of the following.
The NYC touristy things: Of course, no trip to New York, New York would be complete without waving your out-of-towner flag. Here are some of the boilerplate options when you have some free time:
- Visit the Statue of Liberty
- Snap some selfies in Times Square
- Go gallivanting through Central Park
- Catch a Broadway show
- Take a trip to the Oculus and hop in the elevator up One World Trade Center
- Pay a visit to the blue whale at the American Museum of Natural History
- Become an art connoisseur at the Museum of Modern Art or the Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Take in the views on the High Line
The Jersey Shore: Want to see what all the fuss is about? GTL? Slop up some hair gel? Pump your fists (not your gas)? Visit one of the many boardwalks and beaches along the scenic Jersey Shore: Asbury Park and Long Branch are viable options, with Point Pleasant stretching the travel limits.
Liberty Science Center: For the inquisitive minds: Liberty Science Center is a great place for adults and kids alike. It sits just outside of Jersey City and offers plenty of fun, science- and curiosity-based activities. It also sits just minutes from Liberty State Park, where you can take the ferry and visit Lady Liberty herself.
Six Flags Great Adventure: Want to take a trip down the Jersey Turnpike and take in some old-fashioned thrills? Six Flags (and its funnel cakes) are worth an off-day trip if you feel the need to feed adrenaline via rollercoaster.
Shop till you drop: Perhaps you want to visit the largest outlet mall in New Jersey (The Mills at Jersey Gardens, Elizabeth, N.J.). Or you’d like to check out the luxury side of things (Short Hills Mall, Short Hills, N.J.). There are no shortage of shopping opportunities in the “Garden State.” Do your part to help the economy!
