In less than a month, New Jersey will be experiencing a summer season like no other when the FIFA World Cup 2026 rolls into Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, and MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
The state government and business community are going on offense with an arsenal of events and marketing campaigns to maximize the World Cup experience for fans, whether they’re from Paris, Poughkeepsie or Paramus.
With a total of 14 games planned between Philadelphia and North Jersey, the tournament is projected to generate more than $3 billion in economic activity in the Garden State alone. With the nation’s 250th birthday celebration also happening, the summer of 2026 will be a moment in the history of New Jersey tourism.
While the United States previously hosted the tournament in 1994, 2026 will mark the first time that three nations have hosted a single tournament together. The United States, Canada and Mexico will all be hosting matches with a record 48 teams, 104 matches and 16 cities involved over 39 days of play. According to FIFA, the projected television audience iis approximately 6 billion with 1.5 billion projected to watch the final match. If there were ever a time for New Jersey to put its best forward, this is it.
MetLife Stadium, rebranded New York New Jersey Stadium for the World Cup, will be hosting eight matches beginning June 13, including three knockout round matches, and the blockbuster final match on July 19. Starting June 14 and ending July 4, Lincoln Financial Field, rebranded Philadelphia Stadium for the World Cup, will be the site of six matches including one knockout round matchup.
The tournament opens June 11 in Mexico City. Over the next 39 days, matches will be played across North America, including in Canada – Toronto and Vancouver; Mexico – Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey; and the United States – Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey (MetLife), Philadelphia, the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle.
“The scale of this moment is hard to overstate,” said Tom Bracken, president and CEO of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. “We are expecting more than 1.2 million visitors and more than $3.3 billion in economic impact across the region.”
The tournament is expected to generate more than $30 billion in total economic activity across North America (mainly the U.S.), support about 185,000 jobs, and add more than $17 billion directly to GDP, according to FIFA.
New Jersey hopes to seize the moment by funding events and marketing programs statewide through the state New Jersey Economic Development Agency (NJDEA).
The agency has allocated $20 million to the FIFA World Cup 2026 New York Jersey Host Committee. Of that, $5 million is being dedicated to promoting World Cup fan engagement activities in New Jersey, with 34 related grants for street fairs, watch parties, fan zones and festivals.
These state-funded “activations” aim to boost local small businesses and ensure that residents can participate in festivities through free or accessible community gatherings.
“These grants will help ensure that the benefits of hosting the World Cup extend beyond the walls of the stadium,” said Gov. Mikie Sherrill said.
Visit Atlantic City is one of the state grant recipients, organizing programs to draw attention to the resort during the tournament
Atlantic City is hosting two primary World Cup hubs at Stockton University and Caesars.
The Stockton University fan zone focuses on technology and youth engagement, offering FIFA tournaments at the Esports Innovation Center, virtual reality experiences and sports analytics workshops.
Caesars will provide a high-energy atmosphere with a beachfront fan zone, food and a sports book.
Between the two sites, fans can access everything from youth soccer clinics and academic talks to live music and casino gaming.
Visit Atlantic City is also transforming Beach Fest into Latin Fest July 18-19. Kennedy Plaza will become a World Cup fan zone / cultural festival complete with stadium scale video screens
A new WorldCupAC.com mobile website looks to consolidate information on anything a visitor might need, whether it’s a place to stay, things to do at night, special events related to World Cup, or visa entry requirements for international travelers and transportation info.
In competition for visitor attention, A.C. is up against FIFA, which is all in for Philly.
The official FIFA World Cup 2026 website opens with a high-speed, mesmerizing display
“Philadelphia is having a moment, and the world is invited as the birthplace of American democracy takes center stage for FIFA World Cup 2026™ and the 250th anniversary of the United States.”
It targets all the must-see Philly attractions – Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell world-class dining and museums, and cheesesteaks, while giving a nod to Rocky and the city’s rabbit sports fans. Also noted is a planned 1-million-square-foot World Cup celebration area in Fairmont Park with free admission.
FIFA encourages fans to get involved by getting to know the teams playing in their city. “Fan tool kits” explain traditions, cultures and rituals of the visiting nations, intended to help local fans connect with the teams like Brazil, France and Croatia that will be playing in the city.
It’s not just for people who can afford tickets. Many activities will be for non-ticket holders and first-time visitors who are looking for an experiences,
Also vying for attention is Visit South Jersey which has created a 2026 World Cup community activation guide to help local leaders create experiences to generate interest. They can range from cultural festivals to viewing parties, all intended to bring people together.
“The 2026 World Cup is more than just a soccer tournament– it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for South Jersey,” according to Visit South Jersey. “With millions of fans traveling to North America, this is your chance to showcase your community, attract visitors, and drive lasting economic growth.
“By working together, we can turn this moment into lasting economic growth, regional pride, and a legacy that put South Jersey on the global map.”
Also working together New York New Jersey Host Committee has introduced a Welcome World Rewards program designed to connect tournament fans to small businesses.
The digital platform, launched by the FIFA World Cup 2026 NYNJ Host Committee last month, encourages fans to visit local small businesses across New York and New Jersey by offering points for check-ins that can be redeemed for exclusive prizes and match tickets.
“The Welcome World Rewards program ensures that fans engage directly with our local shops, restaurants and entrepreneurs,” Sherrill said at the ReNew Jersey Business Summit & Expo in Atlantic City.
Application deadline is May 15.
For most locals, the special events will probably be the closest they get to the action as the ticket prices are inching higher.
As of Wednesday night, the cheapest available seats are at Lincoln Financial Field, where you can purchase Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast tickets for $247 a piece when buying two, all taxes and fees included. At MetLife Stadium, the cheapest tickets were for the June 22 Norway vs. Senegal game for $429.
MetLife is hosting the final on July 19, teams to be determined. The cheapest available ticket for that game when purchasing two was $8,895.
Whether or not FIFA has properly handled its ticketing prices is just one of many controversies that have risen as the tournament draws near.
Cost has been a major issue, especially for people living close to the MetLife Stadium.
Officials propose hotel tax surcharges, increased transit fairs, and private sponsorships to generate revenue for New Jersey’s World Cup costs.
In recent days, new reports have come out suggesting that World Cup may not be the boon to the hotel trade that was forecast at first.
Nonetheless, with so much positive energy going into this mega event there’s no reason to believe that New Jersey will not reach its goal of world class success. We are about to find out.
Copy editor and Contributing Writer James FitzPatrick has been a community journalist in Atlantic and Cape May counties for more than 30 years, including 20 years as editor of The Current Newspapers. He lives in Hammonton.
