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The 2026 FIFA World Cup has arrived: Here are 20 things N.J. fans need to know

Just under eight years after the United States, Canada and Mexico won a historic joint bid to host the FIFA World Cup, it is finally time to kick things off.

Here is everything soccer fans in New Jersey need to know about the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

1. Where, when is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

The 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup will take place across 16 cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada, and will feature 104 matches in total.

The competition will kick off in Mexico City on Thursday, June 11, with a match between Mexico and South Africa — a rematch of the opening game of the 2010 World Cup held in South Africa. It will conclude on Sunday, July 19, with the final at MetLife Stadium.

That will be the final of eight games that will be played in New Jersey, which will also host five group stage matches, a Round of 32 game and a Round of 16 match.

Along with East Rutherford, matches will be played in Vancouver, Seattle, the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey, Houston, Dallas, Kansas City, Atlanta, Miami, Toronto, Boston and Philadelphia.

2. Who is coming to New Jersey?

The five group stage matches being played at Metlife Stadium are as follows:

June 13: Brazil vs. Morocco

June 16: France vs. Senegal

June 22: Norway vs. Senegal

June 25: Ecuador vs. Germany

June 27: Panama vs. England

3. What about us in South Jersey?

Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia will host five group stage games and a Round of 16 game on July 4 (winner of Group E/best third-place team among Groups A, B, C, D or F vs. Winner Group I/best third-place team among Groups C, D, F, G or H).

Here are the group stage games at Lincoln Financial Field:

June 14: Ecuador vs. Ivory Coast

June 19: Brazil vs. Haiti

June 22: France vs. Iraq

June 25: Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast

June 27: Croatia vs. Ghana

4. Will the USMNT come to NJ?

Probably not. The United States will play its three group stage games at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles (vs. Turkey and Paraguay) and Lumen Field in Seattle (vs. Australia).

The only way the United States plays at MetLife is if it finishes in third place in the group and is one of the eight best third-place teams in the group stage. In that scenario, the USMNT could potentially play a Round of 32 game against the winners of Group I (France, Norway, Senegal, Iraq) on June 30.

5. Where are the teams staying locally?

Brazil is staying at the New York Red Bulls’ brand new training facility in Morristown; Senegal is staying in New Brunswick and using Rutgers’ training facilities; Morocco is staying in Basking Ridge and using Pingry’s facilities; Haiti is staying in Galloway and using Stockton University’s facilities.

6. Which players should I watch out for?

New Jersey will welcome multiple world-class players, from Norway’s Erling Haaland (Manchester City) and Martin Odegaard (Arsenal) to England’s Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) and Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), from Ecuador’s Moises Caicedo (Chelsea) and Willian Pacho (PSG) to Germany’s Florian Wirtz (Liverpool) and Kai Havertz (Arsenal), from Brazil’s Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid) and Raphinha (Barcelona) to France’s Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid) and Michael Olise (Bayern Munich).

As for the rest of the tournament, there will be Spain’s Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Uruguay’s Federico Valverde (Real Madrid), Belgium’s Jeremy Doku (Manchester City), and of course, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina’s Lionel Messi, the two greatest players in the history of the sport.

7. I want to go watch live. How do I get tickets to the matches?

Tickets are sold through the official FIFA website, as well as third-party resellers like StubHub, Ticketmaster and Seatgeek.

8. How much will they cost?

The prices vary depending on many factors, from the teams playing to the location, but no matter what, they will be very expensive. The cheapest ticket to go watch Brazil-Morocco at MetLife Stadium on June 13, for example, is $2,603 on Ticketmaster and $1,704 on StubHub as of Sunday afternoon.

9. How do I get to the games?

NJ Transit is selling train tickets to match-going fans with a valid ticket to each match. They must be purchased in advance on the NJ Transit mobile app. All information regarding the tickets and procedures to take the transportation can be found on NJTWorldCup.com.

10. What do you mean I can’t park and tailgate?

Fans who want to drive to the games at MetLife Stadium will not be able to park nearby. There will be no parking in the venue’s lots during the World Cup, meaning tailgating will not be allowed. Fans could park at nearby American Dream Mall, with limited spots being sold for $225 to $300 per space. The stadium is a six-minute or 0.32-mile walk from American Dream via a pedestrian bridge.

11. Can I walk to MetLife Stadium?

Technically, yes. But it is illegal and unsafe, according to local officials.

“You are going to be putting yourself, you are going to be putting law enforcement and people on the road in danger if you walk to the stadium,” said Alex Lasry, CEO of the host committee.

12. Why is the signage at MetLife Stadium different?

Due to FIFA’s rule prohibiting venues named for corporations from hosting World Cup events. It will be changed temporarily for the World Cup and will return to MetLife Stadium signage after the tournament.

“In line with its brand protection policy, FIFA protects its brands and the exclusive rights of its sponsors, including clean zones around FIFA World Cup stadiums and other event sites,” a FIFA spokesperson told NJ.com in an email.

“FIFA is working closely with stadium authorities and host cities to implement these requirements in a manner consistent with previous editions of the tournament, while taking into account the unique infrastructure and operational considerations at each venue.”

13. How do I watch this on TV?

FOX holds the English-language broadcasting rights in the United States, while Telemundo holds the Spanish broadcasting rights. A majority of matches will be broadcast on FOX, while some matches will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1, particularly on the third matchday of the group stage where games will be played simultaneously. Fans can stream all 74 games from the World Cup via the FOX One App.

14. I can’t pay those prices to watch it in person, but I don’t want to watch it at home. Where can I go?

There will be plenty spread throughout the state, from bars to outside areas hosted by local townships. For the best soccer-watching experience, check out NJ.com’s list of the 15 best soccer bars in our state.

15. When are the games on?

There will be multiple games being played every day throughout the group stage, varying from two games on the first two days (Thursday and Friday) and as many as five games on the busiest days. Kickoff times are staggered for the first two matchdays of the group stage, while the final matchday of the group stage will feature all four teams from each group playing at the same time.

Find the full schedule here.

16. Where should I go eat?

Depends what you want.

Practically every country playing in the World Cup is represented in New Jersey’s culinary scene. Head to the Newark’s Ironbound section for practically unlimited options of Portuguese, Brazilian and Spanish food; find some of the best Mexican food you’ve ever had throughout the state; get Moroccan food in Cranford, Korean BBQ in Bergen County, Ecuadorian food in Hudson County.

If there is a cuisine you’re looking for, you will almost certainly find it in New Jersey.

17. Who should I bet on?

The favorite across most sportsbooks is Spain (+425), one of the eight countries that have lifted a World Cup trophy. France (+475), which has made two consecutive finals, has the second-lowest odds across most books. England, Portugal, Argentina, Brazil, Germany and the Netherlands are the other teams in contention.

18. Why does this feel familiar?

This is not the first time the United States has hosted the biggest sporting event on Earth. The 1994 edition of the competition was held exclusively across our country, with the final being played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Brazil won the competition after defeating Italy in a penalty shootout remembered for the unfathomable miss from Roberto Baggio, the Italian superstar who had just won the Ballon D’Or, that led to the Brazilians winning their fourth world title.

19. Go see some soccer history nearby

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While soccer is far from the biggest sports in the United States, the game has been played on its soil for more than a century. The roots of the game can be traced to Kearny, a town less than 10 miles away from where the World Cup final will be held. Scottish immigrants, who came to the country to work in the textile mills of West Hudson, organized teams with their co-workers and played on the weekends in what was the main form of leisure. The fields of the xx mills have since been replaced by Tops Diner, arguably the best eatery in the state that is worth a visit.

20. This is too expensive, but I want to get my live soccer fix somehow. Can’t I watch it somewhere else?

The United Soccer League, the third division in the American soccer pyramid, will continue playing its league season during the World Cup. For New Jersey natives, the closest teams are in Brooklyn, New York, and Hartford, Connecticut. MLS Next Pro, the third division in the pyramid that consists mostly of the under-23 teams for Major League Soccer clubs, will also continue playing.

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