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The World Cup is a quadrennial event that will take the North American sports world by storm, landing in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in the summer of 2026.
One notable destination is MetLife Stadium, considered the largest single sporting event in the world and hosting eight matches, including the World Cup final.
Although the tournament is more than two years away, fans are already excited that this world-class event is coming to the Meadowlands.
Here are five reasons why you should be counting down the days until the 2026 World Cup comes to the Garden State.
World Cup brings world-class athletes to New Jersey
The 2022 World Cup was a huge success, with 1.5 billion people watching the biggest final in history between Argentina and France, which pitted two of the world’s best players, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé. Trophy.
In addition to Mbappé and Messi, fans around the world will also see players like England’s Harry Kane, Egypt’s Mohamed Saleh, Brazil’s Neymar and, of course, Team USA superstar 25-year-old Christian Pulisic. You could do that.
This will be the biggest star-powered tournament New Jersey has ever seen in the Meadowlands leading up to the World Cup Finals on July 19, 2026.
It will be fun to watch the U.S. Men’s National Team
Speaking of Team USA, there’s also reason to be excited about the men’s national team.
Although the United States failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, they advanced to the last 16 for the third consecutive year at the 2022 Qatar tournament.
Although the 2026 group stage games will not be played at MetLife Stadium, it will be a time for all Americans to come together to watch this team perform. You probably know that every time Team USA plays a game, there are tons of watch parties at bars and restaurants across New Jersey. Gathering together for these matches will be the highlight of the tournament.
And there are high hopes for the U.S. team, especially as they currently have the 10th-shortest odds at 25/1 (+2500) to win their first-ever World Cup.
The United States, hosting the tournament for the first time in more than 30 years, is aiming for its best result since finishing eighth at the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup.
If you look at how wild the crowd was at the last World Cup a little over a year ago, it’s interesting to see how loudly the fans in and around the stadium will cheer for the USMNT, especially if they advance in this tournament. I can only imagine.
The 2026 World Cup will be a much bigger event than soccer.
There’s no denying that soccer is the biggest and most followed sport around the world.
That being said, it’s clear that soccer fans will be watching from start to finish in the summer of 2026.
More importantly, it will attract a larger external audience.
Take me for example. I’m not a huge fan of the sport, whether it’s MLS, the Premier League, or any of the major soccer leagues around the world.
But when the World Cup comes around, which happens once every four years, TV becomes an appointment.
This should be the case for the rest of New Jersey and even those in the tri-state area to get to the World Cup as much as possible, especially for the USMNT, who have the biggest chance to compete beyond the Round of 16. There may be a chance. It’s been 24 years.
There are so many things to do in New York and New Jersey
It’s hard to imagine how far people from all over the world will travel to East Rutherford two years from now to watch all eight games.
Whether it’s before a game or after a day of action on the field, fans have quick access to New York City, about a 40-minute train ride away.
This can be a huge advantage for those who make this trip worthwhile as they have the option to visit one of the world’s largest and most eccentric cities.
While in the area, those planning to catch a game should also check out American Dream Mall, located across from MetLife Stadium. There are many ways to enjoy it.
Unlike other sports, World Cup fans gather
One of the great things to see when every World Cup takes center stage is the interaction between fans.
This has happened at many World Cups, with people rooting for different countries around the world hugging each other in the stands, whether after a very entertaining victory or a demoralizing loss.
This trend is expected to continue in 2026 as MetLife will be filled with fans from different countries. No matter the outcome of the match, there are bound to be some heartwarming moments.
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