The basics:

• MetLife Stadium will host 8 World Cup 2026 matches, including the Final
• Local events and organizers are helping NJ businesses prepare for global exposure
• Stakeholders stress collaboration and creativity to maximize economic impact

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is rapidly approaching – and a number of efforts are underway to ensure that Garden State businesses benefit from the world’s largest sporting event being here. MetLife Stadium will be the site of eight games in total, including the Final on July 19, 2026.

This year will serve as a bit of a trial run. The FIFA Club World Cup – featuring top clubs from around the world – kicks off this summer with MetLife Stadium hosting nine matches in the tournament. The games include a quarterfinal, both semifinals and the Final on July 13, 2025.

Events and information sessions have been going on throughout the state in recent weeks and months. In April, the Meadowlands Chamber of Commerce hosted Mdest 25!. The event featured a number of key stakeholders, including the newly minted CEO of the NYNJ Host Committee, Alex Lasry.

“This is an important time for all of us here at the Meadowlands Chamber, all the stakeholders within our membership – small, medium, large companies,” said Meadowlands Chamber and Meadowlands Live! CVB Chief Executive Officer Jim Kirkos as he kicked off the event. “Having the Club World Cup here in 2025 and the FIFA World Cup here in 2026 – hosting the Final of the World Cup. There is no bigger showcase on the planet. So, I feel like we need to get it right under every set of circumstances.”

Kirkos described it as an amazing opportunity to showcase the Greater Meadowlands region as well as the entire state. “We want to show them a great time,” Kirkos said. “We want to show them hospitality. We want to show them kindness. And we want to put our best foot forward in every way we can. In order to do that, we just need information. We need to learn – from one another. We need to hear from the experts. We need to hear from the planners. And that’s what Mdest is all about today.”

Kirkos stressed a commitment to his members that between now and the Final next year, that the organization will do everything they can to share pertinent, relevant information.

“And that we’re doing everything we can to collaborate and partner with companies to make sure we are giving you every opportunity to succeed and embrace the fact that we’re hosting the biggest game on the planet – in a very short period of time,” he said.

The event included presentations and panels including:

• World 101 presented by Telemundo 47; moderated by Kirkos and featuring Veronica Contreras, sports anchor, Telemundo 47; and Daniel Diaz, director of sales, Telemundo 47.
• Inside the FIFA Club World Cup; moderated by Ron Simoncini, Axiom Communications; featuring Alfred Lam, market manager, Expedia Group; Iris Diaz, brand and marketing director, FIFA World Cup 2026; and Kieran Nulty, East Region fan operations manager, FIFA World Cup 2026.
• FIFA World Cup 2026 Update; moderated by Kirkos and featuring Lasry. Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, who oversees travel and tourism in her role as secretary of state, sent in video remarks.

‘We are ready’

“We are thrilled to welcome the FIFA World Cup back to New Jersey – after 30 years,” said Way. “We are ready to host our eight matches, including the World Cup Final, in a stadium that will be filled with more than 80,000 fans. We’ll have large-scale partner events, including a fan festival hosted throughout the tournament at our iconic Liberty State Park.”

She noted the jobs and economic impact projected for the area, along with global eyeballs that will watch the tournament — particularly the Final.

“And that’s why all of you are so critical. Together, we will position our communities and our state to welcome guests from across the globe – with real Jersey hospitality,” Way said. “We are doing the work to ensure that our state is ready for the international spotlight – and we cannot do it without you. The Meadowlands Chamber and your membership are vital as we prepare to host the FIFA World Cup for a truly epic summer next year.”

During her presentation, Diaz said that this year’s Club World Cup, being held for the first time, will sort of set the tone for next year. “And then the World Cup is just going to blow it out of the water. From a branding perspective, we want to make sure that not only are we relevant during the World Cup. And also, what happens after ’26?”

“We are building new community fans,” she added.

She spoke about the number of different milestones and initiatives that will take place over the next year-plus – and prepared the attendees for the scale of the event. FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the largest iteration of the tournament ever, with 48 teams (an expansion from the previous field of 32 teams).

“You guys have no idea what’s coming – but it’s so, so good,” said Diaz. “That I really hope everyone really takes advantage of everything that’s happening, especially all of the different fans that you guys are going to be able to capture across the country.”

Team players

Before Lasry gave his presentation, Kirkos noted that the aim for organizations such as the Meadowlands Chamber is to be a support system for the Host Committee.

“In whatever way we can for delivering what you all represent to the region – and to make sure that we are in the know with all of that current and relevant information that we hope to get from our relationship. And to be able to deliver that to you, so that you have all of that information. I can tell you that our relationship with the New York New Jersey Host Committee is way different, way different than it was during the Super Bowl [XLVIII],” said Kirkos.

Kirkos said that gives him great confidence. “I said to our FIFA friends – tell us all the things that we can do. Don’t just tell us the things that we can’t do,” said Kirkos. “We want to be your partner. We want to be your asset. We want to be your collaborators. And the New York New Jersey Host Committee gets that.”

Lasry noted that he was still getting his feet wet after just getting on the job a few weeks back. “But it has been already a pretty intense ride,” he said. “This is going to be the biggest sports and entertainment event that has not just ever hit the region – but, honestly, has ever been put on in the world.”

He pointed out that the last World Cup Final was viewed by the same number of people as the last 13 Super Bowls combined. “That’s how big this event is – and that’s how intense this event is,” he explained. “I like to think of New York New Jersey as the actual host of the World Cup because we have the Final – and the Final is the biggest event that we’re going to see. Everything else doesn’t matter nearly as much as what the Final is going to be.

“And that’s our pitch to all of our corporate partners. That’s our pitch to all of our broadcast partners. And even to FIFA. When we try to tell them about what’s important for the World Cup, we need to be the first among equals – because we have the Final, and the Final is going to be how everything goes. Everything can be a disaster and if the Final is a great match and everyone has a great time – everyone’s going to say this is the best World Cup that’s ever happened.”

Show the world a good time

As for how he views the responsibilities of the Host Committee, he said that FIFA oversees everything that happens inside the stadium. “We are responsible for pretty much everything outside of MetLife Stadium. So, when we look at what’s actually going to happen for the World Cup. Only 80,000 people can fit inside MetLife Stadium. There’s going to be millions of people coming to the World Cup. That means over 90% of the people won’t step foot inside the stadium. Most of the people coming to the World Cup are going be here to take part in the festivities surrounding the World Cup – all of the stuff happening in New Jersey, all of the stuff happening in New York.

“All of the watch parties – celebrating with their fellow countrymen and women and reveling in all that’s going on. And participating in the World Cup, in that sense.”

Lasry said it is on the Host Committee to make sure that all the people visiting the area have a great time – and things to do. “And what’s great about being in New York New Jersey is there are a lot of things to do. And what we want to make sure is that we’re giving all of you the tools to take advantage of this opportunity. The Host Committee is not going to be the place for everyone to get a contract or for everyone to make money. The opportunity is for everyone to try to make sure that they are able to market – and be a part of the millions of people that are going to be coming here looking to spend their dollars in our local economy.

“This is a chance for people who are coming to the United States and New York New Jersey for the first time to say – oh, I want to come back here for my next spring break,” Lasry continued. “This is the chance for business executives who are coming here – to get a sense of what the community is like. And say – we’re looking to expand; this is the place we actually think we should expand.”

While there are eight match days, the tournament is 40 days – meaning there are 32 days where visitors will be looking for something to do throughout the state. That offers a number of economic opportunities for businesses.

And a good performance during this global event could set New Jersey up as a destination for other major events in years to come. “It is going to be stressful. It’s going to be intense,” said Lasry, who noted his excitement about being able to work on this event and to be a part of it. “But as I tell my team, it’s just sports at the end of the day. And if you can’t have fun working on this and being a part of this – you gotta find something else. Because sports are one of the most fun things you can work on.

“So, we want to make sure that everyone is able to participate and be a part of this. My door is always going to be open. My team’s door is always going to be open. The one thing that we’ve tried to say is, we’re not here to tell anyone no. We’re here to find solutions. We’re here to make this work – and we’re here to make sure that this is something that is going to work on your behalf. We want to make sure that everyone is successful; that everyone makes money; and that everyone is able to participate in a huge way.”

Lasry stressed that that will only happen by working together to make sure everyone is prepared to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “That’s the big task that we have over the next 12 to 14 months – to make sure that we are ready and all the businesses are ready, and all the local establishments are ready to take on the influx of people that are going to be here.”

An unprecedented opportunity

As the event closed, Kirkos again cited the lessons learned during the Super Bowl, when the general sentiment was that the Garden State and its businesses were not able to fully capitalize on the event.

“We sat back and just expected everybody to come and fill your businesses. And when that didn’t happen, everyone was like – hey what happened? Shame on us. Shame on everybody that did that. We’re not going to do that this time. We’re going to create a there-there. We’ll activate communities,” said Kirkos. “We’ll find a way to leverage what is going to take place here. All the work that Alex and his team is doing; all the work that FIFA; all the work that MetLife Stadium people are doing – to bring all these games here.

“But it’s up to us to be creative and create festivals and local fan activations.”

These types of events, dialogues and discussions are ramping up throughout the state. Recently, the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce held a briefing for members about World Cup opportunities at Montclair State University, an event that also included Lasry and key stakeholders such as Kirkos and NJCC President and CEO Tom Bracken.

The aim is simple – through information sharing, collaboration and events like these – to take advantage of this unprecedented opportunity in the Garden State.

Bracken told NJBIZ, “One of the keys to measuring the success of the World Cup in New Jersey will be the depth and breadth of economic opportunity for businesses here.”