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The basics:

• Onyx Equities named 1st NYNJ World Cup 2026 supporter
• Company pledges multimillion-dollar community investment
• Mini-pitch donation, FIFA Fan Festival activation planned
• Onyx brands to support tournament across NJ real estate assets

Onyx Equities is coming on board as the first official New York New Jersey World Cup 2026 Host City Supporter.

The official announcement will take place during a press conference Wednesday morning at the Gateway Center in Newark.

The partnership will feature a number of key elements, including a multimillion-dollar commitment from Newark-based real estate investment and property services firm Onyx. The company will:

• Support the legacy partnership between the NYNJ Host Committee and U.S. Soccer Foundation to develop equitable and inclusive access to soccer in the region
• Donate a mini-pitch in the New York New Jersey region by 2026
• Be integrated into the FIFA Fan Festival NYNJ. The event will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, at Liberty State Park in Jersey City

It also brings Onyx’s portfolio of sub-brands into the fold:

• Gateway Center – exclusive urban office campus for the NYNJ Host Committee
• Luxury residential brand Vermella – exclusive residential/apartment supporter for the New Jersey region of the NYNJ Host Committee
• NEST (Northeast Science and Technology Center)– exclusive life sciences and technology real estate campus partner for the New Jersey regions of the NYNJ Host Committee
• The Arbors at Parsippany – exclusive suburban office campus for the New Jersey region of the NYNJ Host Committee

Local support

Leaders from the organizations say this partnership reflects a shared vision of delivering a world-class event – while also fostering meaningful community legacies that will inspire and benefit generations long after next year’s World Cup.

This latest development comes on the heels of a successful FIFA Club World Cup, featuring the Semi-Finals as well as Final at MetLife Stadium. The event offered a glimpse into next year when the World Cup (with an expanded field) kicks off in North America. During that historic tournament, MetLife Stadium will host eight matches — including the Final.

“The Host Committee is excited that our first supporter is a homegrown firm that understands the importance of championing our region as we prepare to welcome the world.
— Alex Lasry, CEO, NYNJ Host Committee

The buzz is growing and the countdown is on for the 2026 tournament. As NJBIZ has reported, the World Cup will mark the world’s largest sporting event — resulting in billions of dollars in economic impact and activity as well as attracting a slew of visitors to the region.

NYNJ Host Committee CEO Alex Lasry said this announcement of Onyx Equities’ support embodies the spirit of collaboration and community partnership that is essential for the success of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

“The Host Committee is excited that our first supporter is a homegrown firm that understands the importance of championing our region as we prepare to welcome the world,” said Lasry.

Creating opportunity

“We are thrilled to support an event of this magnitude right here in New Jersey,” said John Saraceno, co-founder of Onyx Equities. “Our support is not just about visibility; it’s about creating opportunities for community engagement and driving economic growth that will benefit our region long after the final whistle.”

Jonathan Schultz, co-founder and managing principal of Onyx Equities, said, “We are also excited that our properties, Gateway Center and The Junction, will be ready to serve as a hub for the games throughout the year. We are not only proud to be involved in promoting the world’s most watched sporting event, but also want to truly embrace the culture of the sport and international fans who are visiting New Jersey for the experience.

“It will truly be a Junction for the fans who are coming to our great region to experience the excitement of the games.”

Lasry added, “Together, we are not only bringing a world-class event to the region but also creating a lasting legacy rooted in opportunity, inclusion, and the unifying power of the world’s most exciting game.”

On the scene

The announcement was made at the Jewel Box Atrium inside Gateway Center in Newark.

Fred Mangione, chief business officer for the NYNJ Host Committee, kicked off the presser by stressing that all of the different stakeholders are working toward the same goal.

“Delivering a world-class World Cup event that, more importantly, leaves a lasting legacy to this region,” said Mangione, noting the impact of the 1994 World Cup, the last hosted in the U.S. “That’s why today is so significant as we’re proud to announce Onyx Equity as the first official Host City Support Partner of the New York New Jersey Host Committee.

“Onyx is a company that understands – because it’s from the region.”

John Saraceno, co-founder of Onyx Equities, said he considers New Jersey to be an underdog – much like he considers Onyx, so he remarked on how major a moment this is for the state and region to be at the epicenter of the largest sporting event in the world. And how Onyx Equities prioritized being on-board early in this type of partnership role.

“This is New Jersey’s moment – I know we call this New York New Jersey and I’m not supposed to say anything bad about New York; and I’m not saying anything bad about New York – I love New York,” said Saraceno. “But New Jersey needs to have a presence – and it was important to me if the ‘little engine that could’ called Onyx Equities could be a Host City Supporter, then everybody else needs to step up and make sure that New Jersey has a big seat in what happens here.

“And I look forward to making sure that I guilt all of my friends into making sure that they’re doing this as well.”

‘World’s eyes’ on the region

First Lady Tammy Murphy, who is the chair of the Host Committee’s Board of Directors, described this announcement as a “proud moment.”

“Not just for the Host Committee – but truly for all the communities across New York and New Jersey that feel the impact of today’s announcement and will continue to feel that impact for years to come,” said Murphy. “With the world’s eyes turning to our region, we have an extraordinary opportunity, not only to host an unforgettable FIFA World Cup – but also to leave a lasting mark that extends well beyond 2026. That impact is what today is about.”

Murphy said the momentum is building.

“And today’s announcement helps bring us closer to delivering a once-in-a-lifetime, world-class event,” said Murphy. “I’m thrilled to see that Onyx’s support is rooted right here in neighborhoods, in local development, in real people’s lives. When we talk about leaving a legacy, this is what we mean. It’s creating real impact in our communities that will outlast this tournament and shape our region for decades – so, that’s really powerful.

“Together, with Onyx and your partners, we are setting the stage for something truly historic. So, let’s keep building – and let’s make sure the world sees our shared commitment to making this World Cup a turning point for the region for generations to come.”

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 11 a.m. EST July 16, 2025, to correct an organization’s name to U.S. Soccer Foundation and to note that Onyx Equities is now based in Newark. The story was then updated at 3:27 p.m. EST July 16 for more coverage of the announcement.