After years of preparation, the World Cup has finally arrived in the Big Apple, and for the next month-plus, MetLife Stadium will host some of the biggest names in soccer, culminating with the final game of the tournament being played in East Rutherford on July 19.
MetLife Stadium, or New York New Jersey Stadium, as it will be dubbed during the World Cup, will host eight matches, but the New York metropolitan area will be abuzz with activities during the length of the tournament.
Here are a few of the things you need to know while the World Cup is going on.
Fan Fest & official watch parties
NYNJ World Cup 26 Jersey Fan Hub: Sports Illustrated Stadium, the home of Red Bull New York, will be transformed into a place to be to catch select World Cup matches. The site will be open for eight dates during the group stage from June 13-27 and eight dates during the knockout rounds from July 1-15, featuring live match broadcasts, fan activities and live entertainment. Entry is free, but fans looking to attend will need to register online.
NYNJ World Cup 26 Queens Group Stage HQ: The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center will become the place to be in Queens from June 11-27 during the World Cup. The home of the U.S. Open will host daily watch parties during the group stage. In addition to showing matches, there will also be a number of musical performances, which will include Nas, Busta Rhymes and Wyclef Jean. New York City FC will have a presence there, setting up a dedicated fan experience that will include games, prizes and giveaways.
NYNJ World Cup 26 & Telemundo Fan Village at Rockefeller Center: One of New York City’s most iconic spots during Christmas season, Rockefeller Center will turn into a World Cup fan village from July 6-19. The event will feature two massive screens to watch matches and a pitch placed over the iconic ice rink, plus the Channel Gardens will be renamed Champions Garden.
Brooklyn Fan Zone: Soccer fans in Brooklyn can take in matches alongside fellow supporters at Brooklyn Bridge Park from June 13-July 19 with the Manhattan skyline as the backdrop. It will be open daily from noon to 10 p.m., featuring watch parties, live music performances and adiCup 3v3 tournament action. Among the musical acts set to perform are PinkPantheress and Larry June.
NYNJ World Cup 26 Staten Island Fan Zone: Staten Islanders looking to get in on the World Cup action will be able to from June 29-July 2 when Staten Island University Hospital Community Park will host watch parties. The home of the Staten Island Ferry Hawks will provide a family-friendly atmosphere to follow the World Cup action. SIUH Community Park was given a new LED scoreboard that was funded by the Economic Development Corporation and a donation from the New York New Jersey Host Committee and makes the venue a prime place to watch the World Cup.
NYNJ World Cup 26 Bronx Fan Zone: Bronx Terminal Market will serve as a hub for World Cup activity for two days this month on June 13 and June 14. Doors open on June 13th at 1 p.m. and at 11 a.m. on June 14. Two matches will be streamed each day, along with games, arts and crafts, a live DJ and other entertainment options.
World Cup Final watch party: Central Park will turn into one of the largest World Cup watch parties in the world on July 19 for the final, which is being played just across the river at MetLife Stadium. Roughly 40,000 tickets will be distributed through a lottery system for the event taking place on the Great Lawn. Soccer fans looking to take part can register online for a chance to attend through Global Citizen, beginning June 11 at 10 a.m. up until July 16. The Central Park watch party was announced just days before the start of the World Cup.
MetLife schedule
June 13 — Brazil vs. Morocco: The first World Cup contest to take place at MetLife Stadium pits two teams looking to make their mark at this year’s World Cup against one another. The match is sure to draw plenty of fans to East Rutherford.
June 16 — France vs. Senegal: This will be a matchup that should whet a lot of people’s appetites during the group stage. It’s a first chance to see the 2022 World Cup runners-up in France face the African powerhouse in Senegal, which went unbeaten in qualifying.
June 22 — Norway vs. Senegal: Another Group I battle brings star striker Erling Haaland to MetLife for Norway’s lone match in the area. Norway is considered a World Cup dark horse, and the showdown in East Rutherford with Senegal could prove important in a potential group of death.
June 25 — Ecuador vs. Germany: This match is sure to draw a crowd with New York boasting a large Ecuadorian community that showed out for the squad during a friendly at Sports Illustrated Stadium last month. Germany will have plenty of support and it will be looking to reach the knockout stage after failing to do so in 2018 and 2022.
June 27 — England vs. Panama: The final group stage match in the area brings an England team, whose roster selection caused a divisive discourse among its fans, to MetLife to face a Panama squad that is making just its second appearance in the World Cup.
June 30 — Round of 32: The match will feature the winners of Group I against a third-place finisher from Group C, D, F, G or H.
July 5 — Round of 16: The stakes and quality rise with this Sunday match.
July 19 — FIFA World Cup Final: This will be the biggest sporting event on the planet as the more than a month-long tournament culminates in the final game at MetLife Stadium.
MetLife know before you go
How to attend
By train: NJ Transit is offering train service to and from New York Penn Station to MetLife Stadium. Tickets will cost $98 and must be purchased in advance through the NJ Transit app.
By bus: The independent round-trip shuttle bus service runs from three transit hubs in Manhattan, along with one NJ park-and-ride local, and will cost $20.
By car: Parking is limited to a lot by the American Dream mall, and to be able to park there will cost $225. Parking has already sold out for the final on July 19.
Prohibited items
Weapons
Explosives
Detonators
Work tools
Helmets
Lighters
Matches
Smoke bombs
Fireworks
Flares
Spray cans
Significant quantities of paper or any rolls of paper
Any type of animal, except for service animals
Name change
In accordance with FIFA regulations, MetLife Stadium will be known as New York New Jersey Stadium during the course of the World Cup. FIFA requires all stadiums involved with hosting World Cup matches to cover up any pre-existing branding in order to protect FIFA’s brand and its sponsors. Signage around the stadium, as well as traffic signs in the surrounding area, now reflect the temporary name change.
