The stadium that hosts the 2026 World Cup Final on 19 July. An 82,500-seat venue in the New Jersey Meadowlands, eight miles from Manhattan, staging eight matches in total, more than any other US host. During the tournament FIFA calls it New York New Jersey Stadium.
Updated 6 June 2026 · WorldCuply.com editorial · Independent, not affiliated with FIFA
82,500
Capacity
8
Matches hosted
19 Jul
The Final
2010
Stadium opened
The Venue
The biggest stage of the tournament
MetLife Stadium sits in the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, roughly eight miles west of midtown Manhattan. It opened in 2010 as the shared home of the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets, and at about 82,500 seats it is one of the largest stadiums in American professional sport.
For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, MetLife was selected to host the Final on Sunday 19 July, the showpiece of the first 48-team World Cup. It is one of a small group of venues, alongside the Rose Bowl in 1994 and the original Estadio Azteca, to stage a World Cup Final on North American soil. Under FIFA's clean-venue sponsorship policy, the stadium is referred to as New York New Jersey Stadium throughout the tournament rather than by its commercial name.
MetLife earned the Final ahead of the other ten US venues partly on capacity, partly on the New York market, and partly on the experience of having staged Super Bowl XLVIII (2014), the Copa America Centenario final (2016) and several FIFA Club World Cup 2025 matches including that tournament's final. For full context on how it fits among all 16 venues, see our stadiums and host cities hub.
Editor's Spotlight
Match 104: The 2026 World Cup Final
Final · Match 104
The Final, MetLife Stadium
Date
Sun 19 Jul 2026
Kickoff
3:00 PM ET
Venue
MetLife · NJ
Capacity
82,500
The 2026 Final closes a 39-day, 104-match tournament across three nations. It is the first World Cup Final in the New York area and the climax of the expanded format that begins with the opener at Estadio Azteca on 11 June. Kickoff is mid-afternoon Eastern Time to suit European prime-time audiences.
Face-value Final tickets run from a $2,030 Category 4 seat to $6,730 for Category 1, with FIFA's first-ever World Cup dynamic pricing pushing the ceiling to around $7,875. Secondary-market asking prices have been many multiples of that. Our tickets guide and resale guide cover how to buy safely.
MetLife Schedule
All eight 2026 World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium
MetLife hosts five group-stage matches, one Round of 32, one Round of 16, and the Final, eight in total. All times below are Eastern Time (ET).
Match #
Date / Kickoff (ET)
Fixture
Stage
7
Sat 13 Jun · 6:00 PM
Brazil vs Morocco
Group C
17
Tue 16 Jun · 3:00 PM
France vs Senegal
Group I
41
Mon 22 Jun · 8:00 PM
Norway vs Senegal
Group I
56
Thu 25 Jun · 4:00 PM
Ecuador vs Germany
Group E
67
Sat 27 Jun · 5:00 PM
Panama vs England
Group L
77
Tue 30 Jun · 5:00 PM
Round of 32 (TBC)
Round of 32
91
Sun 5 Jul · 4:00 PM
Round of 16 (TBC)
Round of 16
104
Sun 19 Jul · 3:00 PM
FIFA World Cup 2026 Final
Final
The pick of the group stage is Panama vs England on 27 June, England's third Group L match (see our Group L guide and England squad page). Brazil open their New York run against Morocco, and France and Senegal headline a Group I double-header at the venue.
Pitch & Stadium
From FieldTurf to a temporary grass pitch
MetLife normally plays on an artificial FieldTurf surface for NFL football. FIFA requires natural grass for World Cup matches, so a temporary natural-grass pitch is grown off-site and laid over the existing surface for the tournament.
This is the same approach the stadium used for its FIFA Club World Cup 2025 matches, and it lets the venue meet FIFA's playing-surface standards without permanently ripping out the turf the Giants and Jets rely on. The open-air bowl has no roof, so summer weather is a genuine factor: afternoon kickoffs in late June and July can be hot and humid, which is one reason the Final and several group games are scheduled for later-afternoon or evening slots.
Location
Meadowlands, NJ
1 MetLife Stadium Drive, East Rutherford, New Jersey, about 8 miles west of Manhattan in the Meadowlands Sports Complex.
Surface
Natural grass
Temporary natural-grass pitch laid over the stadium's standard artificial FieldTurf for the duration of the tournament, per FIFA requirements.
Roof
Open-air
No roof and no climate control, unlike the covered venues in Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and Vancouver. Bring sun protection for day games.
Getting There
How to reach MetLife on matchday
There is no subway or direct rail line to the stadium, so the practical car-free route is the train via Secaucus Junction or a dedicated matchday bus.
By train: take any NJ Transit line to Secaucus Junction, then transfer to the Meadowlands Rail Line shuttle that runs directly to the stadium on event days. NJ Transit is adding extra World Cup capacity and dedicated services from New York Penn Station.
By bus: matchday coach and bus services run from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan and other regional hubs, including a dedicated busway being used for the tournament.
By air: Newark Liberty (EWR) is the closest major airport, about 11 miles south with rail links to Secaucus. LaGuardia (LGA) and JFK in New York are further out but well connected.
By car / rideshare: the complex has large parking lots, but matchday traffic around the Meadowlands is heavy and prepaid parking is strongly advised. Rideshare drop-off and pickup zones operate on event days.
Allow extra time on the busiest dates, especially the Final, when the stadium and surrounding area will be at capacity. Plan your arrival around the kickoff times in the schedule above and travel well ahead of the gates.
Fan Experience
Around the stadium and the city
Most international visitors base themselves in Manhattan or in the New Jersey towns closer to the Meadowlands, then travel out to the stadium for matches. The American Dream mall sits next to the complex with shopping, dining and entertainment, and the New York metro area offers as much off-pitch as any host city in the tournament.
For the wider picture of where the New York / New Jersey matches fit and how the bracket builds toward this venue, see our format explainer and the all-16-venues hub. For broadcast details in your country, start with our how-to-watch guides linked from the home page.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Where is the 2026 World Cup Final being played?
At MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex about 8 miles west of Manhattan. During the tournament FIFA calls it New York New Jersey Stadium. The Final is on Sunday 19 July 2026 with a 3:00 PM Eastern Time kickoff.
How many 2026 World Cup matches does MetLife Stadium host?
Eight, more than any other US venue: five group-stage matches (including Brazil vs Morocco, France vs Senegal and Panama vs England), one Round of 32 match, one Round of 16 match, and the Final on 19 July.
What is the capacity of MetLife Stadium?
MetLife Stadium has a listed capacity of about 82,500 seats, one of the largest in the NFL. Capacity is slightly reduced for the World Cup to accommodate FIFA's broadcast positions, camera platforms and accessibility requirements.
Why is the pitch being changed for the World Cup?
MetLife normally uses an artificial FieldTurf surface, but FIFA requires natural grass for World Cup matches. A temporary natural-grass pitch is laid over the existing surface for the tournament, the same approach used for the FIFA Club World Cup matches at the stadium in 2025.
How do I get to MetLife Stadium by public transport?
The simplest route is NJ Transit to Secaucus Junction, then the Meadowlands Rail Line shuttle directly to the stadium. NJ Transit is also running dedicated World Cup train and bus services from New York Penn Station. There is no subway line to the stadium, so the train via Secaucus or a matchday bus is the practical car-free option.
Which teams play at MetLife Stadium in the group stage?
The confirmed group-stage fixtures are Brazil vs Morocco (Group C), France vs Senegal and Norway vs Senegal (Group I), Ecuador vs Germany (Group E) and Panama vs England (Group L). The knockout matches are filled in as the bracket resolves.
What time is the Final and the other MetLife matches?
The Final kicks off at 3:00 PM Eastern Time on 19 July. The group games are spread across afternoon and evening slots: Brazil vs Morocco at 6:00 PM on 13 June, France vs Senegal at 3:00 PM on 16 June, Norway vs Senegal at 8:00 PM on 22 June, Ecuador vs Germany at 4:00 PM on 25 June, and Panama vs England at 5:00 PM on 27 June. All times are Eastern.
Is MetLife Stadium indoor or outdoor?
Outdoor and open-air, with no roof. Matches are exposed to summer weather, so afternoon games in late June and July can be hot and humid, and evening kickoffs are usually more comfortable. There is no climate control, unlike the roofed venues in Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and Vancouver.
Has MetLife Stadium hosted big football matches before?
Yes. MetLife opened in 2010, hosted Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014, the Copa America Centenario final in 2016, and several FIFA Club World Cup 2025 matches including the final. The 2026 World Cup Final is the biggest single match it has staged.
How much do MetLife World Cup tickets cost?
Group-stage tickets start from the $60 Supporter Entry Tier and rise through the four front categories. The Final ranges from a $2,030 Category 4 face value to $6,730 for Category 1, with dynamic pricing pushing the ceiling to around $7,875. Secondary-market resale for the Final runs far higher. See our tickets guide for the full breakdown.
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