MLS analyst looks ahead to 2026 FIFA World Cup Final – Spectrum News NY1

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The countdown is officially underway for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final taking place at MetLife Stadium.
At his weekly news conference Monday, Mayor Eric Adams said the event will be huge for the city and for the fans.
Addressing the press, he said the event is expected to bring in $2 billion in economic revenue.
“We’re looking at 14,000 jobs, over one million tourists,” said Adams. “And the beauty of that, not every tourist or visitor goes to the game. Something that many people don’t realize when you talk about the World Cup, it is the fan experience.”
For former professional soccer player and MLS Season Pass Analyst Calen Carr, the impact of having the World Cup come to town is tremendous.
“To imagine the World Cup final here in the greater New York area, I mean, is just incredible,” Carr said during an appearance on “Mornings On 1” Tuesday. “It makes sense because New York is the center of the world in a lot of ways.”
He credited the MLS’ record-breaking 2023 season with generating momentum ahead of FIFA’s announcement on Sunday. Season ticket sales for 2024 are already up 15% compared to the same time last year.
“When I think about the opportunity for the growth of the game, from the grassroots all the way to the highest level, with the final here in New York… it is really a dream come true,” Carr said.
New York’s two major league soccer teams are gearing up to kick off the 2024 season. Home openers for both NYCFC and the New York Red Bulls are set to take place on March 9.

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