Above: Gottheimer speaks at MetLife Stadium.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — Today, November 26, 2024, at MetLife Stadium, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) joined local and state law enforcement to announce new, bipartisan federal action to protect the lives of Jersey families and ensure the 2026 World Cup is safe and secure. Gottheimer also announced new action to protect the pocketbooks of hardworking Jersey residents from having to cover the cost of safety during the World Cup games.
Video of Gottheimer’s announcement can be found here.
“The World Cup is a national event, so it requires a national response. That’s why I will continue fighting to claw back money to help fund our state and local law enforcement, and why I am calling for the federal government to recognize the magnitude of this event and help efforts to secure it.” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “To ensure the success of the games, we must all come together — federal officials, local and state leaders, sports leagues, and law enforcement — with one goal — the safety of New Jersey and our country. ”
“On behalf of the NYNJ World Cup 2026 Host Committee, we extend our gratitude to Congressman Gottheimer for his unwavering support as we collaborate with city and state agencies to ensure the safety and security of FIFA World Cup 2026™ in our region. His advocacy for $625 million in FEMA funding to support state and local authorities across all U.S. host cities is crucial for executing the ambitious and coordinated security operations required for an event of this magnitude,” said Lauren LaRusso and Bruce Revman, Co-Host City Managers of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ NYNJ Host Committee. “NYNJ has a proven track record of delivering safe and secure large-scale events, and Congressman Gottheimer’s commitment ensures that FIFA World Cup 2026™ will continue this legacy, providing a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors to the region and every host city in the United States. We are grateful for his leadership and partnership in making this historic event a resounding success locally and nationally.”
“The men and women of the New Jersey State Police are honored with having the task of undertaking the safety and security of the 2026 World Cup at Met Life Stadium. We have performed at the highest levels at prior major events including the Super Bowl and previous World Cup matches. The upcoming 2026 World Cup presents modern policing with a number of additional public safety missions that have evolved since these prior events were held, such as human trafficking and guarding against new tactics in terrorism. It is essential that our men and women be provided every last asset and dollar in order to succeed at the 2026 World Cup and be able to provide a safe and memorable experience for the millions of people that will visit our great State during the World Cup matches. We thank Congressman Gottheimer for his tireless efforts in attempting to assist the New Jersey State Police in gaining the proper federal threat level assessments and funding in order to perform our duties,” said Wayne Blanchard, President of the State Troopers Fraternal Association.
Importance of Safety and Cost of World Cup for Jersey:
Gottheimer’s New Action to Protect Jersey Families and Pocketbooks:
Gottheimer is a member of the Congressional Soccer Caucus, Vice Chair of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Caucus, and serves as co-chair of the bipartisan Law Enforcement Caucus.
Gottheimer was joined by County Executive Jim Tedesco, President of the State Troopers Fraternal Association Wayne Blanchard, Andrew Simoncini of Axion Communications, Rutherford Police Chief John Russo, Little Ferry Police Chief James Walters, Haworth Police Chief Michael Gracey, Emerson Police Chief Mark Savino, Englewood Police Chief Thomas Greeley, East Rutherford Police Captain Stan Rymarz, Bergen County Sheriff’s Office Detective Sergeant Gidget Perry.
Below: Gottheimer joins local law enforcement to fight for federal funding.
Remarks as prepared for delivery can be found here:
Good morning. It is great to be here with you all at MetLife Stadium, where in roughly a year and a half, tens of thousands of friends, families, guests and fans from around the world will gather for the FIFA World Cup final match and a million more will gather around our state and region to create memories that will last a lifetime. We have eight games coming to MetLife!
FIFA expects this to be the largest World Cup in history, with more than 5.5 million fans expected to attend the matches that will be held around the United States. This event will be historic on all fronts — not only because the US will be in the finals, but also because of the massive impact it will have on soccer here in America, and the economic benefit it will bring to our state and local economy. It’s also a moment where we can show off how well – and how safely – we can run a global, large-scale event, given how good our people are, especially law enforcement and all of our first responders. And I want to thank them again for being here today.
The World Cup is expected to create 14,000 jobs and bring $3 billion in revenue to our region. This is a massive economic opportunity for Jersey, on top of the opportunity to showcase the Meadowlands, Bergen County and Jersey to the world. Think of all of the folks who will be staying at our hotels, eating at our local diners and restaurants, enjoying Jersey bagels and pizza, which, I might add, are far better than New York’s, and shopping at our local businesses for the World Cup. It’s an unbelievable opportunity, but we need to make sure we fight for what’s ours, ensure a solid return on investment, and not get left holding the bag on any front.
There are good lessons from when we hosted the Superbowl here at MetLife in 2014. Back then, it cost about $81 million, when all was said and done. Jersey and other agencies ended up getting stuck with nearly $40 million in unreimbursed expenses, in everything from state and local police to Port Authority to transit. We didn’t do well enough – too many hotel booking and restaurant reservations went to New York. I know there’s work already being done on that front, locally and statewide to make sure Jersey does far better this time around. There is a huge opportunity to get a major return on investment for our economy. But we have to be vigilant.
This is a national event, and the federal government has a major responsibility to help offset the costs so they don’t fall on hardworking Jersey taxpayers.
For the upcoming World Cup, our state has already spent $37.5 million to get MetLife Stadium ready for soccer matches, and we’re expected to take on $65 million in costs for things like transit security for all hubs, bridges, tunnels, and airports. This is where I’m focused on clawing federal dollars back to Jersey, particularly to ensure the matches and events are safe and secure for everyone. That’s job one.
As a Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I’m keenly focused on the threats facing our nation, whether that’s terrorists from abroad, local cells, or lone wolf extremists at home.
Between 1970 and 2019, there were seventy-four terrorist attacks on sports venues around the world. Just this July, at the COPA America Final, fans were arrested after people overwhelmed security measures at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, which will also host matches for the upcoming World Cup.
As thousands of fans crowded outside the stadium, they pushed past crowd-control gates and climbed the stadium’s fences, while others forced their way through other entrances — causing mayhem, altercations with security, and delaying the start of the match by 80 minutes. Scores of fans were injured, with some suffering broken bones or being left unconscious.
The chaos at COPA America wasn’t just preventable — it was a warning, just like we’ve seen in other matches around the world, including recently in Amsterdam, France, and Germany.
Our security is not a ball that we can kick down the field until it’s too late. In the fight against terrorism, there can be no delay. We have the best law enforcement in the world right here in Jersey, but with the challenges they are going to take on, we need to get their backs and ensure they have everything they need.
That’s why I am announcing new federal action to protect the lives and pocketbooks of Jersey families and ensure the 2026 World Cup here at MetLife — and our whole region — is safe and secure.
To be clear — the World Cup is a national event, so it requires a national response. That’s why I will continue fighting to claw back money to help fund our state and local law enforcement, and why I am calling for the federal government to recognize the magnitude of this event and help efforts to secure it.
First, we must ensure that law enforcement has all of the resources they need to prevent issues and attacks for every single match played here at MetLife Stadium. So, I’m writing to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas and FBI Director Wray asking them to designate every match played at MetLife Stadium as a Level 1 Special Event Assessment Rating — or SEAR — Event. This Level 1 SEAR designation recognizes the highest level of security preparedness is required for an event of this magnitude, allowing for more funding, greater coordination between law enforcement, and many other measures to ensure safety.
In the past, the Department of Homeland Security recognized other sporting events of this scale with SEAR 1 designations, including the Superbowl. But, right now, only the World Cup final has been designated as a SEAR 1 event. New Jersey is hosting eight games in total — including the final. With large crowds, larger than those at COPA in Miami, high-profile attendees, and global media attention increasing visibility, this can also increase vulnerability. And, since every single World Cup game played here at MetLife will be a national event, every single one of them needs the SEAR 1 designation.
This will be critical to securing not only this stadium, including the area we are currently standing in, but also to protecting the tens of thousands of people who live here in the greater East Rutherford area. They will be impacted by traffic, public transportation changes, and the massive amount of visitors coming here. Keep in mind, you will have a million fans coming and going, either to the stadium itself, or watching and staying nearby.
Second, we need to claw back more federal dollars to help pay for our state and local law enforcement who will be working around-the-clock, literally, to secure this massive event against any domestic or foreign terror threats, crime, and crowd control and transit issues. That’s why I am writing a bipartisan letter with my colleague on the Intelligence Committee and cochair of the Soccer Caucus, Congressman Darin LaHood to the leaders of House and Senate Appropriations Committees to request $625 million in federal dollars. That funding request includes $65 million for Jersey, in the end of the year funding package to help invest security operations.
These dollars will help with bomb detection, counter-drone measures, tactical response teams, reinforcing critical infrastructure and essential utilities, police escorts, road closures, and transit safeguards across our major urban systems and airports. It will help New Jersey pay state and local law enforcement.
By clawing back this security investment from Washington, we won’t have to pass these costs onto our local and state budgets to cover the difference.
As I’ve often said, you need to fund, not defund law enforcement to keep our communities safe. As the new Co-chair for the bipartisan Law Enforcement Caucus, I will continue to ensure we do just that.
Finally, I remain as committed as ever to ensuring the World Cup is a massive success for Jersey, while also protecting our national security. Like everyone, I can’t wait for it to start. Just this past September, I met with FIFA’s Chief Security Officer to review their security plans, and in April, I also met with FIFA’s International President to learn more about what we need to keep New Jersey safe before the 2026 World Cup. I have also been focused on the risk of gun violence here and at other sports venues.
I proudly helped pass bipartisan legislation extending the Undetectable Firearms Act with my colleague, Congressman Mike Lawler. This extends the ban on undetectable firearms through 2031, deterring gun manufacturers from producing ghost guns and keeping our stadiums safe. This legislation requires gun manufacturers to put enough metal into all guns, so they will go off in a metal detector. I’m talking about 3.7 ounces – the size of a small marble – so they are detectable. Gun threats like undetectable firearms play directly into the hands of terrorists and extremists. We cannot let them win. Together, we will ensure that they don’t.
As a Member of the Soccer Caucus and Vice Chair of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Caucus, I can say proudly that the FIFA World Cup is a massive event for our entire country, and it’s a huge opportunity for our economy. To ensure the success of the games, we must all come together — federal officials, local and state leaders, sports leagues, and law enforcement — with one goal — the safety of New Jersey and our country.
If we work together, I know that here in the greatest country in the world, our best days will always be ahead of us. Thank you. God bless you, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.
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