Though kickoff is still more than two years away, the Meadowlands Chamber of Commerce isn’t wasting any time to begin preparations for the FIFA 2026 World Cup.
The organization held its annual Mdest event on Friday afternoon with a focus on steps that North Jersey businesses can take to benefit from the eight matches coming to MetLife Stadium in June and July of 2026.
Panels including the likes of Kevin Corbett, president and CEO of NJ Transit, William Heller from the Newark-based law firm Genova Burns, and Jeff Vasser from the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism told the more than 100 assembled business owners and representatives about what they can do to capitalize on the economic boost the tournament is expected to bring.
“The World Cup brings tremendous economic benefits for the state’s travel and tourism industry as well as for restaurants and shopping destinations, for small businesses, for cultural and historic sites and so many more of our assets,” said Paul Juliano, president and CEO of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. “The World Cup will also leave a lasting legacy by highlighting the region’s unparalleled diversity.”
Corbett talked about the work NJ Transit is doing and the lessons that have been learned in the years since the 2014 Super Bowl.
He also noted that the Super Bowl has only two teams but this could bring up to 16 teams, and their fans, to the region, a factor that is being considered in terms of both transportation and services.
Avnish Gupta of Meadowlink/EZ Ride also highlighted that although MetLife will have about 80,000 spectators for each match, millions of people will likely be in the area watching off site.
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Heller advised those in attendance to be cautious with phrasing and sponsorship to adhere to the policies and protocols set by FIFA.
Bruce Revman, the New York co-host city manager for the official New York/New Jersey World Cup Host Committee, was also on hand to provide an update on what work has been done and what more is to come.
He talked about the work that is well underway, noting that he and Lauren LaRusso, the New Jersey manager, started working together in 2019.
Revman explained that this is “not just about New York but New Jersey,” because it is an event for both and the “marriage is undeniable.”
Jim Kirkos, president of the Meadowlands Chamber of Commerce, noted that he feels that “combining with Bruce and New York is what will make this a win for everybody.”
“There is a unity of purpose,” Revman said. “The river does not divide us. We have bridges over those rivers.”
Revman said that with just over 800 days until the matches start in East Rutherford, once they start, it will be nonstop, with “something happening almost every single day” from June 11, 2026, to July 19, 2026.
Credit was also given to Gov. Phil Murphy, who Revman said was the “biggest fan of getting these games,” and that his “passion is so real and that was picked up on by FIFA executives.”
Revman also noted that there will be fan fests in Liberty State Park and Corona Park in Queens as well as a final watch party in Central Park, which is something FIFA requested.
The stadium in East Rutherford will play host to eight matches, including the final on July 19, 2026. The property is under the purview of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which has given the host committee a $7.5 million revolving loan to cover the cost of host city obligations for the tournament.
The host city obligations are the responsibility of both New Jersey and the state’s partner, New York City, and officials have previously said costs would be split with New York City. There is still no formal agreement in place.
The authority previously received $30 million for work at the stadium. It agreed to a contract worth nearly $16 million — $15,989,722 exactly — for expansion of the stadium and $669,497 that has been paid to the stadium for reimbursement of costs related to design and pre-construction work.
The state has also paid $35 million for NJ Transit to develop designs for expanding its transit system to serve the venue.
This will be the first time the men’s tournament is split among multiple countries, with games in the United States, Canada and Mexico, across 16 venues. It will kick off on June 11, 2026, in Mexico City. The first game in the United States will be at SoFi Stadium, near Los Angeles.
Murphy has touted the economic benefits — which include revenues forecast to be in the billions of dollars — that hosting the final match in East Rutherford will bring to the region.
“I think the $2 billion impact is dramatically understated … There’s going to be none of this ‘Hey, I’m just gonna go over to Jersey, watch the game and come back to New York City,'” the governor has said. “You’re going to have central and northern Jersey in particular — you’re going to have people out in force at restaurants, bars, street fairs, fan fests — so that the impact on those communities as well as, frankly, I think all communities will be a very positive one.”
Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email: sobko@northjersey.com
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