Only one-third of New Jersey residents are aware that the state is hosting games in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to a poll released Thursday by Monmouth University.
The poll found residents in northern New Jersey are more engaged and excited than those in South Jersey. Those New Jersey residents who are aware of the tournament believe the state will reap an economic benefit from hosting the event, but New York will probably profit even more, the poll found.
About 41% of the respondents from North Jersey have heard a lot about the tournament, the poll found, while about 46% of South Jersey respondents have heard nothing about the eight matches, including the final, set to be played at MetLife Stadium.
Those more likely to know about the tournament were younger, with 45% of respondents under 35 aware of the tournament compared to 30% of respondents between 35 and 54 and just 27% of respondents older than 55.
Only about one in five respondents — 22% — said they were very excited about the state’s hosting duties while about two in five — 41% — said they were not excited. That excitement is centered in North Jersey, with 29% of respondents very excited and 36% somewhat excited, while a third of the respondents, or 33%, are not excited.
More than half of the respondents from South Jersey — 55% — are not excited about the event coming to the state. About 15% are very excited and 30% are somewhat excited.
Central Jersey respondents skew closer to their North Jersey counterparts with 40% not excited and about 18% very excited.
The demographic breakdown found that about 21% of non-Hispanic whites and 23% of people of color are very excited about hosting the World Cup, while about half or 45% of whites are more likely than other New Jerseyans to show no excitement about this news.
“The World Cup buzz is certainly bigger in the region where the matches will be held. South Jersey residents are probably more interested in the games that will be played in Philadelphia than in East Rutherford,” Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute, said in a statement.
There are about 60% of respondents that think the World Cup will provide an economic benefit to the state while a third, or 32%, think it will cost the state more money than it brings in.
Half of respondents think New Jersey’s hosting partner, New York City, will see more benefit than the host state while 15% say New Jersey will see more of an economic boon than New York.
The poll was conducted by phone between Feb. 29 to March 4 with 801 New Jersey adults.
There’s no contract:How will NJ and NYC share costs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
The international organization announced in February that eight matches, including the final, of the 2026 tournament would take place in East Rutherford.
The hosting duties are part of a partnership with New York City, and official documents connected to the region’s bid for the final says that the host city is “New York/New Jersey.”
Since the matches will be played in the Meadowlands, the work required by FIFA at the sports complex is the responsibility of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority.
The authority partnered with city officials to sign a contract to pursue the bid with FIFA in 2018. An addendum was signed in 2022, but the particulars of those documents were only recently made public.
In addition to standards for the playing surface within the stadium, the state is on the hook for security costs and “beautification” in the area.
The contract that the NJSEA and New York City both signed in 2018 also required free public transportation to matches and fan events. That provision seems to have been walked back. A spokesperson for FIFA recently told NorthJersey.com and The Record that the organization can “confirm that the hosting requirements across all host cities for the FIFA World Cup 26 have been updated” to note that “all match ticket holders and accredited individuals shall be able to access transport (public or additionally planned transport) at cost on matchdays to allow travel to stadiums on match days.”
State officials confirmed that there are “no plans to provide free public transportation.”
The state has already shelled out more than $19 million for the host committee, contractors and engineers. There is no contract between the NJSEA and New York that would require the costs to be split or provide for reimbursement, though state officials have said that one is in the works.
The money that’s been spent includes $11.7 million for the beginning of the stadium renovations to meet FIFA requirements and a $7.5 million loan to the host committee with a maturity date of Dec. 31, 2026.
The authority previously received $30 million for work at the stadium. It agreed to a contract worth nearly $16 million for stadium adjustments and $669,497 that has been paid to the stadium for reimbursement of costs related to design and preconstruction work. The host committee is tasked with fundraising and presenting a world-class experience to residents and visitors alike and has said the matches in East Rutherford will “generate over $2 billion in economic impact and will support over 14,000 jobs.”
The costs, projected or actual, for hosting the matches as well as the other fan experiences that come with hosting the World Cup have not been made public for this area.
In addition to the money spent by the NJSEA, the state has paid $35 million for NJ Transit to develop designs for expanding its transit system to serve the venue.
Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse.
Email: sobko@northjersey.com
