World Cup
Long after the final whistle blows on the 2026 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the influence of FIFA will remain. That much is clear in the host city agreement that organizers in New Jersey and New York signed with soccer’s world governing body, a copy of which was obtained by The Athletic through a public records request.
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To host World Cup games, organizers in 16 host cities across North America signed contracts with FIFA as far back as 2018, shortly after the bidding process for FIFA’s prized tournament began. The agreements lay out which entity is responsible for which part of the process of hosting World Cup games, and who will bear the cost.
Organizers in New Jersey and New York, which seemingly have the most to gain after landing the tournament’s final game, agreed to contracts that give FIFA near-total control over stadium operations, limit what can be shared publicly, and place a chunk of costs squarely on organizers. In some instances, FIFA’s control extends to one year following the World Cup final. The agreements differ from past World Cups because 2026 will be the first version of the tournament in which FIFA will take on the logistical arrangements itself, rather than using a national organizing committee as in past editions.
The agreements show how little say organizers have over World Cup operations, and just how far FIFA’s reach runs within the 16 host cities preparing to host games in 2026. Seattle’s agreement was released publicly earlier this year, and New Jersey / New York’s was released last month only after legal counsel representing a local newspaper stepped in. The 350-page document encompasses versions of agreements signed by organizers beginning in 2022 up to as recent as February 2024. Amendments can be made to the contract so long as they are made in writing and signed by FIFA, U.S. Soccer and the Host City Authority.
The Athletic sifted through the agreement to better understand the agreements signed by organizers in New Jersey and New York, identifying below the bits we found most interesting.
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FIFA will have full control of MetLife Stadium during the World Cup, starting 30 days prior to the opening match in 2026 until seven days after the completion of the tournament. FIFA also expects to be handed a “clean stadium” come game time, meaning the venue will be free of all marketing or advertising, including that which is baked into the stadium’s name.
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As part of their agreement, the stadium waives any existing rights deals it may have with another third party, like global insurer MetLife, which owns its naming rights to the venue. For the duration of the World Cup, FIFA will instead prioritize its own commercial partners throughout the tournament.
FIFA is also guaranteed access to all stadium seating, regardless of any existing contracts between the stadium owner and potential third parties. That clause is proving to be an issue in Mexico, where box owners at the iconic Azteca Stadium are refusing to release their seats for the 2026 World Cup. As far as suites and private clubs go in the stadium, the agreement says all parties will work “in good faith” to reach a “mutually acceptable” arrangement regarding those assets.
The stadium’s owners also must meet deadlines for upgrades or construction to get the venue ready for the tournament, at no cost to FIFA. And throughout the lead-up to the World Cup, FIFA has the right to send a delegation for stadium inspection visits at any time. The stadium must also agree to staging at least three soccer matches as “test events” before the World Cup.
While FIFA will pay a rental fee for using the stadium on match days and non-match days, the organization reserves the right to audit the stadium’s books and records “to verify the accuracy of any final cost statement” for using the stadium. FIFA holds these rights for up to one year after the World Cup. If an audit finds FIFA overpaid for use of the stadium, then FIFA must immediately be refunded the difference by the stadium owner and operator. If that difference exceeds 5%, then the stadium must also pay for costs of the audit.
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FIFA entered nearly identical contracts with the City of New York and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which holds the land lease for where MetLife Stadium sits. The agreements outline in detail what’s expected from the host cities. That largely entails organizing host city events, like the FIFA Fan Fest, and handling transportation and travel logistics for World Cup attendees. One added perk for host cities is that they get first dibs to purchase a certain number of tickets before sales open to the public, and they are able to collect revenues from the fan fests.
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However, the agreement also stipulates that the organizations “shall be responsible to bear all the costs and expenses incurred … for fulfillment of its obligations.” That includes providing police escorts for teams, referees, and FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, and his delegation. The host city is also expected to provide medical services and fire protection around matches free of charge.
At past World Cups, like in Qatar, free public transportation was included as part of a match day ticket and guaranteed for accredited individuals, like media covering that tournament. That was included in New Jersey’s original agreement, but FIFA recently told NorthJersey.com that transport would be accessible “at cost” on match days, after local backlash over the potential of free rides. The current agreement highlights a to-be-determined “combination-ticket agreement” that includes the allocation of transport costs to individual tickets, as determined by the public transportation entity, host city, FIFA and U.S. Soccer.
The host city agreement largely mirrors language in the stadium agreement, in that FIFA expects non-refundable taxes will be minimized “in good faith.” And while FIFA says each party shall cover its own “taxes, duties and levies” derived from entering the agreement, any municipal taxes related to hosting shall be covered by the host city.
The contracts also stipulate that FIFA reserves the right to establish branch offices in every host city and expects host cities to provide this space “free of any charge.” The space ought to be “sufficient” and equipped with “state-of-the-art technical devices, infrastructure and facilities of the highest quality available.” FIFA and its member association, U.S. Soccer, agree to pay daily operational costs for using the space, like internet or utilities, the agreement says.
FIFA also mandates the airspace above and around a stadium or FIFA Fan Fest be clear of any commercial signage or advertising, and expects the host city to work with the local aviation authority to guarantee this. Meanwhile, FIFA also expects the first right to “outdoor media locations” across host cities and near stadiums, starting from two years prior to the World Cup – meaning, local ads for the World Cup may soon pop up near stadiums preparing to host some games.
It’s also expected that all bars, restaurants and shops within a host city are allowed to open on match days, even “on a restricted trading day.” That offers a unique challenge in Bergen County, where local Blue Laws prevent retail shops from opening on Sundays. The World Cup final is already set for a Sunday at MetLife, which is across the street from American Dream, a mall that would normally be closed for retail that day.
The host city is expected to guarantee that no other major sporting event be staged in the area starting seven days before the opening match to seven days following the final match. Speaking to The Athletic, a FIFA spokesperson recently clarified that this stipulation was put into place to guarantee that no other major event would be drawing safety resources from the World Cup venue and that a New York Yankees game, for example, would not be close enough to impact a game at MetLife Stadium.
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The host city also cannot “devote greater resources to the promotion” of any other major sporting event staged in the host city in the year prior to the World Cup. No other “substantial cultural events,” like concerts, can be organized or staged in the host city one day prior to a match or opening ceremony, until one day after a match day. Any such event would need approval by FIFA, per the host city agreement.
The host city is also expected to use its “best efforts” to make public spaces “as attractive as possible” during the tournament “at its own expense.” This includes carrying out “beautification measures,” like covering up construction sites near the stadium, at training sites, team hotels, the fan fest and travel hubs.
One expected caveat of these agreements is that organizers are expected to coordinate with FIFA and U.S. Soccer on any public statements and press briefings, meaning all communication surrounding the World Cup will be, and largely has been, identical.
(Photo: Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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