MetLife Stadium is the crown jewel of the 2026 FIFA World Cup venue portfolio. The stadium, home to both the New York Giants and New York Jets of the NFL, was selected as the tournament's Final venue over competing bids from AT&T Stadium in Dallas and SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, largely because of its proximity to the world's most concentrated media market and New York's symbolic status as the financial capital of the United States.
The selection of MetLife for the Final means the most-watched event in world soccer will be staged in the shadow of Manhattan — a deliberate FIFA statement about the commercial ambitions of the first World Cup in North America since 1994.
MetLife Stadium World Cup 2026 | Match Schedule
| Match Phase | Details |
|---|---|
Group Stage Match 1June 12 | USA vs England | Group B | ~8:00pm ET |
Group Stage Match 2June 15 | Panama vs Senegal | Group B | ~3:00pm ET |
Group Stage Match 3June 18 | Group K Match | TBD nations | TBD time |
Group Stage Match 4June 21-22 | Group K Conclusion | TBD | TBD time |
Round of 32July 1-4 | 1 match assigned to MetLife | TBD |
Round of 16July 6-9 | 1 match assigned to MetLife | TBD |
Quarter-FinalJuly 11-12 | 1 match assigned to MetLife | TBD |
World Cup FinalJuly 19 | FIFA World Cup Final 2026 | 3:00pm ET |
Getting There | Transit Guide for World Cup Match Days
From Manhattan: Take NJ Transit from New York Penn Station (33rd St and 7th Ave) to Meadowlands Sports Complex station. Trains run on a special World Cup shuttle schedule with departures starting 3 hours before kickoff. Travel time: approximately 30 minutes.
From New Jersey: Secaucus Junction serves as a transfer hub for riders coming from Hoboken, Newark Penn Station, and points south. From Secaucus, one additional train stop reaches the Meadowlands.
No public parking: FIFA and MetLife have suspended general public parking at the stadium complex on all World Cup match days. Rideshare drop-off zones are available but heavily congested. NJ Transit is the official recommendation for all fans.
Ticket required: NJ Transit charges a separate round-trip fare for the World Cup shuttle. Prices are approximately $25 round-trip from Penn Station. A World Cup match ticket does NOT include transit.
Where to Stay Near MetLife Stadium for the World Cup
Hotels within five miles of MetLife Stadium in New Jersey have been sold out for World Cup match dates since early 2025. If you are attending group stage matches or the Final, the primary accommodation strategy for most fans is staying in Manhattan and using NJ Transit for each game.
| Area | Notes for World Cup |
|---|---|
Midtown Manhattan (10-15 mi) | Full hotel inventory. Times Square, Hudson Yards, Penn Station area all convenient for NJ Transit. |
Jersey City / Hoboken (4-6 mi) | Good value relative to Manhattan. PATH train to Secaucus Junction connects to MetLife shuttle. |
Newark, NJ (5 mi) | Budget options available. Newark Penn Station offers direct NJ Transit service to Meadowlands. |
Rutherford / Carlstadt (1-2 mi) | Walking distance but no public parking. Limited inventory. Check 2-3 months in advance. |
Short-term rentals (all NJ) | Airbnb/VRBO bookings in North Jersey within 10 miles are heavily inflated for Final week. Book early or stay in Manhattan. |
USA vs England | The Group Stage Game of the Tournament
The June 12 match between the United States and England at MetLife Stadium is the group stage fixture that will generate the largest television audience of any World Cup 2026 game that does not involve a final or semifinal. Both nations bring legitimate pre-tournament expectations, both have star power in their squads, and the venue — packed with 82,500 fans and the largest English soccer diaspora in North America — will be electric.
England, managed by a new head coach after the departure of Gareth Southgate in late 2024, arrives with Jude Bellingham in his absolute prime, a Bukayo Saka-led attack that scored 23 goals in World Cup qualifying, and a defensive unit that has not conceded more than one goal in any of their last nine competitive matches. For the USA, this is the definitive proof-of-concept match — a tournament game against a world-class opponent, on home soil, before the largest soccer crowd in American domestic history.
For the full analysis of how the draw set up this fixture and all other group stage matchups, see the World Cup 2026 group stage draw. For the complete tournament schedule through the Final, see the World Cup 2026 schedule and dates.
Sources
- ^[1]MetLife Stadium | 2026 FIFA World Cup Host Venues | Official FIFA page for MetLife Stadium as a 2026 World Cup host venue.
- ^[2]NJ Transit World Cup Service | How to Get to MetLife | Official NJ Transit guide to World Cup shuttle service from Penn Station and Secaucus.