On Tuesday, a FIFA delegation toured the MetLife Stadium and other sports facilities included in the bid by New Jersey and New York City to host the 2026 World Cup, along with 16 other cities in the country that also submitted your candidacy.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio welcomed officials from FIFA, the governing body of international football, who concluded their visit as they continue the process of selecting stadiums for the 2026 World Cup.
The delegation was led by FIFA Vice President and CONCACAF President Victor Montaliani and Colin Smith, Director of FIFA Tournaments and Events.
The delegation also attended FIFA experts in various fields, including stadium management, stadium infrastructure, city and team facilities, commercials, tenders and the legal department.
Representatives from the United States Football Association, as well as representatives of the Canadian Football Association and the Mexican Football Association, also joined the delegation.
New Jersey and New York City have submitted a joint bid to host the 2026 World Cup with the goal of bringing one of the world’s largest sporting events to East Rutherford and MetLife Stadium, where the New York Giants and New Jets play. ).
“This is a very exciting opportunity to showcase our great nation to an international audience,” said Governor Phil Murphy.
“The FIFA World Cup is among the best sporting events in the world and MetLife Stadium is among the best in the country, so we are excited about the opportunity to combine the two,” Murphy added.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio noted that “New York and New Jersey have all the assets we need to host an unforgettable World Cup: accessible world-class facilities, a truly global audience of fans and the best tourist destinations in the world.”
In addition to a tour of the MetLife Stadium, delegates visited several potential FIFA Fan Fest locations in the area, including Liberty State Park and Central Park in New York City.
Six additional sites will be used as training facilities, including Rutgers University, Pingree School, Keene University, Red Bull Arena, and the New York City Football Club Training Center and Training Center.
The Nominations Committee also launched a campaign entitled “Welcome, World” that highlights the region’s passion for sport and its desire to be the official host city for the 2026 World Cup.
“This morning we received an excellent presentation from the Governor and the entire group of officials involved in the hosting bid,” said Colin Smith, Director of FIFA Tournaments and Events.
“This area is used to host big events, and it’s clear that seeing cooperation between all parties is very important to us,” Smith added.
