Photo by Maria Jose Camposano / SOC Images.
The FIFA World Cup 2026™ has officially arrived in North Jersey and excitement continues to buzz all over from hotels to the New York/New Jersey Stadium which is MetLife’s Stadium temporary name.
Hospitality workers in the Meadowlands region of New Jersey are getting themselves ready for what is predicted to be one of the busiest and most unpredictable travel times in their recent memories.
The upcoming tournament is already changing how one local hotel, run by Italian hotelier Nick Cimorelli, does business.
A few minutes from the stadium, the Meadowlands Plaza Hotel in Secaucus has been preparing to receive a wave of international visitors during the event.
“We started preparing in 2023, [like the] rates [and], figuring out what we were remodeling, everything. I started studying all the World Cups prior and how they got things done,” Cimorelli told Slice of Culture.
For the team, this event represents a mixture of pride, expectation and logistical challenges that is expected to test every corner of the hotel.
“As the head of this place, I’m following what basically was done in Rio 2014, since it’s the closest World Cup we can compare to, the way they did things, the fares they had, how much they raised prices up and when to do it,” Cimorelli added.
A general stable summer season for the Meadowlands Plaza Hotel is now a carefully controlled period of high demand, foreign tourists and quickly fluctuating availability, which the hotelier said is nothing compared to a NFL Superbowl weekend.
“The Superbowl is one or two guys, four guys maybe. But this, this is gonna be families, a mass of people all over, nothing that we can compare to,” said Chelsea Gutierrez, hotel staff member.
According to management, most of the hotel is already expected to be fully booked between June and July, which are the core months of the tournament.
“Bookings started to increase because of the World Cup, they started months ago, and for the final on July 19, it got sold out as soon as the days opened up online,” said Juan Salas, the hotel’s accounting manager.
Reservations came in earlier than usual, with many guests securing rooms through travel and booking platforms that automatically adjust prices based on demand, location and proximity to major events.
That combination of high demand and limited availability has already pushed room rates higher than typical summer pricing.
Although, Cimorelli stated that June 25, when Germany and Ecuador play on the field, is the only slow-paced day with only 40% of the rooms reserved as of June 9.
Why? He believes this is because there aren’t many Germans in the neighborhood and the majority of the Ecuadorian population already live here, but he said statistics always change until the very last minute.
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One of the most significant logistical obstacles has been transportation, which goes beyond cost and occupancy.
Meadowlands Hotel is known for providing shuttle service to the neighboring American Dream Mall, Secaucus train station and the surrounding area. However, with expected traffic congestion during game days and limited road flexibility around stadium events, maintaining that service has become more complicated than usual.
“For us, transportation is becoming an issue, because of the security they’ve implemented…We’re trying to figure out how are we gonna safely drop our guests off, how are we gonna get them in, how we can get them out… It’s becoming a logistic nightmare,” said Cirmorelli.
“Transportation? We are still trying to figure that out, but we will make it work, whether the shuttle could drop people off somewhere or somewhere nearby,” Salas mentioned.
Cirmorelli and his team have been actively working to adjust schedules and explore alternative transportation solutions to ensure guests can still rely on the service even during peak event days.
For the hotel team, the World Cup is not just a business opportunity, it is also a test of coordination and flexibility.
Behind the front desk, employees are already anticipating longer shifts, faster turnovers and a more diverse group of guests than usual. Many will be interacting with visitors from across the world, some of whom may be experiencing New Jersey for the first time.
“At the front desk, meeting new people from all over the world is one of my favorite parts of this season, you get to interact with them and if you listen carefully, maybe even learn some words in a news language.”
– Andrea Rolon, management staff.
At the same time, the hotel’s leadership is focused on maintaining a balance between maximizing occupancy and preserving guest experience. The goal is not only to fill rooms, but to ensure that each guest feels supported, informed and welcomed throughout their stay.
On the other hand, employee excitement is present despite the anticipated intensity. For the staff, the World Cup is also an opportunity to witness one of the world’s biggest sporting events unfold right in their own backyard.
“The World Cup is very important to me. It’s the one thing I look forward to every four years,” said Salas.
Conversations about their favorite teams, predictions and potential matchups have become increasingly common among staff members.
“I can’t wait to see the match on June 25 which is Ecuador vs. Germany, it’s my father’s birthday and that’s how we are celebrating,” said Franklin Mena, a staff member.
“I’m a proud Mexican, and can’t wait to see my team in action. But of course I’m also routing for America since we are here, but it’s always about who qualifies,” said Salas. “Maybe Spain, but never Argentina though,” he laughed.
The unique experience of balancing work responsibilities with personal excitement has made the tournament feel especially meaningful. For some, it may be the closest they will ever come to experiencing a World Cup firsthand-making this summer, one they are unlikely to forget.
Beyond the stadium and surrounding hotels, visitors will also have the opportunity to experience the communities that make up the Meadowlands region before and after matches. Secaucus and East Rutherford offer a mix of local restaurants, family-owned businesses, shopping destinations and entertainment venues that reflect the area’s cultural diversity, without forgetting the area’s convenient access to New York City.
As Gutierrez mentioned, Jersey has a lot of good things to offer and for tourists to see and embrace from the American culture.
The staff emphasized that, for residents and business owners alike, the tournament represents more than a sporting event; it’s a chance to welcome the world and share a piece of their community, their lives and their people with everyone.
