Photo by Nathaly Suquinagua / SOC Images.
With all the commotion on the FIFA World Cup coming to Hudson County, it could be hard not to notice how much of an effect this tournament can have on the “smallest county in New Jersey, but also the most densely populated.”
Many fans are traveling from around the world to experience this event, which will be the “largest sports and entertainment event in the world,” according to Alex Lasry, the CEO of the New York New Jersey 2026 World Cup Host Committee. And Hudson County’s economy will be at the forefront of the impact, Lasry added, who recently had an exclusive interview with Slice of Culture.
When And Where Is FIFA Coming To New Jersey?
The FIFA World Cup, for the first time ever, will be happening in three countries and with 48 qualifying teams. The World Cup is a major international soccer tournament, featuring national teams from across the globe.
Matches will take place in Canada, Mexico and the United States from June 11, 2026 to July 19, 2026. Hosting cities include Philadelphia, Boston, Miami and New York/ New Jersey.
MetLife Stadium, located in East Rutherford, will host eight FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches including the final. This past summer the stadium also hosted eight FIFA Club World Cup games and the final where 81,118 fanatics attended.
While there were no major issues during the Club World Cup in MetLife Stadium, there were many traffic delays for fans and even the teams themselves. Paris Saint – Germain and Real Madrid got caught in traffic issues causing delays in the game. And the expected increase in traffic in-and-out of Hudson County is something being considered.
How Could It Impact Hudson County?
Hosting the World Cup requires far more than standard event procedures, it demands sizable investments in infrastructure.
More than 1.2 million visitors are expected to travel to the NYNJ region during the tournament, and $1.3 billion in projected total labor income in the regional economy.
According to IMS, “In fact, 70% of the bidding process comes down to already having the infrastructure in place or demonstrating plans and commitments to ensure criteria will be met.”
For Hudson County, this could mean short-term job opportunities for locals, a boost in tourism and a significant increase in economic activity, generating considerable revenue for towns across the county.
FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches played in the region are projected to generate over $2 billion in economic impact and support over 14,000 jobs,” according to Hudson County Latin American Chamber of Commerce.
According to northjersey.com, “The tournament is projected to spur as much as $2 billion in economic impact, create 14,000 jobs and draw more than a million tourists to the region, officials said, explaining that coordination with local businesses has already begun.”
At El Baron Men’s Clothing & Shoes in West New York, Omar, a worker at the shop, helps customers find jerseys representing their favorite soccer teams. The top selling jerseys at the store are of global stars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. With Argentina already qualified for the World Cup, demand for Messi’s jersey will most likely remain high.
He hopes, like any business, to sell out of the soccer jerseys at El Baron. Other stores in the area include Soccer Zone USA and Mundo Del Deporte in North Bergen.
“With the World Cup coming here, I’m sure it’s going to be insane. They usually do parades around here to represent their countries… so I’m sure the World Cup is going to be big,” Omar told Slice of Culture.
In addition, FIFA has launched their volunteer program, giving “passionate and energetic” soccer fans the ability to help bring the games to life in their host cities. Applications have already closed on the FIFA website.
With the final match scheduled to take place in East Rutherford, public transportation, which many locals rely on, will be used to get to and from MetLife Stadium. So far, according to northjersey.com, “The state (NJ) has also paid $35 million for NJ Transit to develop designs for expanding its transit system to serve the venue.”
With events such as the World Cup, it creates demands over a short period of time posing transportation challenges. For New Jersey Transit, they have operated an extra rail and bus service to MetLife Stadium during major concerts such as Taylor Swift and Morgan Wallen.
With such implementations, according to ITS, the traffic at NJ’s MetLife Stadium has decreased by 27% compared to usual delays during major events.
Hudson County’s Mixed Emotions
Slice of Culture surveyed residents and working-class people in Hudson County who have expressed concern and excitement at the same time about FIFA hosting the World Cup in Hudson County.
In Hudson County, 92.3% of respondents are between the ages of 18 and 24, with 45.2% expressing excitement about the World Cup taking place in their neighborhood, while 30.6% say they don’t care about it.
Many locals have expressed how there will be a lot of traffic, price increases and making places more crowded than they already are. While at the same time, the excitement also brings in people who can experience Hudson County as well.
One of the survey participants mentioned how unsure they think MetLife will be equipped to handle the stadium and the fans coming in. Many are concerned about their safety, but also looking forward to this opportunity that could bring much-needed money to local businesses and help the economy in Hudson County.
Meanwhile, Guttenberg resident Luis Guzman, expressed excitement about the upcoming FIFA World Cup, especially since he’s a lifelong soccer fan and the final will be held in his local area.
“I’m excited! When the Club World Cup was here this summer, it was just clubs. It was amazing. Like the vibe, the atmosphere, the people, everyone was so happy that the fact that they were able to see their favorite clubs, and now that they’re going to be able to see their countries where they’re from, is going to be even better,” Guzman told Slice of Culture.
Attending three games in total, Guzman highlighted how soccer has the power of unifying people together.
“As soon as you turn the TV on and you start watching the game or you go to a game, you all kind of connect. You’re all in the same team, whether you guys literally support different teams, but it’s almost like you guys are just vibing off one game. And that’s the beauty of the sport, it brings everyone together,” Guzman added.
He expressed optimism about the upcoming event, noting that it seems promising so far and will give people a chance to see where they’re from. He emphasized that the World Cup will help put New Jersey on the map, pointing out that many assume it’s happening in New York when it’s actually in New Jersey.
While he admitted it can be frustrating to see New York get more recognition, he acknowledged that it’s something people have to accept since the city tends to draw more attention.
“Imagine a German person or someone from Poland walking by Bergenline… It’s also gonna be cool, because they’re going [to] see at least where people around Metlife are,” he said.
Hudson County is full of very hardworking people and great people, Guzman explained, and it would give an opportunity to be able for others to see what Hudson County has to offer.
Residents are expected to be in awe at the opportunity to watch their favorite players and teams compete in one of the most prominent tournaments in the world.
One of the survey responders, Harvey Cruz, who is Salvadoran and describes himself as a soccer enthusiast, expressed a longing for El Salvador to qualify for the World Cup and mentioned how the cultural diversity and togetherness will be a significant aspect of the event.
“The World Cup, to me, is the most celebrated event in the sport of soccer, and the most celebrated sporting event, regardless of sport. You can have all these countries. They’re gonna make it out. You have all these fans. They’re gonna travel here. And for the first time, it’s three continents, it’s three countries,” Cruz told Slice of Culture.
Cruz mentioned how cultural diversity and togetherness will be a significant aspect of the event.
Still, fans like Cruz are concerned about the amount of people coming in and out from Hudson County. He expressed concerns about the transportation logistics and safety concerns. Making sure that one is on their best behavior is knowing their surroundings.
Cruz shared that he has attended games in Metlife before, but described frustrating experiences with heavy traffic when leaving and how many fans try to sneak into closer seats, forcing security to step in and remove them.
With the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ having been held at MetLife Stadium, Cruz said it offered just a taste of what to expect in the World Cup and how much traffic will be an issue especially when locals are trying to get to work.
There is no current information on how MetLife Stadium will be preparing for the 2026 World Cup; they have given updates on expanding the playing surface by accommodating FIFA’s requirements for a wider playing surface and natural grass. They will also be updating the liquor licensing to allow for the expansion of allinclusive areas at the stadium according to northjersey.com.
“Attendees will not only need restaurants and lodging for the amount of time they may stay in New Jersey – MetLife games will span from June 13 through July 19 – but they may want to fill the long game gaps by visiting the state’s tourism and cultural attributes,” mentioned by njbmagazine.
Preparing For The Road Ahead: Words From The CEO Of The NYNJ 2026 World Cup Host Committee
Jersey City and Hudson County will be home to the official FIFA Fan Festival™, where fans can watch matches, live entertainment and experience the soccer culture. There will be 104 of these festivals in total, with a major one that will be held at Liberty State Park in Jersey City.
The Hudson County Chamber of Commerce is already briefing residents and businesses on what to expect while NJ TRANSIT is finalizing expanded rail and bus service to MetLife Stadium, along with safety initiatives and infrastructure planning. Hudson County businesses who are interested in World Cup opportunities, can find information here.
Hudson County Chamber Of Commerce is actively getting ready to build their hospitality & Tourism Network, aiming to build activities to offer exclusive access, training seminars and marketing packages to get locals ready for the major event along with hosting celebration events that can spotlight local businesses like restaurants, retailers, bars and even venues to join.
Slice of Culture reached out to Lasry, the CEO of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ New York New Jersey Host Committee, who highlighted that, “beyond the festival itself, Hudson County’s neighborhoods, restaurants and cultural venues will be a place where visitors stay, explore, and celebrate. It’s an opportunity to showcase the diversity, energy, and hospitality that make Hudson County and our region, a premier global destination.”
When asked about accessibility, Lasry told Slice of Culture that it’s something the committee will be focused on and is the center of their planning. He also explained that the Fan Festival is designed as a family- friendly space, ensuring that the World Cup is not only for ticket-holders but for everyone in the region.
“We’re working with local officials and community groups to bring the sport to our communities in ways that support youth, promote healthy lifestyles, and create safe spaces to play. One of our key initiatives is working with our supporters to invest in mini-pitches—small-scale soccer fields that will live on in our neighborhoods well beyond 2026, offering ongoing access to the game for kids and families.”
Alex Lasry told Slice of Culture in a written response.
One of the goals of the FIFA World Cup 26™ New York New Jersey Host Committee is for the World Cup to be remembered not only for the matches, but for how it brought communities together and created lasting opportunities beyond 2026.
This includes investments in transportation, tourism and infrastructure, along with cultural and community programming that highlights the region on a global stage. Organizers are also focused on inspiring the next generation by giving young people in New York and New Jersey the chance to experience the world’s game in their own backyard and creating a moment that opens doors and leaves a lasting legacy, according to the NYNJ CEO.
FIFA recently released new information for local food vendors who want to be part of the Liberty State Park FanFest—the application can be found here—and people who want to screen the games at larger events like a street festival can apply here. You can review regulations here.
For those still trying to get tickets, Phase 3 of the ticketing process has opened up. Enter the draw here and this is what you can expect from the lottery-style system:
- Between Dec. 11, 2025, and Jan. 13, 2026, visit the link below and create a FIFA ID or sign in to your account.
- Follow the prompts to apply for the random selection draw, even if you have already applied in the previous draws.
- Submit your application, then select the matches, categories, and number of tickets you would like to purchase.
- If you’re selected, then you will receive an email that your card will automatically be charged.
To stay up to date, the Hudson County Economic Development Corporation (HCEDC) has also listed resources to prepare for the World Cup. FIFA announced that more resources, news and other updates are expected to roll out soon as 2026 approaches.
Slice of Culture will continue providing coverage and resources as new information rolls around.
