The Cup of Dreams was hosted at American Dream in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Saturday, July 26. As the Meadowlands preps for the imminent 2026 World Cup, the event brings an added level of excitement to the region in the downtime. It offers an exciting street soccer experience for those playing, as well as those in attendance.
The tournament was mixed-gender and was separated into three divisions based upon skill level within the sport. The tournament-style event made it so that only the best of the best would be crowned champions. It consisted of 5 20-minute games, in addition to playoffs.
The event was organized by NYC Footy, the nation’s largest amateur soccer league, however it could not have been done without the help of its sponsors. Some of the sponsors could even be found inside the mall, including JD Sports, who were an event partner.
The Meadowlands has had a summer filled with soccer, from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup to the Premier League Summer Series and continued with ‘The Cup of Dreams’. With many of the soccer games dominating the region being between professional teams, the tournament offered a perfect way for casual players to get the competitive experience.
This is the event’s second installment, as the inaugural tournament took place last year at American Dream, as well. As soccer continues to dominate the region, the event couldn’t have come at a better time. The FIFA World Cup is less than a year away, set to take the region by storm.