The New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark recently expanded its World Cup fan sentiment platform to serve as a real-time digital resource fans could tap to help navigate the many nuances of the single biggest and most-watched sporting tournament in the world.
The 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup tournament is the first to feature 48 teams and three host countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. New Jersey/New York will host eight games, including the final, at MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands, East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Developed by students and faculty at NJIT’s Martin Tuchman School of Management in collaboration with global IT consulting firm CGI, the interactive dashboard at NJIT-WorldCup.com is also a result of the university’s partnership with the World Cup 2026™ NJNY Host Committee, NJIT said in a press release.
Real-Time Fan Sentiment, Real-Time Resources
Launched in September 2025, the dashboard captures and analyzes real-time fan sentiment surrounding the World Cup, offering insights into how audiences across the New York–New Jersey region and beyond experience this global event.
Originally focused on tracking and analyzing real-time fan reactions, online conversations, and audience engagement before, during, and after the games, the site has now expanded into a broader resource that combines fan sentiment tools with practical information for visitors, NJIT said.
The consumer-facing digital hub is designed to help fans navigate the entire tournament experience, from watch parties, fan fests, and regional events to transit information, dining, shopping, and local culture.
Douglas Vargo, a CGI Vice-President and member of the Martin Tuchman School of
Management’s Advisory Board, worked with CGI colleagues who volunteered their time and
expertise to support the project. Together, they mentored NJIT business students as part of the team
developed the site and considered how to organize information in a way that would be useful to
visitors.
“This collaboration reflects CGI’s commitment to connecting real-world expertise with academic
innovation,” said Douglas Vargo, Vice-President and Head of National AI & Alliances Team,
U.S. Commercial and State Government, CGI. The dashboard also powers insights for the official NYNJ World Cup 26 Jersey Fan Hub.
“Our AI Forward team brought insights from client engagements and applied them directly in mentoring students. From how we think about user experience to how AI-enabled tools get built and deployed for real audiences, we shared what we do every day with clients and challenged the students to apply it. Every person traveling to the New York/New Jersey region for the World Cup deserves a great experience, and if this platform helps even one fan find the right train, discover a local restaurant or feel more connected to the tournament, then we’ve done something meaningful,” Vargo said.
Win For Students, Businesses, Fans
This physical hub hosts live match broadcasts and festivities across 16 event dates in New Jersey during the tournament. With the involvement of CGI, one of the world’s largest independent technology and
professional services firms, the initiative now goes beyond an analytics dashboard into a more
accessible public resource for fans traveling through the region. It’s meant to help fans find local experiences or make sense of World Cup activity around them.
The collaboration gave students a chance to work alongside professionals from a global
consulting firm while contributing to a real project connected to the world’s largest
sporting events.
Students helped think through the user experience, the role of AI-enabled tools,
how information should be organized and how a digital platform can serve both visitors and the
broader community, according to the statement.
“This collaboration reflects the kind of work we value at NJIT — applied, student-centered and
connected to real community needs,” said Oya Tukel, dean of NJIT’s Martin Tuchman School of
Management. “The World Cup gives our students a rare opportunity to apply business,
technology and analytics skills in a live regional context, while working with professionals who
understand how these projects are built and delivered.”
Mentorship and Community Engagement
For CGI, the project also reflects a commitment to mentorship and community engagement. By
volunteering their time, Vargo and his colleagues helped students see how consulting teams
assess client needs, collaborate effectively, and keep the end user at the center of the work.
“We gained meaningful experience by working with CGI professionals, and together we created
something that can genuinely help people visiting our region during one of the world’s biggest
events,” said Nand Patel, a master’s student studying business analytics.
The fan hub is intended as a public service, not a fee-based or membership platform. Its
purpose is to make World Cup-related information more accessible while demonstrating how
higher education, industry mentorship, and student talent can come together around a major
regional moment.
NJIT’s earlier fan sentiment platform was built to help regional stakeholders understand
audience engagement by tracking online conversations, trending topics, geographic patterns,
and real-time fan reaction. The public hub adds another layer to that work by turning data,
local information and fan engagement tools into a resource that can be used directly by visitors
and residents, NJIT said.