World Cup fever is spreading fast and whether you call the sport fútbol (Spanish), futebol (Portuguese), Fußball (German), or soccer (only in the United States and Canada), momentum spiked over the past week.
The energy kicked up a few notches with the start of the Countdown to the World Cup event at American Dream on June 10.
World-renowned Italian sculptor Dante Mortet and his son Lorenzo were flown in from Rome, Italy to head the traveling popup show, which finished its New Jersey run at the Canopy by Hilton Jersey City Arts District on Thursday, June 12 (look for the full story on Tuesday, June 17).
World Cup 26: One Year to Go
Liberty State Park set the stage for the One Year to Go fest and press conference held by the NYNJ Host Committee. MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands will host eight FIFA World Cup 26™ games, including the final.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy, Chair of the Host Committee’s Board of Directors, said Liberty State Park will be the official site of the FIFA Fan Festival™ New York New Jersey.
Read more: Tammy Murphy Named Board Chair for FIFA 2026 World Cup NY/NJ Host Committee
“MLS was born out of the 1996 World Cup. I can only imagine what will be born out of this World Cup and most importantly in the communities in the region on both sides of the Hudson,” the governor said.
Alex Lasry, CEO of the FIFA World Cup 2026 NY/NJ Host Committee, said Live Nation and DPS will produce the Fan Festival, which will include premier concerts on “rest days.” The goal is to ensure fans have something great to look forward to every day of the tournament.
“The FIFA Fan Festival NYNJ will be the largest and most visible fan experience of the entire tournament,” said Alex Lasry, CEO of the NYNJ Host Committee. “Liberty State Park offers a landmark setting and reflects the scale and energy of the region. This isn’t just about watching matches, it’s about celebrating the game, showcasing what makes NYNJ special, and creating lasting impact for our communities, partners, and millions of fans.”
“We’re not just building a fan festival, we’re creating something worthy of the world’s biggest sporting event, and worthy of this region, which we like to think of as the capital of the world,” Lasry said.
The fest will have a capacity of up to 45,000 spectators and will be open for all 39 days of the event. The site will broadcast all 104 World Cup matches next summer, including all eight games at MetLife Stadium.
“Honored to share that DPS is teaming up with Live Nation Entertainment New York and the FIFA World Cup 26™ New York New Jersey Host Committee to bring the FIFA Fan Festival NYNJ ‘26 to life at Liberty State Park. We’re talking hundreds of thousands of fans, experiences, epic viewing parties — all with the NYC skyline as the backdrop. This isn’t just an event — it’s a cultural moment,” Darren Pfeffer, President, Diversified Production Services (DPS), said on LinkedIn on Friday, June 13.
The Liberty State Park fest was included fan favorites like Mr. and Mrs. Met, Giants legend Victor Cruz and representatives from most of the region’s professional sports teams. There were food trucks and activities for kids, lots of giveaways, and plenty of photo ops.
The fan fest will include
- ■ Central Hub: Liberty State Park will be the main site for the FIFA Fan Festival, offering a landmark setting with views of the Manhattan skyline, Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island.
- ■ Fan Fest Activities: The festival will feature real-time broadcasts of World Cup matches, live entertainment, interactive fan activations, and sponsorship integrations.
- ■ Large-Scale Event:T he NYNJ Host Committee envisions this as the largest and most visible fan experience of the entire tournament.
- ■ Additional Fan Zones: The NYNJ Host Committee plans to announce additional Host Committee-led Fan Zones in the coming weeks
World Club World Cup
World class soccer hits MetLife Stadium on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 15, with SE Palmeiras (Brazil) against FC Porto (Portugal). This year’s Club tournament features professional teams from leagues around the world as opposed to national teams that will compete in the 2026 World Cup.
The tournament, expanded to 48 nations from 32, opens June 11 in Mexico City and the final will be July 19 at East Rutherford, New Jersey. Games will be played at 11 U.S. venues, three in Mexico and two in Canada, with all matches in the U.S. from the quarterfinals on.
The tournament kicked off in Mexico at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium on June 11.
It will be the biggest World Cup, with the format expanding from 32 nations at Qatar 2022 to 48 teams in USA, Mexico and Canada. The result is 104 games across 16 cities in three nations before the new world champion is crowned at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on July 19.
FIFA estimates 6.5 million people will attend the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The U.S. Travel Association estimates an 8.8% increase in international visitors to the United States in 2025, and an increase of 8.9% in 2026.
Dec. 5, when FIFA will hold the draw that determines where the 48 teams play.
