World Cup 2026 NYC for First-Timers

First World Cup? The experience is extraordinary — but there are things every experienced fan knows that first-timers get caught out on. Here they are, in the order they'll matter to you.

"MetLife is in New York" — It Isn't

MetLife Stadium is in East Rutherford, New Jersey, 10 miles west of Midtown Manhattan. The official tournament name is New York New Jersey Stadium. Getting there from Midtown takes 45–90 minutes on NJ Transit or 30–45 minutes by rideshare on a normal day. On match day, rideshare prices surge to $80–150+ each way and roads are congested. Take NJ Transit. See the complete transit guide.

NJ Transit Sells Out — Buy Now

NJ Transit caps World Cup match-day tickets at 40,000 per match. They sell out. The $98 round-trip ticket must be purchased in the NJ Transit app before you arrive. Do not assume you can buy it at Penn Station on match day. You cannot.

Your Match Ticket is on Your Phone

FIFA distributes tickets through the FIFA Ticketing app. Screenshot and save to your phone's wallet before match day — cellular signal at MetLife is unreliable and the app may not load when you're in the queue. If you're going with a group, each person needs the ticket transferred to their own account before arriving.

Stadium Food Prices

Beer at MetLife runs $16–20. Hot dogs and basic food items $12–15. A round of four beers costs as much as an NJ Transit ticket. Eat and drink in the city before you go. Newark Ironbound (Portuguese/Brazilian restaurants 15 minutes from MetLife by transit) is the recommended pre-match option.

The Fan Zones are Free and Excellent

All five NYC boroughs have official free fan zones with big-screen match broadcasts, food vendors, and daily programming. The Rockefeller Center Fan Village (knockout stage) and Hudson Yards screen (full tournament) are both free and walk-in. See the complete fan zones guide.