World Cup 2026 NYC Weekend Trip Guide

Two days — one MetLife match, Queens food tour, fan zones, and the best soccer bars in the city

The Perfect World Cup Weekend in NYC

A World Cup weekend trip to New York works best for people within Amtrak range — Philadelphia (1.5 hours), Washington DC (3 hours), Boston (3.5 hours), Baltimore, Hartford. The rhythm is: arrive Friday evening, check in, explore Saturday morning, attend the match Saturday afternoon or evening, recover Sunday morning, return home. Two nights, one match, and enough of New York's soccer culture to understand what the tournament means to this city.

Day 1 — Friday Evening: Arrive and Orient

Check In

Long Island City is the ideal weekend base — $130-180/night at hotels like TownePlace Suites Marriott or LIC Hotel, 15 minutes to Penn Station on the E train, and on the 7 line that takes you through Jackson Heights and Flushing on Saturday. Midtown is more convenient for Penn Station access (useful on match day) but more expensive ($200-300+ for the weekend).

Friday Dinner — Jackson Heights

Take the 7 train from Queens Plaza (walkable from LIC hotels) or from Times Square to 82nd Street–Jackson Heights. Arrive by 7pm. Walk Roosevelt Avenue from 86th to 74th Street — take in the neighborhood, choose a restaurant based on what looks good and what team you want to eat near. La Pequeña Colombia is the safest pick (bandeja paisa, $20). Eat, have a drink, absorb the World Cup energy building in the neighborhood. Back to the hotel by 10pm or stay and watch the evening match at one of the bars.

Day 2 — Saturday: Fan Zone + MetLife Match

Morning: Hudson Yards Fan Zone

Take the 7 train from Queens Plaza to 34th Street–Hudson Yards. Walk to the Backyard — 5 minutes. Watch the morning match (noon ET) on the 30-foot outdoor screen with the fan zone crowd. This is free, no registration required. Allow 2-2.5 hours (match length plus setup time). Good coffee at the Shops at Hudson Yards nearby.

Lunch: Hell's Kitchen or Koreatown

Walk east from Hudson Yards to Hell's Kitchen (Ninth Avenue, 15 minutes) for one of the densest restaurant streets in Manhattan. Or take the subway to Koreatown on 32nd Street for a midday Korean meal before the match. Budget: $15-25.

Match Day Transit

For a 3pm kickoff, leave your lunch location by 1pm. Walk or take the subway to Penn Station. Board NJ Transit to Secaucus (ticket pre-purchased in the app). Meadowlands shuttle to MetLife. Arrive 45 minutes before kickoff.

Match

90 minutes of World Cup football at one of the world's great stadiums. Wait 10-15 minutes after the final whistle, then take the shuttle to Secaucus and NJ Transit back to Penn Station.

Evening: Koreatown

The late-match return to Penn Station puts you in Midtown around 9-10pm. Walk south to 32nd Street — Koreatown stays open until 3-4am. Order Korean BBQ (samgyeopsal, bulgogi), share soju, debrief the match. This is one of the best post-match traditions in New York and it's waiting for you 15 minutes from Penn Station.

Sunday: Option A or B

Option A: Take the 7 train to Flushing for the New World Mall food courts. One of the best food destinations in the United States. Cheap, extraordinary, different from anything you've had. Budget 1.5-2 hours. Then Amtrak home from Penn Station.

Option B: Walk the Brooklyn Bridge (A/C to High Street, Brooklyn), walk back, take the subway to Astoria for Greek food. Taverna Kyclades for lunch if you can get a table. Then Penn Station home.