The Opening Ceremony Is June 11
Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Azteca — the World Cup's first competitive match — kicks off at 4pm ET on June 11. The first MetLife match (Brazil vs Morocco) is June 13. You have 21 days to complete every preparation that matters. Here is exactly what to do, in order of urgency.
Do These Today
Register for fan zones at nynjfwc26.com. The borough fan zones require advance registration for the group stage (June 11-27). The USTA Queens fan zone will sell out registration for the biggest matches — Brazil vs Morocco, France vs Senegal, Ecuador vs Germany matchdays. Register for every date you might want to attend. It's free and takes 3 minutes.
Buy any remaining MetLife tickets. Group stage inventory is still available through Ticketmaster but moving. The Brazil vs Morocco (June 13) and France vs Senegal (June 16) fixtures are down to limited upper-level inventory. The Germany vs Ecuador (June 25) and Panama vs England (June 27) matches have better availability. Buy now — prices rise weekly as the tournament approaches.
Book your hotel if you haven't. Midtown hotels are at $400-600/night and inventory is tightening. Long Island City options ($130-180/night) still have availability but the best-reviewed properties are booking up. Book a refundable rate if you're not certain of your dates.
Do These This Week
Buy NJ Transit match-day tickets in the app. Download the NJ Transit app now. Buy your round-trip Penn Station to Secaucus Junction tickets for each match you're attending. They sell out closer to the match. Round trip is approximately $98.
Download Tubi. The free Fox streaming app for all World Cup matches. No subscription, no credit card. Just install it and you're ready for the USA opener on June 12.
Buy a clear stadium bag. If you're attending MetLife, you need a clear bag that meets the 12×6×12 inch limit. Available at Dick's Sporting Goods, Target, or online. Don't wait until match day — they sell out near the stadium.
Do These Before June 11
Screenshot your tickets offline. Open Ticketmaster, find your tickets, screenshot the QR code. Stadium WiFi at MetLife will be unreliable on match days.
Check your team's match schedule. Know when your team plays, where, and at what time ET. Map out which matches you're watching at home, which at bars, and which at the stadium.
Plan your community bar strategy. If you want to watch Colombia at Jackson Heights, Norway in Bay Ridge, or Senegal on 116th Street — identify your venue now and arrive early. These bars fill 45-60 minutes before kickoff for big matches.
Download offline NYC maps in Google Maps. Cell service can be unreliable in crowded outdoor events and some subway areas. Offline maps are free and essential.
The One Thing Most People Forget
Battery pack. A fully charged portable battery pack is the single most useful physical object you can bring to a World Cup match day. Your phone dies faster than normal in a crowded stadium (constant WiFi searching, camera use, social media). Having a battery pack in your clear bag means you don't miss a moment because of a dead phone.