MetLife Stadium
East Rutherford, New Jersey · United States
Capacity
82,500
Opened
2010
Location
East Rutherford, NJ
To NYC
8 miles
Surface
Natural grass (WC)
WC Highlight
🏆 Hosts the Final
About MetLife Stadium
MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey is the crown jewel of FIFA World Cup 2026 and will host the tournament Final on Sunday 19 July 2026 — the most prestigious match in world football. Located just 8 miles west of Midtown Manhattan in the New Jersey Meadowlands, MetLife is the NFL's largest stadium by seating capacity and home to both the New York Giants and New York Jets. The stadium opened in 2010 at a cost of $1.6 billion, making it the most expensive sports venue in the world at the time. For the World Cup, the venue will be transformed with FIFA-compliant natural grass replacing the artificial turf, new sight lines and world-class broadcast infrastructure. The proximity to New York City — easily reached by NJ Transit rail directly from Penn Station — makes this the most accessible of all 16 World Cup venues for international fans. Expect enormous crowds, particularly as the tournament reaches its climax with the semi-finals and final. With a capacity of over 82,000 fans, the MetLife World Cup Final will be one of the largest-attended sporting events in modern history.
The most expensive stadium ever built when it opened in 2010, costing $1.6 billion. Shared by two NFL franchises — a unique arrangement in American sports.
Venue History
The most expensive stadium ever built when it opened in 2010, costing $1.6 billion. Shared by two NFL franchises — a unique arrangement in American sports.
Opened
2010
Home Team
New York Giants & New York Jets (NFL)
Surface
Natural grass (FieldTurf hybrid for WC)
World Cup 2026 Matches at MetLife
Match Schedule
12 total matchesGroup Stage
Multiple group stage matches including high-profile fixtures
Round of 32
Two knockout stage first-round matches
Round of 16
Round of 16 match
Quarter-final
Quarter-final match
Semi-final
One semi-final match
Final
🏆 The FIFA World Cup 2026 Final — 19 July 2026
Fixture List
United States vs France
Group A, Matchday 1Fri, Jun 12, 2026 at 18:00 local time
Argentina vs Italy
Group G, Matchday 1Sun, Jun 14, 2026 at 21:00 local time
United States vs Japan
Group A, Matchday 2Fri, Jun 19, 2026 at 18:00 local time
Argentina vs Egypt
Group G, Matchday 2Mon, Jun 22, 2026 at 18:00 local time
United States vs Switzerland
Group A, Matchday 3Thu, Jun 25, 2026 at 21:00 local time
Argentina vs Iraq
Group G, Matchday 3Sun, Jun 28, 2026 at 21:00 local time
1st Group A vs 3rd (B/C/D)
Round of 32Thu, Jul 2, 2026 at 17:00 local time
Winner R32 M1 vs Winner R32 M2
Round of 16Sun, Jul 12, 2026 at 17:00 local time
Winner R16 M1 vs Winner R16 M2
Quarter-finalFri, Jul 17, 2026 at 18:00 local time
Winner QF M1 vs Winner QF M2
Semi-finalTue, Jul 21, 2026 at 21:00 local time
🎫 Attending MetLife?
Buy tickets through FIFA's official platform
All World Cup 2026 tickets are sold exclusively through FIFA.com/tickets. No third-party sellers are authorised for original face-value tickets.
Location & Access
Nearby Airports
Newark Liberty International (EWR) — 10 miles / John F. Kennedy International (JFK) — 25 miles
Map Placeholder
Interactive map embed reserved for MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford. Static-first page keeps Core Web Vitals light until map data is needed.
Getting to MetLife
Train
NJ Transit Meadowlands Rail Line from Penn Station, New York. Direct service with extra trains on match days. ~30 minutes from NYC. Most popular option for visitors.
Bus
NJ Transit bus routes from Port Authority Bus Terminal and other NJ hubs. Check NJ Transit for match-day services.
Car
MetLife Stadium Complex has extensive parking. Major routes via NJ Turnpike (I-95) exit 16W and Route 3. Expect significant traffic on match days — allow extra time.
Rideshare
Uber and Lyft drop-off available at designated zones around the stadium. Pre-book return rides well in advance for major matches.
From Manhattan
NJ Transit from Penn Station is by far the fastest and cheapest option from NYC. Tickets from ~$7 each way. Avoid driving into Manhattan before taking transit.
Visitor Tips
- Use official match-day transport guidance for East Rutherford; arrival windows and drop-off zones can change by fixture.
- Newark Liberty International (EWR) — 10 miles / John F. Kennedy International (JFK) — 25 miles is the practical airport starting point for most visiting fans.
- Prepare for sun, heat or rain because this is primarily an open-air venue.
- Book refundable hotels early and confirm transit options again after FIFA publishes final match operations.
Interesting Facts
- MetLife Stadium opened in 2010 and will host 12 World Cup 2026 matches.
- The venue capacity is listed at 82,500 for major events before FIFA match configuration.
- The most expensive stadium ever built when it opened in 2010, costing $1.6 billion. Shared by two NFL franchises — a unique arrangement in American sports.
Frequently Asked Questions
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📺 Watching from Home?
Stream MetLife matches live
Find your official broadcaster and streaming options for every match at MetLife.
Related World Cup 2026 Venues
More World Cup 2026
WC 2026 Hub
Full tournament overview and latest news
Match Schedule
All 104 fixtures with kickoff times
Results
Full-time scores for every match
Live Fixtures
Live fixture list with match times
TV Guide
How to watch in your country
Knockout Bracket
Round of 32 through the Final
Group Stage
All 12 groups and standings
All 48 Teams
Squads, stats and fixtures per nation
All 16 Venues
Stadium guides for all WC 2026 host cities