New York World Cup 2026 Match Day Guide

MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey hosts eight matches — including Brazil vs Morocco, France vs Senegal, and the World Cup Final on July 19. That makes it the most consequential venue of the entire tournament. Getting there is genuinely easy by train. Getting a hotel at a sane price requires planning well in advance.

The key fact: MetLife Stadium is in New Jersey, not New York City. It is 10 miles from Midtown Manhattan. NJ Transit runs direct trains from Penn Station to the stadium gate in 30 minutes. Do not take a taxi or rideshare from Manhattan on Final day — traffic on the NJ Turnpike will add hours.

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New York Match Schedule

MetLife Stadium hosts 8 FIFA World Cup 2026 matches. All times are Eastern Time (ET).

| Date | Kick-off | Match | Stage | |------|----------|-------|-------| | Sat 13 Jun | 18:00 ET | Brazil vs Morocco | Group C | | Tue 16 Jun | 15:00 ET | France vs Senegal | Group I | | Mon 22 Jun | 20:00 ET | Norway vs Senegal | Group I | | Thu 25 Jun | 16:00 ET | Ecuador vs Germany | Group E | | Sat 27 Jun | 17:00 ET | Panama vs England | Group L | | Tue 30 Jun | 17:00 ET | TBD vs TBD | Round of 32 | | Sun 5 Jul | 16:00 ET | TBD vs TBD | Round of 16 | | Sun 19 Jul | 15:00 ET | TBD vs TBD | THE FINAL |

Source: FIFA.com official match schedule. Knockout stage opponents confirmed as the group stage concludes.

Brazil vs Morocco (Jun 13) will draw one of the largest travelling supports of the group stage. France vs Senegal (Jun 16) is among the most anticipated fixtures of the entire tournament. And the Final on July 19 is simply the biggest match in world football — plan for significantly higher costs, crowds, and lead times for everything.

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Getting to MetLife Stadium

Option 1 — NJ Transit Train (Strongly Recommended)

The NJ Transit direct service to Meadowlands Station is the best stadium transit connection in the tournament. One train, door to gate, no transfers, no traffic.

From Penn Station (Manhattan):

• Board any NJ Transit train toward the Meadowlands on match-day shuttle service
• Ride to Meadowlands Station — directly at the stadium gates
• Journey time: ~30 minutes
• Fare: approximately $8 each way
• Buy tickets on the NJ Transit app before you leave — ticket machine queues at Penn Station on match days are long

From Newark Penn Station:

• Same NJ Transit line, ~15 minutes to Meadowlands
• Newark is a smart base — see hotel section below

From EWR (Newark Liberty International Airport):

• AirTrain from terminal to Newark Penn Station → NJ Transit to Meadowlands
• Total journey: under 30 minutes, approximately $15–18 all-in
• The easiest airport-to-stadium connection of any host city in the tournament

For the Final on July 19: trains will be packed. Buy outbound and return tickets in advance. Arrive at Penn Station at least 30 minutes before your intended train departure.

Option 2 — Rideshare or Car

Pre-match from Manhattan: $35–60 in normal traffic. Match days: significantly more.

Post-match: The NJ Turnpike backs up severely after full-capacity MetLife events. If you drove or took a rideshare, budget 60–90 minutes to clear the stadium area. The train is faster in every scenario.

Parking: Official MetLife lots hold thousands of vehicles — pre-purchase through metlifestadium.com. Expect $40–60 per vehicle. Arrive 2+ hours early on major match days.

From JFK or LGA:

• JFK: AirTrain to Jamaica → LIRR or subway to Penn Station → NJ Transit. Budget 75–90 minutes total.
• LGA: M60 bus to subway → Penn Station → NJ Transit. Budget 75–90 minutes total.
• EWR is far more convenient if you have flexibility over which New York airport to use.

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Arrival Times by Match

| Match | Arrive by | Notes | |-------|-----------|-------| | Brazil vs Morocco (Jun 13) | 2 hours early | Huge travelling Brazilian and Moroccan support | | France vs Senegal (Jun 16) | 2 hours early | Major European crowd | | Ecuador vs Germany (Jun 25) | 90 min early | Standard crowd management | | Norway vs Senegal, Panama vs England | 90 min early | Moderate crowds | | Round of 32 / Round of 16 | 2 hours early | Knockout intensity | | The Final (Jul 19) | 3 hours early | Maximum security, maximum crowds |

Gates open: Typically 2.5–3 hours before kickoff — confirm on your ticket or at metlifestadium.com.

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Bag Policy

MetLife Stadium uses the NFL Clear Bag Policy. Allowed:

• Clear plastic tote up to 12" × 6" × 12"
• One-gallon clear resealable bag
• Small non-clear clutch up to 4.5" × 6.5"

See the full bag policy guide for complete details.

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Weather at MetLife Stadium

New York in June–July is warm and humid.

• Temperature: 24–32°C (75–90°F) during afternoon matches. Evening matches are more comfortable.
• Humidity: High. The June 13 and 16 matches in particular will feel warmer than the thermometer suggests.
• Rain: Afternoon thunderstorms occur regularly in summer. MetLife is an open-air stadium — no roof. Bring a light rain poncho for any match with a late afternoon start.
• The Final (Jul 19): A 15:00 ET kickoff in late July. Expect peak summer heat. Light clothing, sunscreen, and a refillable water bottle are essential.

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Inside MetLife Stadium

Capacity: 82,500 — purpose-built for large events, with good sightlines from most seats.

Food: Standard American stadium concessions (hot dogs, nachos, beer) plus upgraded options. Beer is $14–16 for a large. FIFA typically supplements the permanent concessions with international food vendors for World Cup matches — expect more variety than a standard NFL game day.

Fan Zone: The FIFA Fan Festival for New York is expected to be anchored at Liberty State Park in Jersey City — directly across the Hudson from Lower Manhattan, with views of the Statue of Liberty and the skyline. Confirmed locations will be posted at FIFA.com as the tournament approaches.

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After the Match

Take the train back. NJ Transit runs return service from Meadowlands Station to Penn Station continuously after the match. Trains are frequent but crowded — expect a 20–30 minute wait to board after the final whistle as crowds thin. Standing on the platform is faster than sitting in a car.

Post-match areas:

• Hoboken: 20 minutes from MetLife on NJ Transit. Waterfront bars, Manhattan skyline views, more relaxed than Midtown.
• Newark's Ironbound district: 15 minutes from MetLife. Dense Portuguese and Brazilian restaurants open late. Outstanding for post-match food after the Brazil matches specifically.
• Manhattan: Take NJ Transit to Penn Station and you're in the middle of everything. Times Square, Hell's Kitchen, and the Village all have post-match bar options at every price point.

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Book Your Hotel

Best areas to stay for MetLife matches:

| Area | Distance to Stadium | Cost/night (est.) | Why | |------|-------------------|-------------------|-----| | Midtown Manhattan | 30 min (NJ Transit) | $300–600+ | Iconic, central, expensive | | Newark | 15 min (NJ Transit) | $120–200 | Best value near the line | | Jersey City | 20 min (NJ Transit) | $150–250 | Good balance, PATH to Manhattan | | Hoboken | 20 min (NJ Transit) | $180–280 | Waterfront, relaxed atmosphere |

For the Final week (Jul 14–19), Manhattan rates will spike significantly beyond these estimates. Newark and Jersey City offer the same NJ Transit access at a fraction of the cost. See our alt-city savings guide for the full breakdown.

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Why insurance matters for New York: US medical costs are among the highest in the world. A single ER visit runs $1,500–$5,000 without coverage. With non-refundable Final tickets potentially costing $500–$2,000+, a policy covering cancellation and medical is straightforward value. Compare plans →

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Practical Details

Time zone: Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4).

Currency: USD. Cards accepted everywhere. Tipping is standard at 18–20%.

Emergency number: 911. For non-emergencies in New York City: 311.

Nearest hospitals to MetLife Stadium:

• Hackensack University Medical Center — 30 Prospect Ave, Hackensack, NJ (~5 miles from stadium)
• Holy Name Medical Center — 718 Teaneck Rd, Teaneck, NJ (~6 miles from stadium)

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Sources & Verification

| Source | What it covers | Link | |--------|---------------|------| | FIFA.com | Official match schedule, dates, kick-off times | fifa.com/worldcup | | MetLife Stadium | Parking, gates, bag policy, stadium info | metlifestadium.com | | NJ Transit | Train routes, fares, Meadowlands service | njtransit.com | | Newark Liberty Airport (EWR) | AirTrain and ground transport | newarkairport.com | | Hackensack UMC | Nearest hospital to MetLife | hakensackmeridianhealth.org |

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