Metlife Stadium (New York / New Jersey Stadium) Guide

World Cup 2026 Stadiums: MetLife Stadium (New York / New Jersey Stadium)

Metlife Stadium, NJ. — France v Senegal at New York / New Jersey Stadium

MetLife Stadium, New York / New Jersey

MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey opened in 2010 and is the home of the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets.

The huge venue is one of six stadiums in the eastern region of North America along with Toronto Stadium (BMO Field) in Canada, Atlanta Stadium, Miami Stadium, Gillette Stadium in Boston, and Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia Stadium), all in the USA.

During the 2026 tournament the venue will be called New York New Jersey Stadium (NYNJ Stadium) due to FIFA's regulations on sponsorship names.

The stadium will stage 8 games altogether during the 2026 World Cup including the final.

These are:

June 13: Group C - Brazil vs Morocco
June 16: Group I - France vs Senegal
June 22: Group I - Norway vs Senegal
June 25: Group E - Ecuador vs Germay
June 27: Group L - Panama vs England
June 30: Round of 32 match - France vs Sweden
July 5: Round of 16 match - Brazil vs Norway
July 19: World Cup Final - Spain vs Argentina

Metlife Stadium, NJ, USA. — A NY Giants game at the venue

Capacity, History & Design

The stadium first opened in 2010 replacing Giants Stadium which dated from 1976. The new venue was completed at a cost of $1.6 billion. Giants Stadium staged 7 matches during the 1994 World Cup including the Republic of Ireland's 1-0 win over Italy in the group stages and Italy's 2-1 semifinal defeat of Bulgaria.

MetLife Stadium features a modern open-air design with a sleek aluminum and glass exterior that changes color at night to represent the home teams. Built with sustainability in mind, the stadium incorporates eco-friendly features such as energy-efficient lighting, water-saving fixtures, and a comprehensive recycling program that diverts large amounts of waste from landfills. Its use of sustainable construction materials and efficient transportation access also helps reduce its overall environmental impact, making it one of the more environmentally conscious large sports venues in the United States.

The venue is part of the Meadowlands Sports Complex, which is also home to Meadowlands Racetrack, a harness racing venue known for hosting the annual Hambletonian Stakes, as well as the Quest Diagnostics Training Center, the official training facility of the New York Giants. The American Dream retail and entertainment complex is also on the site.

Metlife Stadium will have a capacity of 78,576 for the World Cup, the largest at the tournament.

MetLife Stadium has faced criticism over its notoriously bad artificial turf, which many players and analysts believe contributes to a high number of injuries in the league. Several NFL stars have suffered major setbacks on the surface, including serious ACL tears, further fueling talk of the so-called "MetLife curse." Although many players and coaches in the NFL argue that natural grass would provide a safer playing surface, there are currently no plans to keep the temporary grass field that will be installed for the FIFA World Cup.

Uses

The stadium is home to the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets.

As a stage for soccer, the stadium has hosted a number of both international and club friendlies, games at the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup and 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Club sides who have played friendlies here include Arsenal, Atlético Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, Inter, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Valencia. In addition, Metlife staged the final of the Copa América Centenario in 2016, 3 games during the 2024 Copa América and was one of 12 stadiums that hosted games at the 2025 Club World Cup.

As a music venue the stadium has seen the usual big names perform in NJ such as Beyoncé, Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, BTS, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Guns N' Roses, Lady Gaga, One Direction, Pink, The Rolling Stones, Metallica, Taylor Swift, Twice, U2 etc.

Regular behind-the-scenes, 90-minute guided tours take visitors to exclusive areas including the field, press box, luxury suites, and team club lounges. During the World Cup tournament these will be replaced by the 'FIFA World Cup 2026 Stadium Tour' with access to locker rooms, media zones, premium areas and pitch viewpoints.

Teams playing at the venue during the World Cup will use the nearby Sports Illustrated Stadium for training.

Access

The stadium is in East Rutherford, New Jersey but only five miles from downtown New York and Manhattan. The closest major commercial airport for regular flights is Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), located about 10 to 13 miles away from the venue. LaGuardia Airport (LGA) is around 20 miles east in Queens, NY. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is around 30 miles southeast.

MetLife Stadium is easily accessible by public transport, with the most popular route involving NJ Transit trains from Penn Station to Secaucus Junction, followed by a direct shuttle train to the stadium.

Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, transport fares became a major controversy after NJ Transit initially announced round-trip match-day fares would rise from the usual roughly $13 to as high as $150.

Following a backlash from fans, politicians, and FIFA officials, the fare was first reduced to $105 and later lowered again to $98, while additional discounted bus options were introduced from New York City.

Further information can be found on the NJ Transit World Cup page (njtworldcup.com)

Note: NJ TRANSIT service to NYNJ Stadium is restricted to FIFA World Cup 26™ match ticketholders with a valid NJ TRANSIT rail ticket.
Both the match ticket and the NJ TRANSIT rail ticket to NYNJ Stadium will be inspected before boarding.
NJ TRANSIT tickets are limited and can ONLY be purchased in advance via the NJ TRANSIT Mobile App.

Address: 1 MetLife Stadium Drive, East Rutherford, NJ 07073, USA.

Accessibility

The stadium features ADA-compliant seating on all concourse levels and in most price categories. The venue also features accessible entry gates, elevators at the HCLTech, Verizon and Moody's entrances, and fully compliant, barrier-free restrooms (all public restrooms are accessible to patrons with disabilities. Single User Restrooms are also located on every level at the venue) and concession stands. For further information see: www.metlifestadium.com/plan-your-visit/accessibility

Things To See & Do in New York / New Jersey

Atlantic City Boardwalk is famous for its beaches, casinos, restaurants, and lively entertainment scene, it is one of the most popular destinations on the East Coast.

Liberty State Park is an attractive waterfront park with views of the Manhattan skyline, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island, along with walking trails and picnic areas.

Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township is one of the largest theme parks in the United States, featuring 14 thrilling roller coasters, a safari park, and family-friendly attractions.

Back in NYC try to find time to visit Times Square, known for its bright billboards, theaters, shopping, and nonstop energy, especially at night and Central Park, a vast urban park offering scenic walking paths, lakes, gardens, and outdoor activities in the heart of Manhattan.