‘Most-watched event in human history’ - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy confident in MetLife readiness to host 2026 World Cup final, says ‘nowhere on the planet’ is more prepared

NEWARK, N.J. - Everything is relative. But when it comes to the scope of the 2026 World Cup, leave it to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy - whose state will host eight matches in next year’s tournament, including the final, at MetLife Stadium - to provide proper perspective.

“Of course, we have the FIFA World Cup next year,” Murphy said Thursday, addressing The Global Game summit at the Prudential Center. “Eight matches, including what will be the most-watched event in human history - not a sporting event - which is the World Cup final. We're incredibly excited about that.”

The expanded 48-team tournament - to be co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada - will kick off on June 11 in Mexico City, and culminate with the final on July 19 in MetLife in East Rutherford. That same stadium hosted this week’s Club World Cup semifinals and will also be the venue for Sunday’s CWC final between PSG and Chelsea.

“If you're the most densely populated state in America, as we are, the one thing you've got to do is move people in things as well if not better than anybody else,” he said. “And whether you're coming from the other side of the globe or just across the Hudson from New York City, the fact is that our transportation system is built to serve the biggest audiences possible. We had 76,000-plus fans at MetLife. It worked.”

Murphy said, to that end, the Club World Cup has been a successful pilot for the 2026 World Cup, from logistics, security, and fan-experience perspectives.

“We actively sought out a major role in the Club World Cup this year, to make sure we could take whatever we’re doing around the track, so to speak,” Murphy said. “It was important to make sure all these things worked not only for this Cup, but that could test it out for next year. So we are incredibly enthusiastic for both years.”

Murphy said that New Jersey’s preparation for both FIFA events has included the development of an operations command center near MetLife, heightened coordination with various law enforcement and government agencies. NYNJ host committee members and state officials are also planning a number of fan festivals, including a recurring venue at Liberty State Park in Jersey City.

“As a result of FIFA flagship events,” said Greg Kahn, CEO of GK Digital Ventures, organizer of the summit, “soccer will not only take place in the stadium, but will also take place through media and technology. This is going to have a major impact.”

And that impact could be substantial in myriad ways, including financial. Murphy said the World Cup will generate “single-digit billions of dollars” for New Jersey.

“We think one to two million visitors will be in the region,” he said. “There is nowhere on the planet, in my humble opinion, that is more prepared for next year than we are… Welcome to New Jersey, the soccer capital of the world. Right? It wasn't that long ago that that statement would have been, to say the least, farfetched. But today, it is undeniable.”

Murphy said that he expects MetLife Stadium “to be sold out” for Sunday’s FIFA Club World Cup final, meaning about 82,500 tickets. He also said that the The FIFA-sanctioned fan fest for the World Cup in Jersey City next summer will stream all 104 matches, and will “run the length of the tournament and have a capacity of 45,000 guests at a time.”

FIFA wraps up its Club World Cup with a thrilling final between 2025 Champions League winner, PSG, against the 2021 winner, Chelsea. Kickoff is Sunday at 3 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium.