New Jersey Will Host The 2026 World Cup Final

The soccer world is coming to New Jersey for the biggest game of the year in 2026, the FIFA World Cup Final! It is the biggest sporting event of the year and eyes around the world will be looking at New Jersey.

Get our free mobile app

Unsplash.com Humberto Santos

How many viewers does FIFA World Cup have?

According to the Athletic, "Here's how FIFA formally termed its audience total for the 2023 World Cup championship match: “The final achieved a global reach of close to 1.5 billion viewers (up from 1.12 billion in 2018).” 40 million (outside U.S.) 1.5 billion."

Unsplash.com Vienna Reyes

It was announced the FIFA World Cup Final 2026 will be played in East Rutherford at MetLife Stadium. In an NJ.com article, "Gov. Phil Murphy was among the first to spread the stunning announcement from the worldwide soccer body that the East Rutherford venue will host the tournament’s final game. "As a lifelong soccer fan, I am thrilled to announce that the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final will be hosted by New Jersey and New York City! See you in 2026!,” Murphy posted on X, formerly Twitter."

Unsplash.com Mitch Rosen

When my son Zach was competing in soccer, we would go to the old Giants Stadium to watch the then Metrostars, who today are the New York Red Bulls. We enjoyed games there, but nothing like what it will be like in 2026 when the World Cup comes to New Jersey and the championship game will be played in the Garden State. According to NJ.com "In all, MetLife will host eight games in the tournament, Murphy and FIFA said. The tournament starts June 11, 2026. FIFA awarded Mexico City the tournament opener."

CHECK IT OUT: 100 sports records and the stories behind them

LOOK: 50 images of winning moments from sports history

Sometimes images are the best way to honor the figures we've lost. When tragedy swiftly reminds us that sports are far from the most consequential thing in life, we can still look back on an athlete's winning moment that felt larger than life, remaining grateful for their sacrifice on the court and bringing joy to millions.

Read on to explore the full collection of 50 images Stacker compiled showcasing various iconic winning moments in sports history. Covering achievements from a multitude of sports, these images represent stunning personal achievements, team championships, and athletic perseverance.

Gallery Credit: Peter Richman