- City: New York / New Jersey
- State: New York & New Jersey
- Country: United States of America
- Time difference between the UK: Minus 5 hours
- Average June Temperature: 28℃
New York / New Jersey
Welcome to New York and New Jersey
Welcome to New York and New Jersey — the largest metropolitan area in the United States and the host region for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final.
Although the matches themselves will be played across the Hudson River in New Jersey at MetLife Stadium, the tournament venue has been branded as New York/New Jersey because of the close relationship between the two states and the global profile of New York City. Due to it being such an iconic location, most supporters will likely spend the majority of their time in Manhattan or elsewhere across New York City before travelling into New Jersey on matchdays.
Together, New York City and northern New Jersey form one of the world’s most influential urban regions, home to more than 20 million people. It is fast-paced, diverse, generally expensive and constantly moving, but there are very few places anywhere quite like it.
New York City has long stood at the centre of global finance, media, entertainment and immigration. For centuries, millions of people arrived in the United States through nearby Ellis Island, helping shape the city into one of the most multicultural places on earth. Today, that diversity can still be seen across the city’s neighbourhoods, food, languages and culture.
New Jersey has its own deep history as well. One of the original thirteen colonies, the state played a major role during the American Revolution, with several key battles fought across the region. Over time, New Jersey developed into an important industrial and transportation hub thanks to its location between New York City and Philadelphia. Modern New Jersey combines busy urban areas close to Manhattan with quieter suburbs, beaches along the Atlantic coast and historic small towns.
The sporting culture across both states is enormous. The region is home to some of the most famous teams in American sport, including the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets, both of whom play in New Jersey at MetLife Stadium. Baseball fans follow the New York Yankees and New York Mets, basketball supporters pack Madison Square Garden to watch the New York Knicks, while ice hockey has the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils. Football has also continued to grow rapidly in popularity, helped by clubs such as New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls, who play their home matches in New Jersey.
Landmarks across the region are instantly recognisable worldwide. Times Square, Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Building remain some of the most visited attractions anywhere in the world, while New Jersey offers its own famous destinations including the Jersey Shore, Atlantic City and the Meadowlands Sports Complex. In fact if you want the best view of the Manhattan skyline it won’t be from an expensive Manhattan roof top bar, it’s actually from just across the river in Jersey looking back.
One thing visitors should prepare for is the cost. New York is comfortably one of the most expensive host cities at this World Cup, particularly for accommodation, food and transport. Prices around the latter stages of the tournament — especially for the final — are expected to be extremely high across both New York City and nearby parts of New Jersey.
Supporter Tips
- New York is expensive — assume everything costs more than you think, then add 20% “surprise tax for being there”. However you can find cheaper bars and restaurants, typically away from the central and tourist areas where you can still find a $5 beer if you are lucky.
- The Subway is usually the quickest way around, even if your first experience involves mild confusion and existential doubt. It tends to look a lot dodgier than the London Underground but its generally pretty safe to use.
- Legal drinking age is 21 — ID is required, and “but I’m with England” is not an accepted legal defence. Even people looking much older will get asked.
- Tipping (20%) is standard, you can save a bit on this by building up a tab and adding what you think is appropriate at the end. But beware if you leave your tab without settling, they’ll add the 20% for you.
- Humidity can be brutal, but luckily the high rises can provide protection if out for a walk
- Allow extra time for everything — especially stadium travel, which will not respect your schedule.
- Emergency number: 911
© Alamy
Getting There
New York is one of the best connected cities in the world, with multiple international airports and extensive transport links across the region.
The main transport systems you are likely to use are the New York Subway, New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) and the Long Island Rail Road depending on where you are staying.
Getting Around
Public transport is by far the easiest way to move around New York. The Subway operates 24 hours a day and reaches most areas visitors are likely to use.
OMNY contactless payment now works across the Subway and buses, allowing you to simply tap your bank card or phone rather than buying separate tickets.
Walking is also a huge part of getting around New York. Distances can look manageable on a map but the heat and sheer amount of people can make journeys more tiring than expected. Comfortable footwear is essential.
Taxis remain common throughout Manhattan, including the famous yellow cabs, which are a bit more modern these days, though traffic often makes the Subway quicker.
If travelling between Manhattan and New Jersey, NJ Transit and PATH trains are usually the best options.
© Alamy
The stadium
New York New Jersey Stadium will host matches during the World Cup. Usually known as MetLife Stadium, it is located in East Rutherford, New Jersey and is home to both the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets.
The stadium will operate with a capacity of around 82,500 during the tournament and will host the FIFA World Cup Final on July 19, 2026.
Despite the branding, the stadium is not located in New York City itself. It sits around 10 miles from Manhattan, though travel times can vary enormously depending on traffic and transport demand.
For supporters staying in Manhattan, getting to the stadium is likely to become one of the bigger logistical challenges of the tournament. The standard public transport route involves taking NJ Transit from Penn Station in Manhattan to Secaucus Junction before transferring onto dedicated Meadowlands rail services directly to the stadium. Upon arrival, despite the station being located right next door, you may face longer walks away from the stadium just to enter the security perimeter.
Whilst this system generally works well for NFL games and large events, it will be used by more people for the World Cup matches, meaning services are expected to be extremely busy. Allow significantly more time than you think you need, particularly for knockout games and the final.
Taxi and Uber prices to the stadium are expected to be extremely expensive on matchdays, especially after games finish. Journey costs from Manhattan could easily push well beyond $100 depending on traffic and surge pricing.
Pricing has obviously been a huge issue here. Train prices from the city, which are normally $12, were put up to $150, reduced to $98 with sponsorship backing. Buses from the city were also set around $80, however these have been reduced to $20 and can be booked online, however, leading up to the game against Panama, there is extremely low availability left of the 18,000 spaces that were available. There are four different pick up points:
- Port Authority Terminal, NYC
- Midtown East, NYC
- Midtown North, NYC
- Clifton NJ, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine (Park & Ride)
Some England supporters have already started booking organised transport options such as Rally Bus services operating between Manhattan and the stadium on matchdays. These can sometimes work out cheaper and simpler than arranging last-minute travel yourself, particularly for groups travelling together.
Security at the stadium will be substantial, and queues entering the venue are likely to be lengthy for the latter stages of the tournament.
Inside, the concourses are wide and modern with plenty of food and drink options throughout the stadium. As with most major US venues however, expect prices inside to be expensive.
Driving to the stadium is possible, but parking will almost certainly need to be pre-booked through FIFA or official operators and traffic around the Meadowlands area can become gridlocked before and after major events.
Eating and drinking
New York is arguably unmatched when it comes to food variety. Whatever you want, at whatever time of day, you will probably find it somewhere.
Most travelling supporters are likely to spend time around Midtown Manhattan simply because of transport links and hotel locations. There are countless bars, sports bars and restaurants throughout the area, though prices can be steep.
For something a bit more local, neighbourhoods such as the Lower East Side, East Village, Williamsburg in Brooklyn and parts of Queens offer excellent food and nightlife options away from the heaviest tourist areas.
Classic New York foods such as $1 pizza slices, bagels, deli sandwiches and halal carts are all part of the experience and often far cheaper than sit-down restaurants. Always be careful with the street carts, if they don’t have prices, they may try to rip tourists off. And if buying a hot dog, make sure they look fresh.
Sports bars will be everywhere during the tournament, particularly around Midtown and near Penn Station on matchdays.
If you are heading into New Jersey before matches, there are a few bars and entertainment areas around the American Dream complex near the stadium.
Things to see and do
There is almost too much to list in New York, but first-time visitors will inevitably want to tick off landmarks such as Times Square, Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Building.
The 9/11 Memorial and Museum is one of the most significant sites in the city and well worth visiting.
For skyline views, Top of the Rock, One World Observatory and Edge all offer incredible perspectives across the city.
Football fans may also want to visit Yankee Stadium or Madison Square Garden depending on schedules during the tournament.
If you have more time, exploring areas beyond Manhattan such as Brooklyn, Queens or Hoboken gives a far broader picture of what the city is actually like beyond the tourist hotspots.
If looking to book attractions, you can use apps like CityPASS, where you can pay for a pass, usually around £120, and have the ability to book multiple attractions across the city.
You will do plenty of walking, and why not, places like Wall Street, Fifth Avenue, Central Park, and even over the other side of the river into Brooklyn all worth it. A great opportunity to get your steps in.
FIFA Fan Zone
Confirmed free fan event locations currently include:
- USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (Queens Group Stage HQ)
- Brooklyn Bridge Park
- Bronx Terminal Market
- Staten Island University Hospital Community Park
- Sports Illustrated Stadium (New Jersey Fan Hub)
British consular
assistance
The British Consulate-General in New York is located at:
British Consulate General New York
885 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10017
United States
Telephone: +1 212 745 0200
The Consulate will be supporting British nationals throughout the tournament alongside ourselves. We will be in regular contact with them, so should you need any assistance, just give us a shout.
Accommodation
Accommodation in New York will be among the most expensive anywhere at this World Cup, particularly around the semi-final and final.
Many supporters are choosing to stay in Manhattan despite the higher prices simply because of the transport links, atmosphere and ease of moving around without a car.
If you are looking to save money, areas of Queens, Brooklyn or even parts of New Jersey along NJ Transit routes may offer slightly better value, though travel times should always be checked carefully before booking.
One thing to remember is that New York hotel rooms are often significantly smaller than people expect, particularly in Manhattan. Prices can look outrageous for what you actually get, but demand during this tournament is likely to be enormous.
