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NJ's MetLife Stadium to host 6 games in next year's FIFA World Cup
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Dec 6, 2025
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By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Dec 6, 2025
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Soccer fans in the tristate area will have a front-row seat to some of the biggest matches of next year’s FIFA World Cup, according to the official schedule announced Friday.
New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium will host five games throughout June – from the quarterfinals on:
● June 13, 2026 at 6 p.m. ET: Brazil vs. Morocco
● June 16, 2026 at 3 p.m. ET: France vs. Senegal
● June 22, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET: Norway vs. Senegal
● June 25, 2026 at 4 p.m. ET: Ecuador vs. Germany
● June 27, 2026 at 5 p.m. ET: Panama vs. England
But MetLife is also slated to host the tournament’s biggest night: The World Cup Final at 3 p.m. on July 19.
The next phase of ticket sales — the Random Selection Draw — will open on Dec. 11 at 11 a.m. Eastern time. This phase will be the first opportunity for fans to apply for single-match tickets tied to confirmed group-stage matchups and teams, according to FIFA. Nearly 2 million tickets have already been sold to fans in 200 countries.
In a statement, FIFA told Sky News that it would not use its dynamic pricing plan for this ticket sales phase, which allow the association to raise or lower prices depending on demand, and would instead sell tickets at a fixed price.
The 48-nation, 104-game tournament starts June 11 at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, and will also be hosted at other venues across Canada and the United States before culminating at MetLife.
The U.S. team was drawn to start against Paraguay at Inglewood, California, on June 12. The last time the team reached the World Cup semifinals was nearly 100 years ago, in 1930. They reached the quarterfinals in 2002.
Soccer legend Lionel Messi hasn't yet committed to playing in the tournament, which would be his record sixth World Cup as he turns 39.
If he does decide to play, and if Argentina and Portugal win their respective groups, soccer fans could be treated to a historic quarterfinal matchup between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
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Brittany Kriegstein
Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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