New Jersey selected to host 2026 FIFA World Cup final

Feb. 4 (UPI) -- New Jersey has scored the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, which will be held at MetLife Stadium July 19, soccer's governing body announced Sunday.

The Dallas Cowboys AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas had also been in the running for the final game, but officials chose the Jets and Giants home stadium, which will be planting new natural grass for the event, as FIFA requires all of its games be played on natural turf. MetLife stadium will also undergo major renovations ahead of the final World Cup match.

"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," New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said on X.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams added: "ANOTHER win for New York City and New Jersey - the world's game is coming to the world's biggest stage!," he wrote on X. "The FIFA World Cup 2026 FINAL is coming to town and we are ready to take the pitch. See you in '26!"

The international soccer tournament is the most widely viewed sporting event in the world, and games often have a significant economic impact on cities that host them.

The 2026 World Cup opener is scheduled to be played on June 11 in Mexico City's New, high-tech Estadio Azteca.

The group stage games of the 39-day tournament will be played on June 12 in Los Angeles, the U.S. opener, on June 19 in Seattle and on June 25, back in Los Angeles.

Though the Arlington venue was not awarded the World Cup final, AT&T Stadium will still host nine games, including a semifinal, the most of any U.S. city.

Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, will host eight games, and will also include a semifinal.

"This whole calendar has been designed to make sure that the fans can travel with the teams in a way that's not too burdensome," FIFA president Gianni Infantino said during the announcement.

Gregg Berhalter, the U.S. men's national team head coach, expressed hope the tournament will fuel support for the team as they compete in their home country.

"It's gonna be big. It's not just going to be about the communities hosting the World Cup, it's going to be all the communities in the U.S. getting behind us," Berhalter said following FIFA's announcement.

FIFA announced in 2022 that the tournament would be played in 16 cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marking the first time in more than two decades that it would be held in more than one country.