The headline label “NYNJ” suggests one city, but MetLife Stadium sits firmly in East Rutherford, New Jersey, about 10 miles west of Midtown Manhattan across the Hudson. For visitors based in New York, every match day is a planned excursion across a state line, using a transit system most won’t otherwise touch.
This piece covers match-day logistics: the schedule, the NJ Transit reality (including the capped-rail rule that most visitors miss), the fan zones across the boroughs, and where to base for the final.
For where to sleep, how the city actually works, and what to do on non-match days, see the New York trip guide.
The schedule
MetLife hosts eight matches between June 13 and July 19, 2026 — five group games, a Round of 32, a Round of 16, and the final, per the MetLife Stadium match schedule:
| Date | Kickoff (ET) | Stage | Matchup |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 13 | 18:00 | Group F | Brazil vs Morocco |
| June 16 | 15:00 | Group H | France vs Senegal |
| June 22 | 20:00 | Group H | Norway vs Senegal |
| June 25 | 16:00 | Group K | Ecuador vs Germany |
| June 27 | 17:00 | Group L | Panama vs England |
| June 30 | 17:00 | Round of 32 | TBD |
| July 5 | 16:00 | Round of 16 | TBD |
| July 19 | 15:00 | Final | TBD |
Getting to MetLife: the NJ Transit reality
There is no subway or PATH train to the stadium. The only realistic option without a car is NJ Transit’s Meadowlands Rail Line via Secaucus Junction:
- NJT Northeast Corridor train from Penn Station in Manhattan to Secaucus Junction (15–20 minutes)
- Transfer to the Meadowlands Rail Line shuttle to Meadowlands station (10 minutes)
- Short walk to the stadium
Total time from Midtown is usually 45–60 minutes door to door, more on match days because of crowd flow.
The critical detail
Starting four hours before kickoff, NJ Transit limits rail service between Penn Station and Secaucus to FIFA World Cup ticket holders, and total seats are capped at 40,000 per matchday. Tickets must be bought in advance through the NJ Transit mobile app; they aren’t sold at station vending machines on match day.
Plan to buy your transit ticket as soon as you have your match ticket — not at the station.
Coming from Jersey-side
For travelers staying in Jersey City or Hoboken, the connection is easier: PATH train to Secaucus Junction (via 33rd Street or other Hudson crossings), then the Meadowlands shuttle. Saves the Penn Station crowd surge.
The post-match return
Expect long waits for the return shuttle to Secaucus. The crowd is moving in one direction; the rail capacity is finite. Budget 90 minutes from final whistle back to Manhattan, more on the final’s night.
After the final on July 19, plan an even longer return — both for the obvious crowd reasons and because rideshare surge will be extreme. The cleanest exit is the train you booked.
Fan zones across the boroughs
The official NYNJ host committee has set up three main fan locations, not one (NYNJ Host Committee):
- Fan Zone Queens at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing — the largest, used for group stage match screenings from June 11 through June 27. Subway access via the 7 line to Mets-Willets Point.
- Fan Village at Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan — the ice rink is converted to a soccer pitch, with screening programming from July 4 through July 19. The Manhattan-side, family-friendly venue.
- Jersey Fan Hub at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, NJ — the relocated New Jersey-side venue (the originally announced Liberty State Park festival was cancelled in February 2026). PATH access via the Harrison station.
For visitors with non-match days, the Queens and Rockefeller Center zones are worth a visit even without a ticket — the atmosphere is the point.
Where to base for the matches
For most travelers, sleep in New York (Midtown, Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Queens) and treat each MetLife visit as a planned day across the river.
For the final on July 19 specifically, the trip-planning logic shifts:
- The whole region will be at peak demand
- Hotel prices climb sharply for the weekend of July 17–19
- Restaurants and transit will all run hot
- A Jersey-side base (Hoboken, Jersey City) saves real time on the most consequential trip of your week
For travelers attending multiple matches in a short window, one or two nights in Jersey can save significant transit time. Otherwise, sleep in the city and use it.
The final weekend, specifically
July 17–19 will be one of the busiest stretches in the city’s modern history. Plan around it:
- Book hotels well in advance; cancellation policies tighten for these dates
- Book restaurants 3–4 weeks ahead (or more) for any meal that matters
- Build buffer into every transit plan — the subway will run hot too
- Have a plan for the post-match return before you leave the hotel that morning
Match details, transit, and fan zone information are based on official sources from MetLife Stadium, NJ Transit’s FIFA 2026 service plan, the NYNJ Host Committee, and the MTA’s World Cup guide, accurate as of June 11, 2026. Fares, schedules, and fan zone arrangements can change — verify with the host committee in the week before your visit.
