By: Shane O’Brien
Amny.com
The Organizing Committee of the FIFA World Cup in the New York area and New Jersey has inaugurated the Liberty State Park as the official headquarters of the “FIFA Fan Fest” for the region, offering panoramic views of the Manhattan horizon, the statue of freedom and the port of the New York city.
The Fan Fest, opened on June 11 to celebrate the start of the 2026 World Cup to be played in Canada, Mexico and the United States, will have a capacity of up to 45,000 spectators and will be open during the 39 days of the maximum football event.
The enclosure will transmit the 104 World Cup matches next summer, including the 8 games to be held at the Metlife Stadium located in East Rutherford, New Jerey (about 20 minutes from the center of Manhattan).
The Organizing Committee has been associated with Live Nation New York to produce live events and entertainment in the enclosure throughout the World Cup, especially on the rest days of the qualifying phases, when there are no scheduled games.
The site will also have countless gastronomic options and football activities, with more than 20 giant screens distributed throughout the space to transmit all the tournament games.
Several smaller sites will be announced in the coming weeks, including several locations in New York City. A location is expected to be inaugurated at Central Park.
The governor of New Jersey, Phil Murphy, declared in the launch event that the Fan Fest of the Liberty State Park will be “extraordinary” when it opens for the World Cup next summer, and said that the site will attract football fans of both shores of the Hudson.
«96 games will not be played at the Metlife Stadium. And where people go to see them? Many will come here, ”Murphy said Wednesday at the future headquarters of FIFA Fan Fest available for fans.
Murphy explained that the MLS was born from the 1994 World Cup in the United States and that the next 2026 World Cup will have a great impact on the country’s football. With the Metlife Stadium ready to house the World Cup final, Murphy hopes that the regions on both sides of Hudson will benefit greatly from the event.
For his part, Ross Levi, Executive Director of Tourism of the State of New York, said that the celebration of 8 World Cup matches in the New York and New Jersey region is expected to attract more than 1 million visitors during the 39 days of the top tournament of countries.
He added that several fans will stay at NYC and that there is a great opportunity to show everything that the city and the State have to offer. He also expects New Yorkers to actively participate in the World Cup next summer.
“We also hope that travelers around the world can enjoy an incredible vacation during their visit to the World Cup, whether they come for an early match or wait for their team’s return to later rounds,” Levi said.
The authorities have predicted that the FIFA World Cup will generate between 2140 and 3450 million dollars in economic revenues for the region, of which more than 1000 million is expected to come from tourism.
Governor Murphy said he does not believe that international tourists are dissuaded to travel to the United States for the World Cup next summer after ICE raids throughout the country. He added that the host regions are working closely with FIFA and Trump administration to ensure that the tournament is celebrated cozy.
Alex Lasry, executive director of the host committee at NY / NJ, also trusts that international tourists will go to the US for the event, and already declared to this publication that “the great sporting events transcend geopolitics.”
Lasry reaffirmed that trust, stating that people are “very excited” to come to the United States next year for the World Cup. He added that the host committee strives to ensure that all international tourists traveling to the New York region and New Jersey enjoy an incredible experience in the tournament, including the newly opened Fan Fest in Liberty State Park.
However, a report published earlier this year indicated that year -on -year tourism to the US had decreased 12 % by March 2025 compared to other years. The World Travel and Tourism Council also recently predicted that the US economy is aimed at losing $ 12.5 billion in expenses in 2025.
Lasry expressed their confidence that international fans will make the 90 -minute trip from Midtown Manhattan to the Liberty State Park to visit FIFA Fan Fest. He also said that this fans festival has an ideal location for tourists who decide to stay in New Jersey or other destinations during the 2026 World Cup.
Currently, a trip from Manhattan takes at least 90 minutes, including travel trips and the Hoboken Bergen lightning system. The closest public transport station is 36 minutes walk from the place, including a section where the sidewalk disappears to be replaced by a dirt track with capacity for a single person.
Lasry, however, indicated that the Organizing Committee will add additional buses for the event, in addition to increasing shared transport options.
In a statement, he indicated that transport planning for the Fan Fest is currently underway and added that the organizing committee is actively evaluating pedestrian accessibility from nearby transport stops.
“Transport planning is underway, including mobility, signaling and access scenarios for high traffic hours and night matches,” LASRY said in a statement. “We are exploring options such as transport services, evaluating accessibility on foot from the nearby stops of the light rail and coordinating with the transport agencies to expand the service. Updates will be shared as the plans are completed.”
The NY / NJ Organizing Committee has not yet confirmed whether the entrance to the Fan Fest will be free, but Lasry said they hope the enclosure is accessible to all.
«The final details of the entrance will be shared closer to the event. We are committed to the event inclusive and accessible, with the aim of promoting broad community participation, ”said Lasry.
On the other hand, the “Skyline to Shoreline Road Tour” was also launched, a mobile experience for fans that will travel New York and New Jersey this summer. With soccer, music, gifts and community narration areas, the tour will be presented at festivals, parks and neighborhood events until Labor Day 2025 (Labor Day).
It should be noted that several iconic structures of the “great apple” illuminated with green freedom on Wednesday to commemorate the countdown of a year for the 2026 World Cup.
