The New York New Jersey Stadium will host 8 matches during the WC 2026, including the Final on July 19. For the duration of the tournament, the venue (usually called the MetLife Stadium) will officially be known as "New York New Jersey Stadium". Located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the stadium seats 82,500 and is one of the most iconic sporting venues in North America.
| Commercial name | MetLife Stadium |
| Tournament name | New York New Jersey Stadium |
| City | East Rutherford, New Jersey |
| Country | United States |
| WC 2026 capacity | 82,500 |
| Year opened | 2010 |
| Roof | No |
| Surface | Artificial turf (natural grass installed for the tournament) |
| Altitude | 5 m |
| Regional cluster | East |
| WC 2026 matches | 8 (5 group stage, 1 Round of 32, 1 Round of 16, 1 Final) |
| Highest stage | Final (July 19) |
| Timezone | EDT (UTC-4) |
| CEST difference | -6 hours (BE, PL, RS) |
| EEST difference | -7 hours (RO, GR) |
| BRT difference | -1 hour (BR) |
| Home teams | New York Giants, New York Jets (NFL) |
About the New York New Jersey Stadium
The New York New Jersey Stadium opened in 2010 as the home of the New York Giants and New York Jets, making it one of only two NFL stadiums shared by two teams. Located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just across the Hudson River from Manhattan, the stadium sits within the Meadowlands Sports Complex.
The venue has a regular capacity of 82,500, making it one of the largest stadiums in the NFL. It is an open-air stadium with no roof, exposing matches to the elements. For the tournament, a temporary natural grass surface will replace the usual artificial turf. The New York New Jersey Stadium has hosted some of the biggest events in American sports, including Super Bowl XLVIII (2014), multiple WrestleMania events, and the NHL Stadium Series.
In football terms, the New York New Jersey Stadium hosted matches during the 2016 Copa America Centenario, including the final, and was the venue for the 2025 Club the tournament final. Its largest soccer crowd was 82,566 for Manchester United vs. West Ham United in July 2025. The stadium also hosted multiple CONCACAF Gold Cup fixtures and international friendlies.
The New York New Jersey Stadium will host 8 WC 2026 matches, culminating in the Final. Here is the complete match schedule.
8 WC 2026 matches at the New York New Jersey Stadium
The New York New Jersey Stadium is one of the busiest WC 2026 venues with 8 matches scheduled. The programme covers 5 group stage, 1 Round of 32, 1 Round of 16 and the final
Group stage matches at the New York New Jersey Stadium
| Match | Group | Fixture | Date | ET | CEST
BE/PL/RS |
EEST
RO/GR |
BRT
BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #7 | C | Brazil vs. Morocco | Sat, June 13 | 6:00 PM | 00:00 (+1) | 01:00 (+1) | 19:00 |
| #18 | I | Norway vs. Iraq | Mon, June 16 | 4:00 PM | 22:00 | 23:00 | 17:00 |
| #42 | E | Germany vs. Ecuador | Sun, June 22 | 7:00 PM | 01:00 (+1) | 02:00 (+1) | 20:00 |
| #56 | J | Argentina vs. Austria | Wed, June 25 | 4:00 PM | 22:00 | 23:00 | 17:00 |
| #67 | L | Panama vs. England | Fri, June 27 | 5:00 PM | 23:00 | 00:00 (+1) | 18:00 |
Match 7 - Brazil vs. Morocco: One of the most anticipated group stage fixtures of the entire tournament. Morocco, the 2022 semi-finalists, face five-time champions Brazil in a blockbuster Group C opener at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
Match 18 - Norway vs. Iraq: Norway, featuring Erling Haaland, face Iraq, who return to the tournament for the first time since 1986 after qualifying through the intercontinental play-offs.
Match 42 - Germany vs. Ecuador: Germany will look to assert dominance in Group E against an Ecuador side that reached the group stage at Qatar 2022.
Match 56 - Argentina vs. Austria: Defending champions Argentina, led by Lionel Messi in potentially his final the tournament, face Austria in a crucial Group J fixture.
Match 67 - Panama vs. England: England, the Euro 2024 runners-up with a perfect qualifying record, close their Group L campaign at the venue that will host the final three weeks later.
All group stage odds for matches at the New York New Jersey Stadium are available on the WC 2026 betting page. Please note: displayed odds may have changed since publication and are subject to updates.
Knockout stage matches at the New York New Jersey Stadium
| Stage | Fixture | Date | ET | CEST
BE/PL/RS |
EEST
RO/GR |
BRT
BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round of 32 | 1I vs. 3C/D/F/G/H | Mon, June 30 | 5:00 PM | 23:00 | 00:00 (+1) | 18:00 |
| Round of 16 | TBD vs. TBD | Sat, July 5 | 4:00 PM | 22:00 | 23:00 | 17:00 |
| Final | Winner SF1 vs. Winner SF2 | Sun, July 19 | 3:00 PM | 21:00 | 22:00 | 16:00 |
The Final is the biggest match at the New York New Jersey Stadium. The stadium will write its biggest chapter yet as the venue for the WC 2026 Final on July 19. This makes East Rutherford the centre of world football for the tournament's climax. The final will be the most-watched single sporting event of the year, with a global television audience expected to exceed 1.5 billion.
See the full WC 2026 schedule and tournament bracket for the complete knockout stage overview.
Betting on matches at the New York New Jersey Stadium: conditions and tips
Pitch, climate and conditions
The New York New Jersey Stadium is an open-air venue at sea level with no roof, meaning weather conditions directly affect match play. Summers in this part of the world are warm and humid (averaging 28C), with afternoon thunderstorms a possibility. Rain can slow the pitch, reduce passing accuracy and create more unpredictable ball movement.
These conditions make the live experience at the New York New Jersey Stadium particularly dynamic. Odds on the WC 2026 betting page update in real time as matches progress.
Recommended markets for matches at the New York New Jersey Stadium
Key markets to watch at this venue:
- Match Result (Final): The WC 2026 Final on July 19 will generate the highest outright betting volume of the entire tournament. Pre-match markets on the winner are twhat everything has been building up to.
- Extra Time / Penalties: Recent finals have frequently gone to extra time (2014, 2022). The "Match to go to Extra Time" market is therefore worth watching, especially given potential humidity-driven fatigue.
- Total Goals (Under): Finals tend to be tight, tactical affairs. The "Under 2.5 Goals" line has hit in 4 of the last 7 the tournament finals.
- Weather impact: If rain is forecast, consider "Under" markets and "Both Teams to Score: No." Wet conditions at open-air venues tend to reduce goal output.
The BetBuilder lets you combine multiple conditions into a single selection tailored to this venue.
Please note: displayed odds may have changed since publication and are subject to updates.
The New York New Jersey Stadium: history and football heritage
The venue hosted the 2016 Copa America Centenario Final, the 2025 Club WC finaland Super Bowl XLVIII (2014). Since opening in 2010, the record attendance is 93,000 fans.
Time zones and kick-off times for Europe and Brazil
The New York New Jersey Stadium operates on EDT (UTC-4) during the summer. For viewers across Napoleon Sports/Napoleon markets:
- Belgium, Poland, Serbia (CEST): -6 hours
- Romania, Greece (EEST): -7 hours
- Brazil (BRT): -1 hour
| Match | ET | CEST
BE/PL/RS |
EEST
RO/GR |
BRT
BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil vs. Morocco | 6:00 PM | 00:00 (+1) | 01:00 (+1) | 19:00 |
| Norway vs. Iraq | 4:00 PM | 22:00 | 23:00 | 17:00 |
| Germany vs. Ecuador | 7:00 PM | 01:00 (+1) | 02:00 (+1) | 20:00 |
| Argentina vs. Austria | 4:00 PM | 22:00 | 23:00 | 17:00 |
| Panama vs. England | 5:00 PM | 23:00 | 00:00 (+1) | 18:00 |
| Round of 32 | 5:00 PM | 23:00 | 00:00 (+1) | 18:00 |
| Round of 16 | 4:00 PM | 22:00 | 23:00 | 17:00 |
| Final | 3:00 PM | 21:00 | 22:00 | 16:00 |
For matches falling after midnight in European time zones, consider placing your selections in advance. The BetBuilder lets you build your combination pre-match. Features like 1UP early payout settle your bet early if your team takes a lead.
For prime-time matches, follow the action in real time via the live centre.
See all WC 2026 kick-off times converted to your time zone.
Fan guide: Visiting East Rutherford
Getting to the New York New Jersey Stadium
The New York New Jersey Stadium is accessible from Manhattan via NJ Transit trains from Penn Station to the Meadowlands station (direct service on event days). Newark Liberty International Airport and JFK International Airport are both within 30-40 minutes. The stadium has extensive parking, but public transport and shuttle services are strongly recommended.
Weather during June and July
New York/New Jersey summers are warm and humid, with temperatures between 25C and 32C and occasional thunderstorms. The stadium has no roof, so matches will be affected by weather conditions. Sunscreen and rain gear are both advisable.
East Rutherford highlights beyond the football
New York City needs little introduction. The Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Central Park, the Empire State Building and world-class dining, theatre and nightlife are all accessible from the New York New Jersey Stadium via NJ Transit or the PATH train. The stadium is approximately 12 km from midtown Manhattan.
FAQ about the New York New Jersey Stadium at WC 2026
What is the capacity of the New York New Jersey Stadium for the tournament?
the New York New Jersey Stadium will hold approximately 82,500 fans for the tournament matches.
How many WC 2026 matches are scheduled at the New York New Jersey Stadium?
8 matches: 5 group stage, 1 Round of 32, 1 Round of 16, 1 Final. See the full schedule for dates and kick-off times.
What is the highest tournament stage hosted at the New York New Jersey Stadium?
The New York New Jersey Stadium will host the Final (July 19).
Does the New York New Jersey Stadium have a roof?
No. the New York New Jersey Stadium is an open-air stadium.
What time zone is the New York New Jersey Stadium in?
The New York New Jersey Stadium operates on EDT (UTC-4). For CEST (Belgium, Poland, Serbia): -6 hours. For EEST (Romania, Greece): -7 hours. For BRT (Brazil): -1 hour.
What surface does the New York New Jersey Stadium use for the tournament?
Artificial turf (natural grass installed for the tournament). This meets tournament requirements for international football competitions.
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