Soccer fans criticized the decision to host the 2026 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, citing a lack of transportation and unpredictable weather.
“Dude, people come here from all over the world. And no one wants to rent a car to drive to a distant suburb for the game. “American stadiums suck when it comes to accessibility, no one gets behind the scenes at the World Cup,” one user on X responded to the message.
While another X user wrote: “I love NY/NJ.” Lived in Brooklyn for over 50 years. But I was at MetLife Stadium. It's an ordinary venue with no charm or any sense of football history. The weather could also be a negative factor. The Rose Bowl lacks a lot of amenities, but it looks fantastic on TV and was the site of the Finals.”
On Sunday, FIFA announced the decision to host the final of the world's biggest soccer competition in New York against Dallas and Los Angeles.
MetLife Stadium – home to New York's two NFL teams, the Jets and Giants – is actually located in Jersey, but has the Manhattan skyline as a backdrop. MetLIfe's regular capacity is 82,500, but there is no room for further expansion.
MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey will host the 2026 World Cup final. The New York City Subway Stadium was chosen over the facilities in LA and Dallas
Robert Baggio of Italy celebrates with the crowd after scoring a goal in the 1994 World Cup semi-final against Bulgaria at Giants Stadium in New York. Now the same venue will host a final in 2026
While AT&T Stadium in Dallas seats 93,000 spectators and SoFi Stadium in LA offers the predictable sunny and mild weather of Southern California in July.
In 1994, the last time the World Cup was held in the United States, the games were played at Giants Stadium in New Jersey, but the final was held at the Rose Bowl.
Responding to the 2025 decision, one user wrote on X: “This was literally the worst option…”, referring to FIFA's announcement.
“We really chose this ugly place to host the World Cup final,” another user wrote on X.
One user joked about the stadium's disappointing exterior, alluding that FIFA World Cup fans from around the world would be disappointed if they arrived at MetLife Stadium “instead of Los Angeles or even Dallas for the final.”
“Should have been SoFi.” This stadium is world class. “You chose the worst of the three,” said one football fan on X.
“LA already had a World Cup final and Dallas was a logistical nightmare,” one user replied – another pointed out that LA's time zone was another reason FIFA chose MetLife.
FIFA made the announcement on Sunday in a television studio in Miami, which also hosted the start of the 39-day tournament on June 11 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
The next World Cup will expand for the first time from 32 to 48 teams, with a total of 104 games played across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
To win the title, a nation must play eight games, up from seven since 1982.
Kim Kardashian and her son Saint announced that the U.S. team will play its opening game on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, then travel to Lumen Field in Seattle and finish the group stage at SoFi.
Reports last month suggested AT&T Stadium in Dallas would host the final in 2026, with 93,000 spectators able to watch the game
SoFi Stadium in LA hosted the Super Bowl, but will not be the site of the 2024 World Cup final
The 1994 finals took place at the Rose Bowl in LA
Romario of Brazil is attacked by Franco Baresi of Italy in the 1994 World Cup final
FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that the opening match for 2026 would take place in Mexico City
Although AT&T Stadium missed the final, it hosts the most games of any venue at nine games, and officials there said one of the games was a semifinal.
Officials at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta said the other semifinal would be played there. FIFA officials did not publicly explain their location decision process.
Canada, meanwhile, will play its first game of the first round on June 12 in Toronto, followed by the following two games in Vancouver.
Other U.S. locations include Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts; NRG Stadium in Houston; Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri; Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia; Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
When the United States hosted the 24-nation, 52-game tournament in 1994, the final was played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, and the opening game was played at Soldier Field in Chicago.
During the 1994 World Cup, New Jersey's Giant's Stadium, as it was previously known, hosted seven games.