Rendering courtesy of the NYNJ World Cup Host Committee
The 2026 FIFA World Cup New York New Jersey Host Committee has moved the tournament’s fan festival to Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, NJ, now dubbed the NYNJ World Cup 26 Jersey Fan Hub.
The fan experience joins two more in the region — the Queens Fan Zone at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and the official Fan Village at Rockefeller Center.
“What we want to do is activate both regions and show the world an authentic New York, New Jersey experience,” Alex Lasry, CEO of the host committee, told amNY. “This Jersey Fan Hub allows us to show off, not only the incredible football culture of this region, but also the authentic kind of Jersey experience that we want people to have.”
The Fan Zone across Citi Field will run for the first half of the tournament, June 17-28, while the Fan Village in Manhattan runs from July 4-19. The home of Red Bull New York will be open only on select dates throughout the tournament, from June 11 to July 14, with dates yet to be announced. Lasry expects the Fan Hub to host at least 18 days.
Fans, local and international, can watch matches on the same pitch the Red Bulls play on week in, week out, with a 60-foot screen to accommodate the crowd. The Hype House in the north end of the stadium will serve “as the rallying point for fans” with a 360-degree bar and 20 televisions to keep up with the matches. There will also be a built-in stage for live performances and appearances throughout the watch party experience.
Tickets will be $10 a day, and free for children aged 12 and under. The host committee is expecting at least 15,000 to 25,000 tickets to be sold for each activation day, and is working with the state and local police departments, as well as Sports Illustrated Stadium, for crowd management.
The announcement also comes after the originally planned Fan Festival at Liberty State Park was canceled in February, a traditionally free event that host countries put on for fans. It was set to be the first fan event of its kind to charge attendees, with early-bird tickets priced at $10.
“We were always planning on doing a ton of different activations,” Lasry said. “As [the World Cup planning] has evolved, so have our fan engagement plans.”
Lasry added that “it makes a ton of sense” as the host committee wants to provide all fans with the opportunity to be around the New York, New Jersey area while “providing real economic impact and that authentic Jersey experience.
“It’s critical that New Jersey communities are at the center of the experience,” Tammy Murphy, NYNJ Host Committee Board Chair, said in a statement. “The Jersey Fan Hub will create an accessible and exciting space for residents and visitors alike to come together, celebrate the global game, and experience the pride, diversity, and spirit that define our region.”
For more on the World Cup, visit AMNY.com
