Trip inside the 2026 World Cup final stadium: how much it costs and what Metlife is like in New Jersey

The fever for World Cup 2026the largest in history thanks to the participation of 48 selections and the joint organization between three countries (United States, Mexico and Canada), has grown significantly in the last few hours, based on various FIFA announcements regarding the venues of the various matches of the largest football event. Of all people, the president Gianni Infantino confirmed the location of the final, where it is hoped the Argentina national team AND Lionel Messi defending the title obtained in Qatar 2022. This is the the impressive MetLife Stadium in New Jerseywho will receive the 104th match on July 19, 2026.

The choice is no coincidence, because it is one of those with the largest capacity in the world, has an unbeatable location in the suburb of Meadowlands, in the city of East Rutherford in New Jersey, close to cosmopolitan New York, and is already famous for being the home of the two NFL American football teams: the New York Giants and the New York Jets.

The Argentine national team, for example, has two different precedents there.: It hosted the friendly that beat Brazil 4-3 in 2012 with an unforgettable hat-trick from Lionel Messi, but also the final of the 2016 Copa América Centenario in which they lost to Chile on penalties, adding frustration to that drought that it’s over. in 2021 at the senior level.

Its construction dates back to 2010 and cost € 1.6 billion dollars. He currently has the capacity 82,566 spectatorshas 218 luxury boxes and artificial grass. Plus, it’s covered in aluminum with internal lights and on game days it changes color depending on the occasion: it turns blue when the Giants play and green when the Jets play.

In addition to the final, MetLife Stadium will also be responsible for hosting five other group stage matches of the 2026 World Cup, as well as a round of 32 and a round of 16 match.

Likewise, it will host the Copa América 2024 with two group stage matches (Chile-Argentina, Uruguay-Bolivia) and one of the two semi-finals.

One of MetLife Stadium’s highlights was the 2014 Super Bowl XLVIII, in which the Seattle Sounders swept the Denver Broncos 43-8.

Outside of sports, the venue included performances by major music industry figures such as Taylor Swift, who performed there three times in 2023 as part of her successful The Eras Tour. Famous British rock band the Rolling Stones will perform there twice in May.

Gianni Infantino’s frank reflection on the 2026 World Cup

The president of FIFA, Gianni Infantinoassured that the 2026 World Cup final, jointly organized by the United States, Mexico and Canada and which will take place in New York/New Jersey, will be “epic” and will “unite the world” thanks to the presence of 48 countries and because it will be hosted in two cities where more than 200 nationalities gather.

Infantino said after FIFA revealed the tournament’s match schedule on Sunday that he was sure “New York and New Jersey are now celebrating” because they won “the most important match in the history of football.”

Likewise, referring to Mexico, he recalled that the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, which will host the opening match on 11 June, has already hosted the final stages of the FIFA World Cup in 1970 and 1986, witnessing some of the most memorable matches in history. history of football starring Pelé and Diego Armando Maradona respectively.

Furthermore, he spoke about Canada’s experience in organizing FIFA events, such as the 2015 Women’s World Cup, and highlighted that the two host cities, Vancouver and Toronto, are football cities. “I am very proud and happy that Canada is part of this incredible World Cup.”