MetLife Stadium is one of the most important stadiums selected to host the 2026 World Cup in the USA. Although the venue is used as the New York and New Jersey arena in the World Cup schedule, it is located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just a few miles from Manhattan. It is one of the largest NFL stadiums and the home of two clubs: the New York Giants and the New York Jets.

The facility will play a special role during the World Cup, because it is here that the grand final of the 2026 World Cup will be held. The stadium has extensive experience in organizing top-ranking events – from the Super Bowl, through Copa América, to the FIFA Club World Cup. Check the capacity, history and full list of 2026 World Cup matches that will be played at this stadium.

MetLife Stadium in a nutshell – capacity and most important facts

MetLife Stadium opened in 2010 and replaced the former Giants Stadium. The construction cost was approximately $1.6 billion, making it the most expensive stadium in the United States at the time of completion. The facility was designed as a neutral arena for the two NFL teams that share it on a daily basis.

The stadium has a capacity of 82,500, making it the NFL’s largest facility by capacity. It features a distinctive aluminum and glass facade and a lighting system that can change colors depending on the host of the event – blue for the Giants or green for the Jets.

📍 Location: 1 MetLife Stadium Drive, East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA
🏟️ Capacity for the 2026 World Cup: approx. 82,500 seats
🏗️ Year of opening: 2010
💰 Construction cost: $1.6 billion
🏈 Everyday clubs: New York Giants, New York Jets

Which 2026 World Cup matches will be played at MetLife Stadium? (Timetable)

FIFA authorities have awarded MetLife Stadium to host eight matches of the 2026 World Cup. Fans will see five group stage matches, one round of 16 match, one round of 16 match and the grand final of the tournament. During the World Cup, the stadium will be known under the neutral name New York/New Jersey Stadium.

Here is the list of games scheduled for MetLife Stadium:

📅 June 13, 2026: Brazil – Morocco (group stage match, group C)
📅 June 16, 2026: France – Senegal (group stage match, group I)
📅 June 22, 2026: Norway – Senegal (group stage match, group I)
📅 June 25, 2026: Ecuador – Germany (group stage match, group E)
📅 June 27, 2026: Panama – England (group stage match, group L)
📅 June 30, 2026: Winner of group I – 3rd team of group C/D/F/G/H (1/16 final match)
📅 July 5, 2026: Winner of match 76 – winner of match 78 (1/8 final match)
📅 July 19, 2026: Winner of Match 101 – Winner of Match 102 (2026 World Cup Final)

The final in East Rutherford will be the highlight of the entire tournament. For the New York and New Jersey region, it will be one of the largest sporting events in history.

Architecture, curiosities and roof

MetLife Stadium is a huge, modern arena designed to serve two NFL teams at the same time. The New York Giants and New York Jets are equal users of the facility, so the stadium had to be neutral. The exterior is dominated by aluminum, glass and steel, and the backlight system allows you to quickly change the visual identification of the stadium depending on the host of the match.

The facility does not have a roof, which distinguishes it from many other modern stadiums built in the 21st century. The decision to abandon the roof was related to, among others, with costs. Despite this, the stadium was able to host Super Bowl XLVIII, which was a unique event – the first time the Super Bowl was played in an open stadium in a cold region. In 2014, the Seattle Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos 43-8 here.

An interesting fact is that the stadium can be changed from the Giants to the Jets configuration within a dozen or so hours. The lighting colors, markings, branding elements and pitch decorations then change. For years, the NFL logo was painted at the center of the field to facilitate quick transitions between the two teams, although in recent seasons they have returned to club signs during home games.

MetLife Stadium also has a very rich football history. It hosted the final of the Copa América Centenario in 2016, the Copa América 2024 matches and the final of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. For the 2026 World Cup, the stadium underwent works to adapt the pitch to FIFA requirements. These included, among others: reconstruction of the corners of the lower part of the stands to increase the dimensions of the playing field.

The stadium uses the FieldTurf CORE artificial surface on a daily basis, but natural grass will be prepared for the World Cup. This is a standard FIFA requirement for major national team tournaments.

Location and access. How to get to MetLife Stadium?

MetLife Stadium is located in East Rutherford, at the Meadowlands Sports Complex, approximately five miles west of New York City. Although the stadium is located in New Jersey, its location is closely related to the New York agglomeration and that is why during the 2026 World Cup it will function as the New York/New Jersey Stadium.

The most convenient way to get to the stadium on match days will be public transport. New Jersey Transit operates rail service on the Meadowlands Rail Line, which runs during major events. Fans can drive to Secaucus Junction and then transfer to a train going directly to the stadium area. This is an especially practical option for people traveling from Manhattan, Newark or other parts of New Jersey.

Bus connections are also available, including special routes from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York and services for selected events. Access by car is possible, among others: via the New Jersey Turnpike and Route 3 and Route 120, but heavy traffic is expected on game days.

Due to the scale of the stadium and the importance of the World Cup events, the best solution will be to plan your trip in advance and use public transport. During the 2026 World Cup final, the Meadowlands area will be one of the most crowded places in the entire United States.