Club WC serves as rehearsal for World Cup which is one year away
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup exactly one year away, local officials marked the occasion on Wednesday with a celebration at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, while promising to put on the 'biggest event that the world has ever seen.'
The picturesque park will serve as the official site of the FIFA Fan Festival New York New Jersey, with plans for massive screens for fans to watch every match of the 39-day tournament, along with live entertainment and fan activities. Liberty State Park is a short distance from MetLife Stadium, which will host eight matches during the World Cup, including the final on July 19, 2026.
NYNJ Host Committee CEO Alex Lasry called it 'a lot' just to reach the one-year mark until the world's biggest sporting event comes to the region, but said there's still more work to be done.
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Alex Lasry, CEO of the New York New Jersey 2026 World Cup Host Committee, speaks during a media availability with host city leaders for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in New York City on June 9, 2025.
AFP via Getty Images
'I think what we saw today is what the plan is, and now we gotta move into the execution phase,' Lasry told The Post. 'Our region isn't unique to mega sporting events and mega festivals. I think that's what is really going to help us as we execute on what's going to be the biggest party and the biggest event that the world has ever seen.'
Officials projected between $2.14 billion and $3.45 billion in economic output for the New York/New Jersey area related to the World Cup, with the host committee planning other events related to the tournament.
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New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said the fan fest in Liberty State Park alone is expected to see at least 45,000 fans.
The NYNJ Host Committee is also launching a number of events in the months leading up to next year's World Cup to build excitement, including the installation of a countdown clock at MetLife Stadium.
Buildings across New York and New Jersey were lit up in Liberty Green and a mobile fan experience dubbed the 'Skyline to Shoreline Road Tour' will make its way around the region.
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'This is all part of becoming part of the fabric and culture of New York, New Jersey and getting people excited for the World Cup,' Lasry said. 'I think that's what we're trying to do, is just make sure that everyone has a feel for what we're planning to do. And just get people really excited about what's going to happen next year.'
While excitement has been building for the World Cup, concerns have arisen over the current political climate in the United States related to the immigration policies of President Donald Trump, who was in office when the United States won the joint bid with Canada and Mexico to host the 2026 tournament.
Murphy didn't express any concerns about the potential impact, saying he expected a 'blowout success and a safe World Cup.'
'Based on all the vibrations I hear, and we hear a lot, we're obviously working very closely with the administration, with FIFA. This is going to be done in a first-class, welcoming way,' Murphy said.
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The outgoing New Jersey governor also touted the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, which begins this weekend in the U.S., will be aired on DAZN, and will play several matches — including the final — at MetLife Stadium.
Lasry called the Club World Cup a 'great chance for us to just get a sense' of how to work with their regional partners for the 'big show in 2026.'
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