Where the games will be held
Eleven U.S. destinations will host the games, including New Jersey. Other U.S. host cities include Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Kansas City, Boston, Philadelphia, and Miami.
New and innovative World Cup structure
Not only will this be a historic event that the entire state and region can’t stop talking about, but the structure of FIFA World Cup 2026™ will also be new and innovative. Not only this will be the first time that the FIFA World Cup™ will include 48 teams instead of the current 32-team format, but the games will also be spread across a much wider area.
Unlike previous years, the FIFA World Cup™ host will not just be one country or one city. The tournament will be held across North America, stretching from Vancouver and Toronto, Canada, across the U.S., and down to Monterrey and Guadalajara, Mexico. The three countries submitted a joint bid to host the games, branding itself as a “United Bid,” under the motto of “Unity. Certainty. Opportunity.” This will be the first time the tournament is staged across three host nations.
Not only was the unity theme inspiring, but the three countries were able to make a very practical case for the United bid by stressing the huge financial opportunity posed by hosting the tournament in North America. They also highlighted the relative ease of using existing large-capacity stadiums instead of having to build them from scratch.
What to expect
The last time the U.S. hosted the World Cup was in 1994. Other previous North American hosts were Mexico in 1970 and 1986. Though holding the games across three large countries will certainly pose travel challenges for teams and fans, the United Bid attempted to address some of this by designing regional clusters for teams and groups.
The games may be two years away, but people are already planning their trips and booking their stays. Word on the street is that some organizations including FIFA crews are booking up entire hotels to accommodate their groups. Considering many Europeans spend their lengthy summer vacations touring for the FIFA World Cup™, we expect hotels to sell out quickly.
What to do when Visiting Hudson County, NJ
Visitors to Hudson County have so much to do during the FIFA World Cup™, from top rated restaurants to scenic adventures relaxing along the Hudson River waterfront where you can soak in stunning skyline views of Manhattan.
Hudson County is known for having some of the best American diners in the country and some of the most innovative food trucks and breweries. We have world-class arts and culture, parks and nature, and some of the best diverse cuisine in the country. Many neighborhoods are walkable, or you can pick up one of our bike share bikes to explore on two wheels. Walk or ride along the waterfront or hop on a ferry for the short and scenic ride from here to NYC.
Where to stay during the World Cup
We have dozens of options for accommodations that would be perfect for a World Cup visit, including the Hyatt Place Secaucus Meadowlands, Aloft Secaucus Meadowlands, and the 4-star Harmony Suites in Secaucus, all nearby MetLife Stadium.
For more Hudson County itinerary inspiration, head to visithudson.org for Tiny Trips, Group Tour ideas, a full list of Hotels, and more.
