World Cup In NJ? MetLife Stadium A Finalist To Host In 2026

NEW JERSEY — MetLife Stadium has been in the running for four years as a potential 2026 World Cup site. But New Jerseyans could find out next month whether their state will play a part in the planet's largest sporting event.

Seventeen U.S. stadiums remain in the bidding to host matches in the 2026 World Cup, according to the Associated Press. The bid plan envisioned 16 total sites for the tournament, the AP reports. Three stadiums each in Canada and Mexico are also expected to host matches.

FIFA intends to announce the future World Cup sites June 16 at a news conference in New York. In 2018, FIFA selected the United States, Canada and Mexico as joint hosts for the 2026 tournament — the first World Cup to feature 48 teams.

The United States will host 60 games, including all from the quarterfinals on. Canada and Mexico will host 10 games each. The following areas and stadiums remain in the running to host matches, according to the AP:

• Arlington, Texas, AT&T Stadium
• Atlanta, Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• Baltimore, M&T Bank Stadium
• Cincinnati, Paul Brown Stadium
• Denver, Empower Field at Mile High
• East Rutherford, MetLife Stadium
• Foxborough, Massachusetts, Gillette Stadium
• Houston, NRG Stadium
• Inglewood, California, SoFi Stadium
• Kansas City, Missouri, Arrowhead Stadium
• Miami Gardens, Florida, Hard Rock Stadium
• Nashville, Tennessee, Nissan Stadium
• Orlando, Florida, Camping World Stadium
• Pasadena, California, Rose Bowl
• Philadelphia, Lincoln Financial Field
• Santa Clara, California, Levi’s Stadium
• Seattle, Lumen Field

The United States has only hosted one prior men's World Cup: the 1994 tournament. Giants Stadium hosted seven games, including a semifinal.

Giants Stadium was also a venue in the 1999 Women's World Cup. The U.S.-Denmark match drew a crowd of 78,972, setting a new record for attendance at a women's sporting event. But New Jersey's record fell quickly, as the final between China and the United States drew 90,185 spectators at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.