Fan Guide to New York City

Make the most of your match week in New York City: see more, stress less.

Introduction

New York City for World Cup 2026 Visitors

New York needs no warm-up: it’s a dense, walkable, transit-rich base camp where you can pack a museum morning, park stroll, skyline view, and late-night bite between fixtures. First-timers gravitate to icons like Central Park, Times Square, and the Statue of Liberty; repeat visitors peel off into neighborhood micro-scenes across Brooklyn and Queens. The subway runs 24/7, with PATH trains linking Manhattan to New Jersey for stadium days; plan on quick rail hops rather than cars. Orientation is simple: Midtown for blockbuster sights, Lower Manhattan for history and harbor views, and the East River waterfronts for skyline photos and sunsets. The official host committee confirms the city will stage eight FIFA World Cup 26™ matches—including the Final—at nearby MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, so expect big-event buzz across boroughs and fan activations citywide.

Fast Facts

Population (city/entidad): 8.48 million
Time zone: Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4)
Airports: John F. Kennedy International (JFK); LaGuardia (LGA); Newark Liberty International (EWR).
Currency: United States Dollar (USD).
Power & voltage: 120 V/60 Hz; plug types A & B are standard.
Weather snapshot (June–July): Central Park normals ~June 80°F/65°F (27°C/18°C); July 84°F/69°F (29°C/21°C); warm, often humid, with occasional thunderstorms.
Language: English
Drinking age: 21

The Pitch

MetLife Stadium

For FIFA World Cup 26™, MetLife Stadium will operate under the tournament name New York New Jersey Stadium. It sits in the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey—linked to Manhattan by event-day NJ TRANSIT rail shuttles and dedicated Coach USA buses from Port Authority. The venue is open-air, and FIFA’s host committee confirms it will stage the Final here, alongside group and knockout matches.

Stadium Basics

Location: One MetLife Stadium Drive, East Rutherford, NJ 07073 (Meadowlands Sports Complex).
Surface: Natural-grass installation for the tournament (venue normally uses synthetic turf for NFL; FIFA requires natural grass for its competitions).
Getting there: NJ TRANSIT BetMGM Meadowlands Rail Line (Secaucus Junction ↔ Meadowlands Station on event days); Coach USA 351 Meadowlands Express from Port Authority Bus Terminal.
Bag policy & payments: Clear bags up to 12″ × 6″ × 12″ (one per person) or small clutch up to 4.5″ × 6.5″; stadium is cash-free (cards and mobile payments accepted; reverse ATMs available).

Full stadium details

Match dates in New York City

June 13, 2026 — Group Stage
June 16, 2026 — Group Stage
June 22, 2026 — Group Stage
June 25, 2026 — Group Stage
June 27, 2026 — Group Stage
June 30, 2026 — Round of 32
July 5, 2026 — Round of 16
July 19, 2026 — FIFA World Cup 26™ Final

Inside New York City

Districts & Vibes

Start in Midtown for headline sights (Times Square, Fifth Avenue, major museums), then slide downtown to Lower Manhattan for the memorials, historic streets, and harbor ferries. It’s an easy half-day combo by subway with plenty of coffee stops and plazas to linger in.

Cross the river for contrasting vibes: Williamsburg brings indie shops and waterfront strolls with skyline views; DUMBO packs cobblestone lanes and photo-ready bridges in a tight loop. Stitch the two with the East River Ferry or a quick subway hop to make a Brooklyn afternoon of it. Cap a separate day on the Lower East Side, where galleries, music venues, and food halls cluster within walking distance.

Global Eats, Local Pours

New York City’s Food & Drink Hit List

For one-stop grazing, Essex Market on the Lower East Side pairs legacy vendors with global bites; Chelsea Market in the Meatpacking District remains a handy pre- or post-High Line refuel. On summer weekends, Queens Night Market turns Flushing Meadows Corona Park into a world street-food sampler—great for groups.

Neighborhood food corridors keep the options rolling: Koreatown’s 32nd Street stays lively late with barbecue and dessert cafes, while Bronx Little Italy (Arthur Avenue) concentrates old-school bakeries, pasta shops, and trattorias in a compact stroll. Save a sunset round for the Seaport’s Pier 17 bars and pop-ups with big-sky views over the East River.

Iconic New York City

Must-Sees Between Matches

Kick off with the harbor heavyweights: the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (book the official ferry), then head north to Central Park’s lawns and lakes for a breather between matches. Down in Lower Manhattan, the 9/11 Memorial pools and museum invite quiet reflection, and a ramble over the Brooklyn Bridge gives you the classic skyline walk.

Back uptown, choose your blockbuster art fix—The Met’s encyclopedic galleries or MoMA’s modern masters—then trade galleries for greenery on the High Line’s elevated park. For neon and people-watching, Times Square is still the city’s crossroads. If you’re chasing views, the Empire State Building’s open-air decks put the grid at your feet.

Discover New York City Through

Local Experiences & Tours

Sightlines matter: narrated Circle Line cruises orbit Manhattan for bridge-to-harbor panoramas, while Statue City Cruises is the only authorized ferry to Liberty and Ellis Islands—book early for pedestal or crown access.

On land, the Central Park Conservancy leads themed walking tours that put you on the best paths fast; the High Line offers free docent-led tours seasonally. For self-guided exploring, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs’ public-art map is a reliable companion. Major museums—including The Met, MoMA, and the 9/11 Museum—run their own guided or audio tours if you prefer an expert lens.

Keep the Party Going

Fan-Friendly Nightlife

Times Square’s pedestrian plazas are purpose-built for big-screen moments and people-watching, with the Times Square Alliance programming and managing the district’s public spaces—easy for groups to rally before or after a game. Bryant Park’s summer movie nights add a relaxed, picnic-style option on select evenings.

For skyline evenings, the Seaport’s Pier 17 hosts an active rooftop concert calendar and riverfront hangouts; across the Hudson by the stadium, the American Dream complex in the Meadowlands offers a dense cluster of bars, quick eats, and indoor attractions for pre-/post-match meetups.