New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy: “If you’re looking for a seamless operation — I will just say I’m biased — but I don’t think there’s a more seamless one you’ll find.” (Photo courtesy of the United Bid Committee)
FIFA’s 2026 bid evaluation task force Friday completed its technical tour of the United Bid of Canada, Mexico, and the United States by visiting New York and New Jersey.
Those two areas were the fourth and final United Bid candidate host city that the task force visited and will evaluate during their trip.
The task force met Friday morning for its daily briefing, before departing for a tour of Major League Soccer headquarters. Its members then visited Red Bull Arena, home to the MLS’ Red Bulls, which has hosted a World Cup qualifier, International Champions Cup matches, CONCACAF Gold Cup games and teams such as AS Roma, Tottenham Hotspur, Chivas, Ecuador and Costa Rica.
MetLife Stadium, which hosts more 50 major events and 2 million spectators and guests annually — was the Task Force’s next stop on the tour. Home to the Jets and the Giants, the 87,157-seat stadium is one of the largest in the NFL. Since opening in 2011, MetLife Stadium has hosted 23 international football matches, including Copa America Centenario, the Gold Cup and International Champions Cup — all of which drew record-breaking crowds. The task force concluded their trip with a brief helicopter tour of New York City.
“If you’re looking for a seamless operation — I will just say I’m biased — but I don’t think there’s a more seamless one you’ll find,” New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said. “I mean Canada, Mexico and the United States, but I also mean in this case New Jersey and New York. We have done it before and we’re prepared to do it again. I’m honored to have you in New Jersey and to be with you today.”
