MetLife Stadium officials have announced plans to remove 1,740 seats in order to widen the field for World Cup matches, as they hope to secure the hosting rights for the 2026 final. The stadium, located in suburban East Rutherford, New Jersey, is a contender for the final of the expanded 48-nation, 104-game World Cup, along with AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
New Jersey Governor, Phil Murphy, expressed his determination to secure the best package of games possible for the state during a telephone interview. He emphasized that both New Jersey and New York City are prepared to be aggressive in their pursuit of hosting rights. The officials have not yet revealed the specific games that will be hosted at the stadium or the renovation plans for other stadiums.
Heimo Schirgi, who took over as the World Cup’s chief operating officer in July, was not available for comment on the plans for MetLife Stadium. Unlike the 1994 tournament, FIFA is controlling all aspects of the 2026 tournament without the involvement of a local organizing committee. In a statement, FIFA mentioned that the stadiums requiring capital projects are approaching each project differently, with some venues scheduling the work across multiple NFL offseasons, while others plan to complete everything in one go before spring 2026.
The highest attendance recorded at MetLife Stadium for a sports event was during a Jets-Giants game, with 83,367 spectators in October. The World Cup bid book estimated the stadium’s capacity to be 74,895. The current dimensions for soccer matches at the stadium are 70-by-115 yards (64-by-105 meters). As part of the renovation plans, the construction will mainly focus on the corners and extend along the sidelines, with no impact on the field-level club areas.
The negotiations regarding the cost of the construction for the wider field are still underway. Gov. Murphy mentioned that FIFA’s setback provisions only affect the corners of the stadium, and other stadiums face more substantial challenges in adjusting their entire perimeter. However, New Jersey and New York City are committed to meeting FIFA’s requirements and are already investing significant resources into the project.
Both MetLife Stadium and AT&T Stadium will have to replace the artificial turf with grass to meet FIFA’s requirements. This change is also mandatory for stadiums in Atlanta, Foxboro, Houston, Inglewood, Philadelphia, and Seattle. The narrower field at MetLife Stadium was previously used for the 2016 Copa América final and will be used for three matches in this summer’s South American championship. Additionally, Gov. Murphy expressed his hopes of hosting a UEFA Champions League final at MetLife Stadium, stating they would be able to sell tickets for the equivalent of 10 stadiums.
Joe Trahan, a spokesman for the Dallas Cowboys, who operate AT&T Stadium, declined to comment on the dimensions and possible changes to the stadium. He redirected inquiries to FIFA and the Dallas Sports Commission, who did not respond to emails seeking comment. Both MetLife Stadium and AT&T Stadium are among the 11 U.S. stadiums chosen as World Cup venues, all of which are also home to NFL teams.
Adjacent to the site of MetLife Stadium, Giants Stadium hosted seven games during the 1994 World Cup, including memorable matches such as Bulgaria’s quarterfinal upset of defending champions Germany and Italy’s semifinal victory over Bulgaria. In anticipation of FIFA executives’ faster access from Manhattan, government officials closed the Lincoln Tunnel to regular traffic during the 1994 tournament.
MetLife Stadium’s plans to widen the field for World Cup matches underline its ambition to secure the hosting rights for the 2026 final. The stadium, along with other U.S. stadiums, will undergo renovations and convert artificial turf into grass to meet FIFA’s requirements. The involvement of both New Jersey and New York City in the pursuit of hosting rights highlights their commitment to providing the best package of games possible, both for the World Cup and potentially for other prestigious events, such as the UEFA Champions League final.