FIFA’s decision over the host of the 2026 World Cup final is down to the Dallas area against the New York City area, according to New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.
The two venues vying to host the final are AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas and MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
“They’re going around, but they’ve been pretty clear publicly that it’s Dallas or here in our bid with New York City,” Murphy said in quotes on NorthJersey.com.
“It’s not just the final. That means every stadium gets their package of games. So you don’t know the teams yet, but you know the dates and you know what you’re going to sell generally.”
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been recently spotted attending NFL games at both venues.
Two weeks ago, Infantino was at AT&T Stadium to watch the Dallas Cowboys take on the New York Jets, calling the venue “incredible.”
Infantino took in another Jets game over the weekend, this time watching the Aaron Rodgers-less franchise face the New England Patriots at their home of MetLife Stadium.
Murphy, along with New York City Mayor Eric Adams, have been publicly lobbying this summer for MetLife Stadium to host the final.
“The biggest game should be played on the biggest stage and there is no stage bigger on the globe than this region,” Adams told Reuters in July.
“No team or player will come to our region and feel homesick,” Adams added. “You point to a country on the globe and you are going to find a community here.
“That is our biggest selling point, our diversity and how everyone is going to feel at home playing here.”
Other possible contenders for the final include SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Whichever venues don’t end up hosting the final will likely be considered for semifinal matches or for the tournament’s opening game.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first time the tournament has included 48 teams. The United States, Mexico and Canada will serve as co-hosts, with the U.S. featuring 11 of the 16 host cities.
[lawrence-related id=28525,19955,15538]