New York/New Jersey cancels World Cup Fan Fest
· Yahoo Sports
With the World Cup just four months away, the New York and New Jersey host committee has decided to cancel its fan festival at Liberty State Park in Jersey City.
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Originally announced in February 2025 by Tammy Murphy, chair of the New York/New Jersey host committee's directors, the fan fest was to be open for all 104 matches of the tournament. Tickets for the event had been available starting in December.
Planned to be held near New York's iconic Statue of Liberty, the committee ultimately decided to forgo the event to focus on a $5 million community initiative for fans.
“New Jersey is the beating heart of the 2026 World Cup, and this initiative makes sure that every New Jerseyan — no matter where they live — can be part of this once-in-a-generation moment,” New Jersey governor Mike Sherrill said on Thursday.
“From fan zones to neighborhood watch parties to street fairs, we are investing in the communities and small businesses that make New Jersey extraordinary. The World Cup is coming to our state — and we are going to make sure it belongs to New Jerseyans first.”
This initiative's plan is to support communities across the state while investing in small businesses, cultural associations and community nonprofits.
“The World Cup is an unparalleled opportunity to showcase New Jersey to the world and drive real economic impact for our businesses and communities,” said Evan Weiss, CEO of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), who are partnering with the host committee on the initiative.
“This initiative is about more than soccer — it’s about making sure that the energy and investment generated by this global event flows directly to the small businesses, cultural organizations, and neighborhood nonprofits that are the backbone of our state.
"We look forward to sharing the details of these funding opportunities and partnering with communities across New Jersey to make this a World Cup to remember.”
A fan fest is still planned for the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens from June 17-28, and a fan village is scheduled for Manhattan's Rockefeller Center from July 4-19.
The World Cup final will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 19.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New York/New Jersey cancels World Cup Fan Fest