New Jersey
FIFA, here are some better facts about NJ for fans ahead of the World Cup at MetLife
USMNT opens 2026 World Cup at SoFi Stadium
FIFA announced the schedule for the 2026 World Cup. The U.S. Men’s National Team will open at SoFi Stadium, while MetLife Stadium will host the World Cup final.
Fox – LA
You may have heard the biggest sporting event in the world is coming to New Jersey as MetLife is set to host the FIFA World Cup championship in 2026. People from all over the world will be traveling to the tri-state area to watch some of the best athletes in the world compete for one of the most prestigious prizes in sports.
Those who are coming from all across the globe for this iconic event may be unfamiliar with our home, New Jersey, so here is a little introduction to assist those who may be new to the area. This may be particularly helpful if you’re only going off the facts listed by FIFA. The website still says “New York’s most famous natives include Jay-Z and Bruce Springsteen.”
Here’s more info, from locals:
The final is in New Jersey, not New York
On FIFA’s website, their is a section where people can observe the “host countries and cities.” When you click on the icon a list of cities appear that are hosting World Cup games. One may notice that each city has it’s own square, but one square that stands out is titled “New York New Jersey.”
New York New Jersey is not a place. New York is a place, and New Jersey is a place. MetLife stadium is located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, not New York. The stadium is home to the New York Giants and the New York Jets, so it may appear confusing but the World Cup finals will be held in New Jersey and not the neighboring New York. MetLife Stadium is very close to the New York City in case tourists want to venture there before the big game. The stadium is about just under 10 miles from New York City by car.
World Cup tickets How to get World Cup tickets 2026 as final will be played at MetLife Stadium
Famous people and soccer stars from New Jersey
New Jersey is home to some of the most famous celebrities in the world. Iconic singers like Frank Sinatra and Whitney Houston to well-known actors such as James Gandolfini and John Travaolta all were born and raised in northern New Jersey. One of the greatest athletes of all time, professional basketball player Shaquille O’Neal was also born in New Jersey.
New Jersey is also the home to many professional soccer athletes too. A total of 19 New Jerseyans currently play in the the United States soccer league, MLS, in the 2024 season. Those players include Alejandro Bedoya from Englewood who currently plays for Philadelphia Union, Matt Miazga from Clifton who plays for F.C. Cincinnati and Bento Estrela from Bloomfield who plays for the New York Red Bulls.
The legendary 2019 U.S. Woman’s World Cup team that won the championship had two New Jersey natives on their roster, stars Tobin Heath from Basking Ridge and Carli Lloyd from Delran. Heath has also played for Arsenal and Manchester United in her professional career.
Other women’s soccer stars from New Jersey are Heather O’Reilly from East Brunswick who helped aid the United States woman’s national soccer team to a 2015 World Cup victory, and Christie Pearce Rampone from Ocean County, New Jersey who is a three-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time FIFA World Cup champion.
This past year’s United States Woman’s national soccer team that played in the World Cup also had two New Jersey natives competing on the roster, defender Alana Cook of Fair Hills, and goalkeeper Casey Murphyof Bridgewater.
On the men’s U.S. international team, New Jersey was represented by Joe Scally from Lake Grove played in the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. Tim Howard, one of the greatest goalkeepers in American history, also hails from the Garden State.
These 18 celebrities were born in North Jersey
Other major sports events
This is not the first major sporting event to be hosted at MetLife Stadium. The Super Bowl, one of America’s biggest sporting event, was held at MetLife Stadium in 2014. The Copa América Centenario Final was also held at MetLife in 2016.
The New Jersey stadium has hosted numerous international soccer matchups, college football games and concerts of the world’s biggest artists. MetLife has seen some legendary performances, and the World Cup final in the summer of 2026 may be the most historic for the venue.
When it was still known as Giants Stadium, MetLife has even hosted World Cup matches before back in 1994.
World Cup 2026 betting odds: Here are the favorites to win the final at MetLife Stadium
Food in New Jersey
New Jersey is home so some classic eateries. You cannot find a place in the world with better bagels. Almost every deli can serve you an iconic bacon or Taylor ham, egg and cheese sandwich.
Northern New Jersey is proud to be one of the most diverse areas in the country. You can find restaurant of so many different cultures from Italian, Spanish, Mediterranean, Asian and so much more within just minutes of MetLife stadium.
Activities in the area
For all those traveling across the world to see this game, or any of the other World Cup games at MetLife as the stadium is set to host eight total World Cup matches, there so many great ways to keep yourself entertained in the northern New Jersey area.
Right across from MetLife Stadium is the American Dream Mall, the second largest shopping mall in the United States. The enormous complex has plenty of activities such as the Nickelodeon Universe amusement park, the DreamWorks water park and the Big Snow ski resort. The mall of course is home to so many shops and dining experiences.
Despite its urban centric location, North Jersey has some great outdoor activities around MetLife Stadium. New Jersey offers some great hiking locations such as Ramapo Valley County reservation, about 25 miles from MetLife Stadium.
With so much to do in New Jersey, what makes this state even better is that it is so close to one of the most iconic cities in the world, New York City. Those who are visiting will find it convenient how MetLife is just a short trip away from Manhattan. When in the city, World Cup watchers can see a Broadway show, visit some iconic tourist attractions like the Statue of Liberty or just chill in Washington Square Park.
New Jersey cannot wait to welcome so many visitors as the Garden State is set to host one of the most iconic events in the whole world.
New Jersey
Yellowcard Brings Ocean Avenue to New Jersey’s Own Ocean Avenue
Yellowcard played the Stone Pony Summer Stage on Friday June 12th. It was an astounding set. The band performed nineteen tracks from every era and iteration of the band. It was a special night for anyone who is a fan.
Openers Plain White T’s and New Found Glory also deserve special credit for fitting the bill flawlessly. It was the perfect way to set the stage for the show to come. Both bands have a strong stage presence and were able to captures the crowd’s full attention.
Yellowcard opened with a video of the Paramount stars. They continued their set by playing interlude snippets of other major movies such as “Back To The Future,” “Top Gun,” “The Goonies,” and the “Ghostbusters.” It really felt like we were watching a cinematic experience as well as a concert. The production was second to none. There was even pyro during certain moments of the show.
The band played six tracks off their new album Better Days. This was a huge highlight of the show. Better Days is not only the best Yellowcard album since Ocean Avenue, it’s one of the best pop-punk releases of the decade. The band worked tightly with Travis Barker, Avril Lavigne, and Alkaline Trio to enhance all aspects of the genre. The new tracks warranted even more of a reception than older tracks. We were truly watching a band in their prime.
Overall, Yellowcard are showing us the new heights bands can reach within the pop-punk genre. Their breakup and triumphant return displays to us that anything is possible. Please enjoy our gallery below from photographer Anthony Vito Cosentino.
Plain White T’s
New Found Glory
Yellowcard
All Photos by Anthony Vito Cosentino
New Jersey
Historical marker recognizing Lawnside, New Jersey, to be unveiled Friday
From Camden and Cherry Hill to Trenton and the Jersey Shore, what about life in New Jersey do you want WHYY News to cover? Let us know.
The borough of Lawnside in Camden County will be honored with a historical marker from the New Jersey Historical Commission as part of the state’s Black Heritage Trail.
A ceremony unveiling the marker will take place at 10 a.m. Friday at Lawnside Borough Hall on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Road.
Marsharee Wright, aide to Lawnside Mayor Mary Ann Wardlow and long-time resident, said everyone is thrilled about the marker unveiling.
“We’ve invited the entire community and neighboring towns to come share the celebration with us,” Wright said.
Linda Shockley, president of the Lawnside Historical Society, said it’s “an extreme honor” for the borough to be included in the state’s program, especially as Lawnside is amid a year-long celebration of its centennial.
“It really lifts our profile and hopefully more people will understand and know what Lawnside is about and what it means in the nation,” Shockley said.
Lawnside was one of six sites selected in Camden County in 2024, including “The Point,” a historic Black neighborhood in Haddonfield. Its marker was unveiled last June.
During the ceremony, the borough’s history will be showcased, along with the original documents signed by Gov. A. Harry Moore in 1926, which made way for the borough’s creation.
Though there are many Black enclaves in South Jersey, the borough is the state’s only incorporated antebellum Black community. First known as Free Haven, and later Snow Hill, it was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Peter Mott built a three-floor dwelling in 1844 that was once part of sprawling farmland where he helped slaves escape.
Mott’s house, now owned by the Lawnside Historical Society, serves as an Underground Railroad museum.
New Jersey
Is ICE giving up on Roxbury detention center? NJ leaders laud report
See the Roxbury warehouse scouted by ICE as possible deportation site
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement were in Roxbury recently apparently scouting a Rt. 46 warehouse as a possible migrant deportation facility.
Federal officials are considering abandoning plans for a controversial immigration detention facility in Roxbury, New Jersey, according to a June 18 report by The New York Times, prompting local leaders and state officials to declare a victory after months of legal and political opposition.
The proposed facility, a warehouse property purchased to serve as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center, faced intense criticism from local residents, environmental advocates and elected officials who argued the site was unsuitable for housing detainees.
In a joint statement issued Thursday, Gov. Mikie Sherrill and Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said the Department of Homeland Security appeared to be backing away from the project following legal challenges that halted development.
“Today the New York Times is reporting that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is backing down on its mass detention center in Roxbury,” the statement said. “That is a big win for public safety, for the township of Roxbury, and for New Jersey.”
According to the Times report, the Roxbury facility is one of seven ICE is planning to dispense with by transferring ownership to other federal agencies or selling them.
Opponents argued the warehouse was designed as a logistics facility and lacked the infrastructure necessary to support a large detention center. They also raised concerns about the potential strain on local water and sewage systems and the impact on environmentally sensitive land surrounding the site.
State officials said they joined Roxbury Township in court to challenge the project, contending that federal plans violated local regulations and posed risks to the community.
“DHS’s plans were always illegal,” the statement said. “The Roxbury warehouse is a logistics center fit for packages, not thousands of people.”
Rep. Rob Menendez said in a statement on Thursday: “We are working to confirm reporting that ICE is abandoning its Roxbury warehouse plans, but if true, this would be big news. From day one, we have fought to stop this facility, bringing together thousands of New Jerseyans in opposition. Now we are on the cusp of an important win for our state.”
The detention center was expected to become part of the federal government’s broader immigration enforcement and detention network. However, the project became a flashpoint in New Jersey, drawing opposition from both local officials and residents concerned about public safety, environmental impacts and the facility’s compatibility with surrounding land uses.
Federal officials have not publicly confirmed whether the property will be sold or formally removed from consideration. The Department of Homeland Security has not commented on the reported change in plans.
Opponents vowed to continue monitoring the situation until the project is officially terminated.
“This isn’t a partisan issue,” the statement said. “We’re grateful for our partnership with the Roxbury community as we keep DHS’s feet to the fire to ensure this facility is never opened.”
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