The FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout rounds arrive at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium this week, bringing world-class soccer within reach of Rockaway and the rest of Morris County.
MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, listed during the tournament as New York New Jersey Stadium, hosts a Round of 32 match on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at 5 p.m. Eastern, with France facing Sweden. A Round of 16 match follows on Sunday, July 5, 2026 at 4 p.m. Eastern. The stadium is the only World Cup venue in New Jersey, and it will close out the entire tournament by hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final on Sunday, July 19, 2026 at 3 p.m. Eastern.
The New Jersey stadium is scheduled to host eight matches in all. The group stage games already played there featured Brazil and Morocco on June 13, France and Senegal on June 16, Norway and Senegal on June 22, Ecuador and Germany on June 25, and England and Panama on June 27.
For local fans, MetLife Stadium sits roughly 30 miles east of Rockaway. Crowds and security are heavy on match days, so fans are encouraged to plan their trip in advance and review transit, parking, and ticket details on the official New York New Jersey host committee website.
With the World Cup shared across the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer, the matches at MetLife give Rockaway and Morris County a rare chance to see the world’s biggest sporting event close to home.
