With the world’s premier soccer tournament kicking off this week, New Jersey officials have secured a major win for local soccer fans, health care workers and families.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill joined FIFA World Cup 2026™ New York New Jersey Host Committee CEO Alex Lasry at Hackensack University Medical Center on Tuesday to announce that 770 free tickets are being made available to New Jersey residents for tournament matches at MetLife Stadium.
The initiative, funded entirely through a public-private partnership at no cost to taxpayers, aims to ensure that the monumental sporting event remains accessible to the local communities bearing the logistical brunt of hosting duties.
The secured ticket block spans seven high-profile matches—consisting of five Group Stage matches and two Knockout Round matches. Rather than entering a public lottery, the free tickets will be distributed directly to specific community groups via Choose New Jersey, organized into three targeted allocations:
| Ticket Pool Volume | Eligible Recipient Groups | Program Partners |
| 500 Tickets | Underserved youth soccer players, families of overseas-deployed National Guard members, Make-A-Wish patients, and local first responders. | Uber & Choose New Jersey |
| 200 Tickets | Frontline New Jersey nurses, health care team members, and pediatric patients facing serious illnesses. | Hackensack Meridian Health |
| 70 Tickets | Local residents who support small businesses and participate in community tournament events. | Welcome World Rewards Program |
“We are excited to welcome the world to the Garden State for the World Cup starting this week and to be at the very center of the festivities, but we want the experience, first and foremost, to be accessible and affordable for as many New Jerseyans as possible,” Sherrill said. “I will always fight to ensure that no New Jerseyan is left behind.”
The ticket drop announcement comes on the heels of the Host Committee transferring $3.6 million to the Sherrill Administration to offset regional transit costs for local commuters during the tournament.
To commemorate the region hosting eight tournament matches—including the highly anticipated World Cup Final—officials also unveiled a massive new tournament mural outside of Hackensack University Medical Center’s Helena Theurer Pavilion. The artwork was designed by Richard Tu, the creative mind behind the official New York New Jersey Host City Poster, and its unveiling featured a special appearance by U.S. Men’s National Team legendary goalkeeper and New Jersey native Tony Meola.
Beyond celebrating the festivities, hospital leadership emphasized that local medical teams have completed rigorous emergency drills to prepare for the massive influx of international visitors.
“As the closest Level 1 trauma center to the stadium, our team members have been actively preparing to support the complex medical and safety operations for an event of this magnitude,” Bob Garrett, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health said. “We are proud to celebrate their commitment by providing them with an opportunity to enjoy the World Cup in person.”
