FIFA Fan Fest for New York/New Jersey cancelled four months before World Cup
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- The official FIFA Fan Fest for the New York/New Jersey area, originally planned for Liberty State Park, has been cancelled four months before the 2026 men's World Cup, with tickets to be reimbursed to fans.
- New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill replaced the large-scale Fan Fest with a $5 million initiative for smaller watch parties and street fairs across the state, citing concerns over cost-effectiveness and community impact.
- The cancellation reflects broader challenges for host cities, as FIFA requires them to cover significant security and operational costs for Fan Fests, which can exceed $1 million per day, leading several cities to scale back or reconsider their plans.
- New York City will host unofficial World Cup fan experiences, including a fan village at Rockefeller
