FIFA wants to sell you a $3,000 patch of grass from the World Cup final. NJ wants a cut.

Key Points:

• New Jersey plans to sell small, numbered souvenir cubes of the World Cup final's natural grass pitch at MetLife Stadium, with prices ranging from $450 to $3,000, to generate revenue from the event.
• The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority invested $13 million to prepare the pitch and argues that New Jersey taxpayers deserve a share of the profits, while the World Cup Host Committee states that proceeds will support regional programs.
• The dispute over pitch sales is part of broader tensions between New Jersey and FIFA, including disagreements over transit costs and FIFA's policy of not sharing tournament profits with host cities or countries.
• FIFA has increasingly centralized revenue from ticket sales, broadcasting, merchandising, and concessions since 2010, leaving host cities to rely mainly on indirect economic benefits such as tourism and infrastructure improvements.
• Despite the costs and conflicts, some state officials highlight the significant economic impact, tax revenue, and lasting infrastructure upgrades from hosting World Cup matches, suggesting the investment by New Jersey and New York is justified.