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New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill wants to remind New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani of where the 2026 FIFA World Cup will actually be held.
Earlier this week, Mamdani said he was excited to host the global soccer event.
“I’m so excited about the fact that we’re going to host eight matches across the World Cup next summer,” Mamdani told CBS News.
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Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill, DN.J., delivers remarks at her election night vigil at the Hilton East Brunswick Hotel on November 4, 2025 in East Brunswick, NJ (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)
While Mamdani can’t wait for the games, Sherrill told 1010 WINS, who will actually handle the logistics and hosting responsibilities — New Jersey.
“With all due respect to Mayor-elect Mamdani, maybe he doesn’t know where the games are going to be played because it’s going to be in New Jersey,” she said.
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The tristate area host venue will be MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in June and July, which includes the World Cup final.
However, New York City will be a hub for the games, given how large the cultural population is. Mamdani even said he is promising to appoint a “World Cup czar” to manage ticket prices that continue to rise for the games.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced new orders Wednesday that could be seen as a challenge to Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, pictured. (Pakinomist Digital/Deirdre Heavey)
But Sherrill will circle calendar dates where MetLife Stadium and northern New Jersey will be on full display during the tournament.
She also mentioned that she would consider a congestion charge for New Yorkers who would use one of the many ways to get to New Jersey for the games.
“Maybe people coming into our state from New York will pay congestion charges so they can enjoy the game,” Sherrill said, referring to a similar price New Jersey drivers must pay under 60th street during rush hour in Manhattan.
“We look forward to working with New Jersey to have very robust traffic management plans for these events,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said during a news conference Thursday, via the New York Post .
New York’s newly elected mayor Zohran Mamdani and New Jersey’s newly elected governor Mikie Sherrill (Udo Salters Photography/Getty Images; John Lamparski/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The first match at MetLife Stadium will be played on June 13, 2026, a Group C match between Brazil and Morocco. The last match will be played on 19 July 2026.
