The FIFA World Cup 2026 final is on Sunday, 19 July 2026 at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, kicking off 3 p.m. ET.
Here’s the venue, route to the final, tickets and travel info for fans heading to New York.
Final Date and Kickoff Time
The final is fixed for Sunday, 19 July 2026. Kickoff is 3 p.m. ET (Eastern Time) at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just outside New York City.
Here’s how 3 p.m. ET converts on 19 July 2026:
| City / Region | Local Kickoff (19 July 2026) |
|---|---|
| East Rutherford / New York (EDT) | 3:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City (CST) | 1:00 p.m. |
| São Paulo / Buenos Aires | 4:00 p.m. |
| London (BST) | 8:00 p.m. |
| Paris / Berlin / Madrid (CEST) | 9:00 p.m. |
| Cairo / Istanbul | 10:00 p.m. |
| Riyadh / Doha / Kuwait City / Manama (AST) | 10:00 p.m. |
| Dubai / Abu Dhabi / Muscat (GST) | 11:00 p.m. |
| Karachi (PKT) | 12:00 a.m. (20 July) |
| New Delhi / Mumbai (IST) | 12:30 a.m. (20 July) |
| Singapore / Kuala Lumpur / Manila | 3:00 a.m. (20 July) |
| Tokyo / Seoul | 4:00 a.m. (20 July) |
| Sydney (AEST) | 5:00 a.m. (20 July) |
The day before, on 18 July 2026, the third-place playoff takes place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami at 5 p.m. ET.
Halftime Show
The final will feature the first-ever halftime show at a World Cup, confirmed by FIFA in May 2026. Madonna, Shakira and BTS headline, with the performance curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin. Characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets also feature.
The Venue: MetLife Stadium
MetLife Stadium is one of the largest venues at the tournament, with a listed capacity of 82,500 seats. It sits at One MetLife Stadium Drive, East Rutherford, NJ 07073, about 10 miles west of Manhattan.
For the World Cup, FIFA is widening the playing field by removing 1,740 corner seats so the pitch meets tournament specifications.
What Else MetLife Hosts
The final is not the only World Cup match at MetLife. The stadium hosts eight matches in total, building up to 19 July:
- 13 June — Group stage (Brazil v Morocco; see our opening match guide for the 11 June opener)
- 16 June — Group stage (France v Senegal)
- 22 June — Group stage (Norway v Senegal)
- 25 June — Group stage (Ecuador v Germany)
- 27 June — Group stage (Panama v England)
- 30 June — Round of 32
- 5 July — Round of 16
- 19 July — Final
The Road to the Final
The 2026 World Cup is the first 48-team edition (see the full match schedule), which means a new knockout structure with an extra round before the last 16. Here’s how the bracket leads into MetLife on 19 July.
Knockout Path
| Round | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Round of 32 | 28 June – 3 July | New round added for the 48-team format |
| Round of 16 | 4 – 7 July | Played across multiple host cities |
| Quarter-finals | 9 – 11 July | Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, Kansas City |
| Semi-finals | 14 – 15 July | Dallas (14 July), Atlanta (15 July) |
| Third-place playoff | 18 July | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami — 5 p.m. ET |
| Final | 19 July | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey — 3 p.m. ET |
The two semi-final winners advance to MetLife. The losing semi-finalists meet in Miami the day before for the bronze-medal match.
How to Get Final Tickets
Final tickets are sold through the official FIFA portal (for a detailed breakdown, see our FIFA World Cup final tickets guide) at FIFA.com/tickets. They are not sold at the stadium, through third-party tour operators, or as printable PDFs.
The tournament is in its Last-Minute Sales Phase, which started 1 April 2026 and runs through to the final on 19 July. Tickets are released first-come, first-served, with immediate confirmation.
As of June 2026, final tickets are dynamically priced and move with demand. The cheapest category starts around $2,030 and the top Front Category reaches about $32,970, with a 15% service fee added at checkout.
On the Official FIFA Resale Marketplace — the only authorised resale channel — final listings start near $9,000 and climb steeply.
FIFA also introduced a flat $60 Supporter Entry ticket for every match, but these are not on public sale: each qualified nation’s football federation allocates them to its registered fans.
What to Know Before You Buy
- FIFA ID required — register and verify before tickets drop, not while a sale is live.
- Mobile-only delivery — every ticket is issued through the FIFA World Cup 2026 app. No paper tickets, no PDFs. Mobile tickets began rolling out in May 2026.
- Official Resale Marketplace — if primary inventory is gone, FIFA’s resale platform is the only authorized resale channel. It stays open until one hour before kickoff. For broader travel options, see our last-minute World Cup travel guide.
- Hospitality packages — sold separately via FIFA’s official hospitality partner and include seating, food and dedicated entry.
- Ticketing investigations — the New Jersey and New York Attorneys General opened a formal investigation into FIFA’s ticketing practices in late May 2026, over concerns some fans were misled about seat locations. Buy only through official channels, and review your seating map carefully before purchasing.
Traveling to the Final
If you have a ticket, the next step is getting yourself to East Rutherford on 19 July. Most international fans fly into the New York metro area, then head to MetLife on matchday.
Flights and Airports
Three airports serve the New York / New Jersey region:
- Newark Liberty (EWR) — closest to MetLife, around 10 miles south.
- John F. Kennedy (JFK) — major international gateway in Queens.
- LaGuardia (LGA) — mostly domestic and short-haul international.
Final-week fares spike fast — lock in dates early on flights to New York. Fans from the Gulf can also check our guides for World Cup flights from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and India.
Where to Stay
Most fans base themselves in Manhattan or just across the Hudson:
- Manhattan — best for nightlife and onward sightseeing, but most expensive.
- Jersey City / Hoboken — closer to MetLife, easier matchday access via PATH and NJ Transit.
- Secaucus / East Rutherford — walking or short-ride distance to the stadium.
The 18–20 July window books out fast — compare hotels in New York on Wego before prices peak. See our US World Cup hotels guide for stadium-by-stadium picks, or check the World Cup hotel price comparison to find the cheapest host cities.
Getting to MetLife Stadium on Matchday
- NJ Transit Meadowlands Rail Line — drops fans at the stadium door. Round-trip tickets are $98 (cut from an initial $150) and must be bought in advance, not at the station. Capacity is capped at 40,000 per match.
- From NYC — take a train from Penn Station New York and transfer at Secaucus Junction for the Meadowlands line. Dedicated match service runs from about four hours before kickoff.
- Shuttle bus — round-trip fare is $20 (cut from $80 after state intervention). Buses run from the Port Authority Bus Terminal and a Midtown East stop in NYC, plus a New Jersey park-and-ride near Clifton. Buy in advance.
- Parking — there is no general public parking at MetLife on match days. Fans can pre-book a spot at the American Dream mall from around $225 and walk over the pedestrian bridges.
- Rideshare — available but limited. No drop-off on stadium property; pickups happen at a designated zone at Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment.
Do You Need a US Visa?
Most non-American fans need one of the following (see our full FIFA World Cup 2026 visa guide for details):
- B1/B2 visitor visa — required for travelers from GCC countries, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Egypt and most of Africa. Processing can take weeks to months.
- ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program — available for most European, UK, Japanese, South Korean, Singaporean and Australian passport holders.
- Existing US visa — if still valid, no further approval is needed.
The FIFA PASS program offers priority US visa access for confirmed ticket holders. Start the visa process well ahead of July — appointments tighten as the tournament nears. Check our FIFA Pass visa appointment guide for step-by-step booking instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What date is the FIFA World Cup 2026 final?
The final is on Sunday, 19 July 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Kickoff is 3 p.m. ET.
Where is the 2026 World Cup final being held?
At MetLife Stadium, 10 miles west of Manhattan. The 82,500-seat venue is the largest at the tournament.
When is the third-place playoff?
Saturday, 18 July 2026 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, kicking off 5 p.m. ET.
Can I still buy tickets for the final?
FIFA’s Last-Minute Sales Phase is open until 19 July, with new inventory released first-come, first-served at FIFA.com/tickets. The Official Resale Marketplace is also available as the authorized resale channel.
How much do final tickets cost?
As of June 2026, official final tickets are dynamically priced — from around $2,030 for the cheapest category up to about $32,970 for the top tier, plus a 15% service fee. Resale listings start near $9,000.
Who is performing at the halftime show?
Madonna, Shakira and BTS headline the first-ever World Cup halftime show, curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, during the final at MetLife Stadium.
Which airport should I fly into?
Newark Liberty (EWR) is closest to MetLife Stadium. JFK and LaGuardia are also viable, with JFK serving most long-haul international routes.
Sources
- FIFA — New York/New Jersey to Host World Cup 2026 Final
- FIFA — Madonna, Shakira, BTS to Headline Halftime Show
- FIFA — New Ticket Pricing Tier
- FIFA — Last-Minute Sales Phase
- FIFA — How and Where to Buy Tickets
- MetLife Stadium — FIFA World Cup 2026
- NJ Transit — FIFA World Cup 2026 Travel
- NYNJ Host Committee — Getting to the Stadium
- New Jersey Attorney General — Investigation into FIFA Ticket Sales
- NBC New York — NJ Transit Rail Lowered to $98, Bus to $20
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
