Your guide to the New York-New Jersey area ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup

MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., is the home of both the FIFA Club World Cup this summer and men’s World Cup in 2026. | Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images From tickets to what to do first in and around the NYC area, consider this your personal cheat sheet for this summer So, your favorite team is coming to MetLife Stadium for this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup, but you know very little about the city, the stadium, and what to expect from all of it? Our soccer team here at SBNation, in partnership with Michelob Ultra, are here to answer your frequently asked questions and deliver a mini breakdown of sorts of each city, from the teams to expect to the places you need to check out while you’re in town. Here’s what to look forward to in New York-New Jersey: Photo by Adriana Spaca/Sports Press Photo/Getty Images Raphael Veiga and Palmeiras head to MetLife for a pair of group stage matches on June 15 and June 19. What teams are coming to New York? New Jersey-New York’s MetLife Stadium, located in East Rutherford, N.J., is the home of the NFL’s New York Jets and Giants and will also play hosts to this year’s Club World Cup final and is the venue for the FIFA World Cup final in 2026. MetLife will host five group stage games, a quarterfinal match and both the semifinals and championship game. Those games are (all times Eastern): Sunday, June 15: Palmeiras vs. FC Porto in Group A, 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 17: Fluminense FC vs. Borussia Dortmund in Group F, noon Thursday, June 19: Palmeiras vs. Al Ahly FC in Group A, noon Saturday, June 21: Fluminense FC vs. Ulsan HD in Group F, 6 p.m. Monday, June 23: FC Porto vs. Al Ahly FC in Group A, 9 p.m. Saturday, July 5: Quarterfinal rounds, teams TBD, 4 p.m. July 8-9: Semifinal rounds, teams TBD, 3 p.m. Sunday, July 13: FIFA Club World Cup final, 3 p.m. Who do I contact to inquire about tickets, guest services and parking? While starting with FIFA.com, the official ticket provider for the Club World Cup is your starting point to get in the game, MetLife Stadium has a comprehensive list of who to connect with for all of the above, including parking information and how to secure a spot even before you arrive. Photo by Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images Smithfield Hall has been known as one of the premier places in New York City to watch a soccer match. Just ask these folks. I don’t have a ticket but I want to check out the game. Any suggestions? With New York, just over the bridge, under the tunnel or across the ferry, if you can’t make it inside MetLife, then bouncing from East Rutherford and catching the game in the city that never sleeps is your best move. Here’s a few suggestions of what to check out. Smithfield Hall: Arguably one of New York’s great soccer establishments. Not only is the food good but the wall-to-wall TVs, cater largely to soccer, so if the Club World Cup is happening at MetLife or anywhere else around the time you walk in, it’ll be on. | 138 W. 25th Street, website. The Football Factory: If you felt inspired to head to East Rutherford to score a ticket and were unsuccessful, this spot is your next best bet. The name says is all. This midtown Manhattan pub is a short walk from Penn Station, so you don’t have to walk too far coming off the train to find your seat at the bar. | 6 W. 33rd Street (at 5th Ave.), website. Berry Park: This spot screams soccer pub from the time you walk in the door, but it’s not just about tuning in to the games on the TV, but the atmosphere of taking it in via Berry Park’s rooftop bar or taking a break from watching to check out the indoor soccer pitch, if you can make it over to the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, this is the place to be. | 4 Berry St., website. I’m in New York for a few days. What should I do? You know as well as we do that there are too many good things to consider when in the New Jersey-New York metro area. Since we didn’t want to steer you in the wrong direction, we leaned on our cousins at Thrillist to provide you insight and what you need to know when it comes to … whatever sounds like fun.

Apr 1, 2025 - 13:49

Your guide to the New York-New Jersey area ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup

Canada v Argentina - CONMEBOL Copa America USA 2024 — MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., is the home of both the FIFA Club World Cup this summer and men’s World Cup in 2026. | Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images

From tickets to what to do first in and around the NYC area, consider this your personal cheat sheet for this summer

So, your favorite team is coming to MetLife Stadium for this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup, but you know very little about the city, the stadium, and what to expect from all of it?

Our soccer team here at SBNation, in partnership with Michelob Ultra, are here to answer your frequently asked questions and deliver a mini breakdown of sorts of each city, from the teams to expect to the places you need to check out while you’re in town.

Here’s what to look forward to in New York-New Jersey:

Palmeiras v Sao Paulo - Campeonato Paulista 2025 — Raphael Veiga and Palmeiras head to MetLife for a pair of group stage matches on June 15 and June 19.

What teams are coming to New York?

New Jersey-New York’s MetLife Stadium, located in East Rutherford, N.J., is the home of the NFL’s New York Jets and Giants and will also play hosts to this year’s Club World Cup final and is the venue for the FIFA World Cup final in 2026. MetLife will host five group stage games, a quarterfinal match and both the semifinals and championship game.

Those games are (all times Eastern):

Sunday, June 15: Palmeiras vs. FC Porto in Group A, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, June 17: Fluminense FC vs. Borussia Dortmund in Group F, noon
Thursday, June 19: Palmeiras vs. Al Ahly FC in Group A, noon
Saturday, June 21: Fluminense FC vs. Ulsan HD in Group F, 6 p.m.
Monday, June 23: FC Porto vs. Al Ahly FC in Group A, 9 p.m.
Saturday, July 5: Quarterfinal rounds, teams TBD, 4 p.m.
July 8-9: Semifinal rounds, teams TBD, 3 p.m.
Sunday, July 13: FIFA Club World Cup final, 3 p.m.

Who do I contact to inquire about tickets, guest services and parking?

While starting with FIFA.com, the official ticket provider for the Club World Cup is your starting point to get in the game, MetLife Stadium has a comprehensive list of who to connect with for all of the above, including parking information and how to secure a spot even before you arrive.

Soccer Fans Gather To Watch U.S. vs. Netherlands In Knockout Stage Of World Cup — Smithfield Hall has been known as one of the premier places in New York City to watch a soccer match. Just ask these folks.

I don’t have a ticket but I want to check out the game. Any suggestions?

With New York, just over the bridge, under the tunnel or across the ferry, if you can’t make it inside MetLife, then bouncing from East Rutherford and catching the game in the city that never sleeps is your best move. Here’s a few suggestions of what to check out.

Smithfield Hall: Arguably one of New York’s great soccer establishments. Not only is the food good but the wall-to-wall TVs, cater largely to soccer, so if the Club World Cup is happening at MetLife or anywhere else around the time you walk in, it’ll be on. | 138 W. 25th Street, website.

The Football Factory: If you felt inspired to head to East Rutherford to score a ticket and were unsuccessful, this spot is your next best bet. The name says is all. This midtown Manhattan pub is a short walk from Penn Station, so you don’t have to walk too far coming off the train to find your seat at the bar. | 6 W. 33rd Street (at 5th Ave.), website.

Berry Park: This spot screams soccer pub from the time you walk in the door, but it’s not just about tuning in to the games on the TV, but the atmosphere of taking it in via Berry Park’s rooftop bar or taking a break from watching to check out the indoor soccer pitch, if you can make it over to the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, this is the place to be. | 4 Berry St., website.

I’m in New York for a few days. What should I do?

You know as well as we do that there are too many good things to consider when in the New Jersey-New York metro area. Since we didn’t want to steer you in the wrong direction, we leaned on our cousins at Thrillist to provide you insight and what you need to know when it comes to … whatever sounds like fun.