Garden State Glory
As a host to FIFA World Cup 26™ games and final, New Jersey is meticulously preparing its transportation infrastructure for global visitors while ensuring smooth mobility for locals.
By Fran O'Connor, Commissioner | New Jersey Department of Transportation
New Jersey’s roads are among the busiest in the nation, and traffic congestion naturally increases when a major event such as the Super Bowl™ or large concerts come to the Garden State or when throngs of people head to the Jersey Shore on sunny weekends. This is why our transportation agencies and event planners are keenly focused on summer 2026. New Jersey will be hosting the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup 26™ soccer tournament and the Final Match of the tournament in MetLife Stadium.
With matches to be held at the MetLife Stadium and in Philadelphia, tens of thousands of tourists will be moving throughout the state, attending games and fan events. For many, this will be their first visit to New Jersey.
Recognizing the historic scale of this event, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) began planning two years ago. With eight matches at MetLife Stadium and six matches in Philadelphia, our focus has been on achieving seamless coordination across multiple agencies.
On Feb. 4, 2024, it was announced that MetLife Stadium would host the Final Match. Knowing this, and under the leadership of NJDOT Assistant Commissioner of Operations Chris Feinthel, subject matter experts from all the department’s business units are collaborating with the host committees and the New Jersey State Police. From event operations to technology and infrastructure, we are ensuring a safe, efficient and worldclass tournament experience.
Unifying our Efforts for Seamless Mobility
Planning for an event of this scale requires close collaboration with our transportation partners and a deep understanding of FIFA’s needs to accommodate international visitors, some of whom do not speak or read English. Our primary goal is to ensure safe, efficient mobility for fans attending matches while maintaining reliable service for everyday commuters. Enhancements include coordination of rideshares at and near MetLife Stadium, minimizing construction disruption on major event routes and supporting multimodal connections to the FIFA Fan Festival and other venues.
Additionally, we are integrating World Cup-related transportation needs into broader 2026 event planning, including the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Sail250 tall ship flotilla event, which is a global gathering of tall and military ships to celebrate the founding of the U.S. Summer 2026 will be a defining moment for New Jersey, and we are committed to ensuring seamless mobility for residents and visitors.
From the outset, NJDOT recognized that infrastructure safety and reliability are critical to delivering a successful World Cup experience. We are making key investments in this regard, which include:
- Bridge and Roadway Inspections and Repairs: Targeted improvements to bridges, inlets and drainage systems
- Physical Security Enhancements: Collaborating with New Jersey State Police to secure traffic signals, highway lighting and electrical cabinets
- Game Day Transit Lane Enhancements: Hard-Shoulder Running (HSR) lanes along Route 120, which serves MetLife Stadium and Meadowlands venues, to improve bus operations for New Jersey Transit
- Intelligent Transportation System Upgrades: Real-time traffic monitoring, including a first-in-the-nation deployment of LiDAR technology to create a 3D digital map of roads around MetLife Stadium
These investments will not only enhance event day operations but also will create a valuable legacy of improved transportation infrastructure in New Jersey.
Broad Regional Coordination
Transportation planning has required a multi-agency, cross-regional approach to ensure seamless connectivity across stadiums, airports, fan events and transit hubs. Our department has been working
closely with the NYNJ Host Committee, the Philadelphia Host Committee and key transportation agencies, including:
- New Jersey Transit and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey: Coordinating public transit access to stadiums and various event venues through bus and rail service
- TRANSCOM and the Eastern Transportation Coalition: Multi-party coalitions working together to provide real-time traffic management across state borders
- USDOT and the Federal Highway Administration: Providing federal expertise and funding to support transportation planning
Beyond logistics, NJDOT is engaging local communities through our Metropolitan Planning Organizations to ensure pedestrians, cyclists and individuals with mobility challenges can fully participate in all events.
Striking the Balance
While the eyes of the world will be on New Jersey next summer, we know that our core responsibility remains to ensure reliable mobility for the daily commuters and businesses. To maintain a positive balance, our department is activating several strategies, including:
- Implementing comprehensive public communications, using traditional and digital channels, to keep travelers informed about event-related traffic patterns, road closures and alternative routes
- Collaborating with law enforcement to orchestrate security and access plans to ensure efficient crowd management while maintaining critical highway access
- Maintaining our focus on freight and commercial mobility to ensure that business operations and supply changes are minimally impacted by event-related transportation changes
Our goal is to empower people with real-time information so they can make informed travel decisions — whether they are traveling to work, school, shops or heading out to view one of the exciting World Cup matches that our great state has the privilege of hosting in summer 2026.
