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FIFA Fan Fest swapped for new $5 million initiative

World cup events being planed for all 21 counties

By: Katie Sobko
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey

..... Despite its being touted as the "central gathering place for fans form across the world," plans for FIFA Fan Fest at Liberty State Park dur9ing the World cup games at MetLife Stadium this year [2026] are begin scrapped.
..... Instead, a new $5 million initiative launched by Governor Mikie Sherrill will fund fan experiences throughout the state, led by the state Economic Development Authority in coordination with the regional host committee.
.....They will include major fan zone experiences throughout the state for large-scale public viewing as well as more targeted support for small and mid-sized community watch parities, festivals and street fairs.
..... That $5 million was previously allowed for the Library State Park event.
..... Host committee spokesperson Natalie Hamilton said the group is "working in close partnership with Governor Sherrill's administration and other leaders across New Jersey to expend fan engagement opportunities throughout the state."
..... "Building on a centralized regional approach, this expanded model will bring World Cup-related experiences directly into communities across all 21 counties, ensuring broader access and participation," she said.
..... The Liberty State Park even has been the only FIFA sanctioned fan gathering on this side of the Hudson. There are still plans for a Fan Zone in queens and a Fan Village at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan.
..... Former Governor Phil Murphy and regional host committee CEO Alex Lasry announced in June 2025 - one year before the tournament kickoff - that the Jersey City park would serve as the premier fan festival during all 50 days of the tournament and that all of the matches as well as other live entertainment would be available for fans.
..... Lasry called it the largest and most visible fa festival of the tournament at the time and predicted tens of thousands of fans would attend.
..... The Liberty State Park event was set to be ticketed with an admission fee of about $10, which the host committed told the Philadelphia Inquirer had more to do with crowd management than raising revenue.

NJ footing the bill so far

..... Brining the World Cup to the Garden State costs money, and through hosing duties are part of a joint bid with New York City, New Jersey taxpayers have footed the bill so far.
..... Trenton lawmakers have disbursed at least $77.5 million to a New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority fund for "International Events, Improvement & Attractions" over the last four state budgets.
..... though no estimated cost for the tournament has been made public, the total spent or contracted is about $307 million, according to documents obtained by NorthJersey.com .

Entertainment licenses on hold

..... New Jersey isn't the only host city running into issues as the tournament gets closer.
..... The town of Foxboro, Massachusetts, home to Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots, will not grant the requite entertainment licenses to allow the World Cup matches to move forward due to concerns over who will cover the public safety costs.
..... It announced earlier this month [02/2026] that the deadline for issuing those licenses is March 17, [2026] and hat they wouldn't be issued less "all of the terms" are approved.
..... The town has applied for federal funding but has not received confirmation that money will be sent.
..... WPRI reported that while FIFA won't publicly comment on the matter, an official explained that the responsibility of covering security costs lies with the host committees. Host committee CEO Mike Loynd acknowledged that it is technically responsible for covering the costs of security at the stadium under contract.

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