NY/NJ World Cup Committee vows to keep crowds orderly at MetLife Stadium
The New York/New Jersey 2026 World Cup Host Committee is sending the message that scenes like the ones that occurred at the Copa America final in 2024 in Miami won't happen next year when the World Cup final takes place at MetLife Stadium.
Alex Lasry, the head of the NY/NJ host committee, promised that the organizers would do everything to make sure that 'nothing like that' could happen when the home of the Jets and Giants hosts the biggest soccer match in the world in July 2026.
'People need to know that going to a game — children are going to be at these games — that everyone can feel safe and secure and know that they are going to a safe and secure environment,' Lasry told amNewYork in an interview published this week.
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MetLife Stadium will host the 2026 World Cup Final.
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The Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia was delayed more than an hour as fans without tickets rushed the gates at Hard Rock Stadium to 'forcibly enter' the venue and create a chaotic scene that overwhelmed stadium security and police.
The wild turn of events led to 27 arrests and 55 ejections from the stadium.
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Lasry called the dangerous scenes 'unfortunate,' but labeled them 'one-in-a-million' for a sporting event in the United States.
The committee head acknowledged that the situation is one that they can '100 percent learn from,' and Lasry told the outlet that the security plan for matches at MetLife would keep ticketless fans from overrunning stadium staff.
'That doesn't mean that we shouldn't be taking all the precautions and ensure and taking lessons from that, but I've got all the faith and belief in the world in our security plan and our ticketing plan and ensuring that something like that's not going to happen,' Lasry said.
Large crowds of fans try to enter the stadium amid disturbances prior to the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 Final match between Argentina and Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium on July 14, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Fla.
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MetLife Stadium is scheduled to host eight World Cup matches in 2026, with the tournament culminating with the championship game taking place in New Jersey on July 19, 2026.
The United States, Canada and Mexico are jointly hosting the 2026 World Cup that will wrap up an exciting run of soccer in North America.
The U.S. hosted Copa America in 2024, will hold the Club World Cup this summer and then will have the World Cup next year.
Local officials have estimated that the tournament will generate more than $2 billion for the region and bring millions of visitors into the area over the entire run of the World Cup.
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