Latest news with #FIFAFanFestival
New York Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Victor Cruz delivers bold prediction for Giants in 2025: ‘We have a good team'
Victor Cruz stood in the middle of Liberty State Park in Jersey City, N.J., on Wednesday with the Manhattan skyline in the background. On the 84-degree day, the former Giants wide receiver and Super Bowl winner was hard pressed to miss throwing on the pads and helmet for mini camp. 'I'm out here in this heat in the suit, and I don't miss it. Let alone being out there with half pads and shorts,' Cruz said. The Super Bowl champion was on hand for an event celebrating the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup, but naturally, the conversation eventually turned to the Giants with minicamp starting next week. Though Cruz doesn't miss having to sweat in the burning New Jersey sun, he did get a sense of nostalgia after a recent visit to the Giants' facility in East Rutherford. 'I started to get the bug back. I started stretching. I was like, hold on, Vic, what are you doing?' Cruz said. 'But being back there and missing the guys and being in the locker room and just having that energy back a little bit. It's a little nostalgic for me.' Cruz won't be suiting up anytime soon, but the former star wide receiver was somewhat optimistic about the Giants' fortunes going into 2025, predicting that Big Blue would be above .500 this upcoming season. 3 Victor Cruz discussed the Giants on Wednesday. NYPostSports/Instagram 'I think we have a good team. I think for the first time, [head coach Brian Daboll] has a team in a draft that you could feel he wrapped his arms around. These are his guys and we'll see how he develops them and, and get them ready to play.' The Giants took edge rusher Abdul Carter with the No. 3 overall pick and traded back into the first round to select quarterback Jaxson Dart at No. 25. Cruz liked the idea of Dart being able to learn from both veteran quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, describing the former as the 'ultimate pro's pro' and the latter as having a 'gunslinger sort of mentality.' 3 Victor Cruz makes a catch for the Giants in 2011. Paul J. Bereswill for The New Yo 'I think Jaxson could learn some things for both of those things,' Cruz said. Cruz emceed the 2026 World Cup event, with a number of local sports stars and politicians on hand, to mark the impending global soccer tournament, which will feature eight World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium, including the final. 3 Jaxson Dart throws a pass during the Giants' rookie mincamp on May 10, 2025. Robert Sabo for NY Post Liberty State Park will also serve as the official site of the FIFA Fan Festival New York New Jersey. And Cruz expected the festivities to be 'iconic. 'I've obviously played in some big games, some big moments. But this is another level. We're talking about the biggest sporting event in the world coming to the New York-New Jersey region,' he said. 'And this very park will be the place in the country where fans can catch every single one of the 104 matches – right here on these grounds, with views of the Statue of Liberty, and all the vibes that are happening. It's going to be incredible. It's going to be iconic.'
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
One year out from 2026 FIFA World Cup, NJ ready to be 'soccer central worldwide'
One year out from 2026 FIFA World Cup, NJ ready to be 'soccer central worldwide' 3-minute read Show Caption Hide Caption Phil Murphy talks 2026 FIFA World Cup at NJ budget address During his 2026 New Jersey budget address, Gov. Phil Murphy discussed the upcoming FIFA World Cup plans. It's official. The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at East Rutherford's MetLife Stadium in one year. To celebrate the last 365 days of preparation, Gov. Phil Murphy and the regional host committee, including CEO Alex Lasry and board chair Tammy Murphy, were at Liberty State Park in Jersey City Wednesday morning to outline the FIFA Fan Festival experience set to take place next summer. Joined by fan favorites like Mr. and Mrs. Met, Giants legend Victor Cruz and representatives from most of the region's professional sports teams, a mini festival complete with food trucks and activities for kids was set up to show, on a small scale, what is coming in 2026. With lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty serving as a backdrop, the park will be the premier fan festival during all 40 days of next summer's global event. More than 100 matches, including the ones scheduled to be played at MetLife will be broadcast live for fans to enjoy along with entertainment presented by LiveNation, food and other cultural exhibits that represent the Garden State and our neighbors across the Hudson River. What did NJ officials say? Gov. Phil Murphy said that between this year's Club World Cup and the 2026 World Cup, the region will be 'soccer central worldwide, globally, for the next 15 months' and said there is a commitment to the legacy of the sport. 'MLS was born out of the 1996 World Cup. I can only imagine what will be born out of this World Cup and most importantly in the communities in the region on both sides of the Hudson,' he said. Lasry said Liberty State Park will serve as the 'central gathering place for fans from across the world' and explained it will be the largest and most visible fan festival of the tournament. Officials expect tens of thousands of fans to attend the festival during each of its 39 days and have partnered with LiveNation and DPS to produce the programming which will include concerts on rest days. Among those fans will be 'all six Murphys,' according to first lady Tammy Murphy. More: What has NJ spent — so far, at least — to fund the 2026 FIFA World Cup? 2025 FIFA Club World Cup gives NJ a preview of 2026 Fans get a little taste of the global soccer experience starting this weekend at MetLife when the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup kicks off. This year's tournament features club teams — professional teams from leagues around the world — as opposed to national teams that will compete in the 2026 World Cup. It's unclear whether the immigration and border security initiatives of the Trump administration will affect the tournaments. Among the teams to already qualify is Iran, which is one of the countries included in Trump's latest full travel ban. President Donald Trump did attend the Club World Cup draw in December and said he "will try to be" at the tournament. He has hosted FIFA President Gianni Infantino at his Mar-a-Lago Club and the White House. Infantino also attended Trump's second inauguration. Murphy said Wednesday that his understanding is that there will be exceptions for big sporting events and this is the 'biggest in the world.' He went on to say there is a 'long road to travel' between now and when the tournament starts but that all of the teams that qualify will be able to play. When asked about concerns tourists may have about the presence of ICE and comments made by Vice President J.D. Vance about visitors, Murphy said he 'can't speak' for them but is 'hugely optimistic this is going to be a blowout success and a safe World Cup.' 'Based on all the vibrations I hear… this is going to be done in a first class welcoming way,' he said. Lasry said the host committee's 'concern and goal' is that everyone that comes to the tournament has an incredible time. Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email: sobko@
Toronto Star
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
Fort York and The Bentway to host Toronto FIFA fans during World Cup 2026
The City of Toronto has announced that Fort York and The Bentway will be the official venues for the local FIFA Fan Festival, which will be a free space celebrating Toronto's culture through art, music and food as the World Cup takes place in the city for the first time in 2026.
