Feb 20, 2026
3 min read
In a shock to soccer fans, a fan festival planned for the 2026 World Cup at Liberty State Park in Jersey City has been canceled, sources said.
Soccer fans who buy tickets to fan fests announced ahead of the World Cup could be accused of foul play.
In a shocking move for tri-state soccer fans, the start of the fan festival at Liberty State Park in Jersey City for the 2026 World Cup has been canceled, a source familiar with the matter told NBC New York and sister station Telemundo 47 .
Instead, the state allocates $5 million to support community initiatives for fans.
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"The Jersey City site is no longer in use," the governor's spokeswoman said in a statement.
This program, a collaboration between the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and the FIFA World Cup 26 New York New Jersey Host Committee, will bring the fan experience to communities across the state “while investing in small businesses, cultural groups and non-local people.”
"New Jersey is the heart of the 2026 World Cup, and this program ensures that all New Jerseyans - regardless of where they live - will be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime event," said Sherrill."From fan sites to fan groups near the shopping streets, we're investing in the communities and small businesses that make New Jersey so amazing. The World Cup is coming to our state — and we're going to make sure it's New Jersey."Jerseyans first."
According to the state, the initiative will prioritize support for fan events that "are impactful, beneficial to small businesses and reflect the rich and diverse cultures that will be represented by World Series competitors, many of whom have deep roots in communities throughout New Jersey."
Initially, the plan, announced nearly a year ago, was for a fanfest at Liberty State Park open to all 104 games of the 2026 World Cup.
Fan events with large video screens have been part of every World Cup organization since 2006.
"I believe this will be the only fan game in the country that will be played at all of the World Cup games, other than the games that take place in our state," Tammy Murphy, the wife of then-New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and the chair of the leaders of the New York/New Jersey Host Committee, said when the fan game was announced.
The World Cup will be hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico and Canada.The tournament, which spans from 32 to 48 countries, opens on June 11 in Mexico City, and the finals will be held on July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.Games will be played in 11 locations in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada, with all of the games in the United States starting in the quarterfinals.
Tickets already purchased for the Liberty State Park Fan Fest will be refunded, officials told NBC New York and Telemundo 47.
