When you grow up in northern New Jersey like I did, you get used to the frivolous frustration of the “New York” sports teams that actually play in New Jersey. Now, that confusing twist of geography is going global, as the World Cup comes to the Meadowlands.
FIFA announced that eight matches for the 2026 World Cup, including the final, will be taking place at the “New York/New Jersey Stadium.” To be clear, they’re referring to MetLife Stadium, which is solidly in New Jersey.
MetLife Stadium sits in the middle of a complex braid of highways in East Rutherford. The best way to get there is via public transportation, and no, you cannot walk to the stadium. Understandably, many people going to the World Cup in New Jersey have concluded that they should stay in New York City, as you can take the train or an official shuttle to MetLife.
I’m not opposed to the idea of staying in New York City, but if you’d rather spend your time between matches relaxing with your family or working-from-“home,” there are plenty of good locales in New Jersey. You also have more options than in New York City: New Jersey relaxed restrictions on short-term rentals, while New York City has not, so you can safely find an Airbnb or VRBO in the Garden State for the whole family or friend group.
With that in mind, here are several options for places to stay in New Jersey for the World Cup. I’ve selected these considering ease of travel to MetLife, but more so for your comfort and entertainment when you step away from the loud and massive crowds. These are not the closest options to the Meadowlands.
I’ve split my selections into two categories: The Shore and The Suburbs. If you’re looking for the beach, check out my picks for The Shore, but if you want a homier time, see The Suburbs.
How to get to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey
First, a quick rundown of how to get to MetLife. The “New York New Jersey World Cup 2026” website explains that there will be no parking on matchdays, so you can’t drive to the stadium. And, as previously mentioned, you can’t walk either.
Instead, you have the options of NJ Transit (train), rideshare and private transportation drop-offs, or the Official New York New Jersey Stadium Shuttle, which is doing pick-ups at three locations in Manhattan and one in New Jersey.
You need to pre-book tickets for the shuttle, and you have to buy NJ Transit tickets in advance. There has been controversy over the cost of NJ Transit tickets for the World Cup: Round-trip tickets from any rail station to the stadium for matchday travel cost $98 per person.
On NJ Transit, you’ll need to take the train to Secaucus (New Jersey’s major train hub) or Hoboken and then transfer to get directly to the stadium. It will likely be a bit of a hassle, but just follow the crowds and lean into the spirit of it all. You should also download the NJ Transit app, just be aware it sometimes doesn’t let you sign in if you’re not currently in the geographic region.
Official travel guidance is still somewhat in flux (the NJ Transit price just changed last week, for example), so pay close attention to your own logistics.
The locations I’m selecting are near an NJ Transit station or the shuttle pick-up at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine in Nutley, or are closer to the stadium itself. Let’s look at places to stay.
The Shore
1. Long Branch
Pier Village in Long Branch.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
There’s lots to love in Long Branch, including the clean beach, wide boardwalk and — importantly — many places to stay and a New Jersey Transit station half a mile from the ocean. Because of the convenience of that train station, Long Branch is a top destination for both New Jerseyans and New Yorkers looking for a day at the beach, and that makes it a great place for the World Cup.
If you don’t want to find an Airbnb, the massive Ocean Place Resort & Spa is a 20-minute walk from the Long Branch train station.
- Train time to Secaucus: 1 hour 15-30 minutes
- Driving time to MetLife (with no traffic): 1 hour 30 minutes
2. Asbury Park
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Go ahead, live out your Bruce Springsteen, rockstar dreams and stay in Asbury Park. Like Long Branch, there’s an accessible train station here, and in Asbury, you can look more for bed & breakfasts and inns, including in nearby Ocean Grove.
Asbury Park is further south down the shore than Long Branch, but it comes with more entertainment, including, of course, the famous Stone Pony, which hosts Summer Stage, a series of concerts outside. Be aware, though: It’s only standing-room, general admission tickets for Summer Stage.
- Train time to Secaucus: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Driving time to MetLife (with no traffic): 1 hour 20 minutes
3. Belmar
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Now, let’s go two stops further on the train line to Belmar. Belmar is where you want to go to enjoy a more glamorous, comfortable and relaxing time on the shore. This is a place to look for historic inns and vacation home rentals.
While you’ll be competing with New Jersey families for rentals, the school year in the state wraps up closer to the end of June, so you’ll have less competition for the early rounds of the World Cup.
- Train time to Secaucus: Just under 2 hours
- Driving time to MetLife (with no traffic): 1 hour 20 minutes
The Suburbs
1. Edgewater
(Image credit: Getty Images)
As the name suggests, Edgewater is right on the Hudson River, south of the George Washington Bridge and directly across the river from Harlem in Manhattan. Why Edgewater?
First, it’s (usually) a quick drive to MetLife, so you could arrange for a drop-off. That proximity is why one New York City Council member proposed adding a ferry line from Harlem to Edgewater for the World Cup. Although that idea has not materialized into reality, ferry service will be boosted for the World Cup, which brings me to my second reason to stay in Edgewater:
You can take the ferry from Edgewater to Manhattan, so if you want to see New York City without paying NYC hotel prices, this is an option, but you can also drive north and enjoy the parks and overlooks in Fort Lee and Englewood Cliffs. Third, there are waterfront apartments in Edgewater, some of which have access to a pool.
Staying in Hoboken or Jersey City would make getting to MetLife easier via public transportation, but Edgewater, West New York and North Bergen will likely get you slightly further from the crowds, with options to travel elsewhere on non-gamedays.
- Train time to Secaucus: n/a; you could drive ~20 minutes to the Teterboro station, then take a 15-minute train to Secaucus
- Driving time to MetLife (with no traffic): 20 minutes
2. Montclair
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Montclair has a reputation as the place to go for young families and retirees alike, and for good reason: It’s a charming, walkable town with plenty of public transportation. There are multiple NJ Transit stops in the area, which get you to Secaucus quickly, and it’s also (usually) a quick drive to MetLife.
Montclair has some great World Cup counterprogramming for non-gamedays, including the Montclair Art Museum and the Van Vleck House & Gardens. The town also has a nice food and music scene. If you’re coming to the World Cup with your family, including young kids, this is a good place to look for lodging. Montclair is also something of a college town, so beyond Airbnb and VRBOs, there are hotel options, including The George, which was founded by makeup icon Bobbi Brown and her husband.
- Train time to Secaucus: 30-45 minutes
- Driving time to MetLife (with no traffic): 25 minutes
- Additional option: From Montclair, you could take the Official Stadium Shuttle from Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine in nearby Nutley
3. Alpine
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Pop quiz: When Novak Djokovic comes to compete at the U.S. Open in New York, where does he stay? If you guessed a fancy Midtown hotel, you’re wrong.
In fact, the 24-time Grand Slam winner reportedly stays out in Alpine, the riverfront New Jersey town north of the George Washington Bridge. Why? Well, Alpine homes have certain amenities, like, for example, multiple tennis courts with different surfaces in the backyard. Alpine regularly makes the lists of most expensive zip codes, with homes spread out across large, private lots.
So, if you want to stay in a luxurious home for the World Cup, look at Alpine. Don’t expect it to come cheap, either: One 5-bedroom home is listed on Airbnb at about $35,000 for seven nights.
If you were to stay in Alpine, your closest NJ Transit station is Oradell, which is 15-20 minutes away by car.
- Train time to Secaucus: 30 minutes from Oradell station
- Driving time to MetLife (with no traffic): 30 minutes
World Cup dates
Here are the dates of the matches taking place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey:
- June 13: Brazil vs Morocco
- June 16: France vs Senegal
- June 22: Norway vs Senegal
- June 25: Ecuador vs Germany
- June 27: Panama vs England
- June 30: Round of 32
- July 5: Round of 16
- July 19: Final