MetLife Stadium to remove 1,740 seats in bid to host 2026 World Cup final

• Home of NFL's Giants and Jets to remove seats in bid for final
• AT&T Stadium in Arlington also in consideration for final match
• NJ governor hopes MetLife will host Champions League final

MetLife Stadium officials plan to remove 1,740 seats to widen the field for World Cup matches as they hope to host the 2026 final but will retain a narrower surface for this year's Copa America. The stadium in suburban East Rutherford, New Jersey, is among the contenders for the final of the expanded 48-nation, 104-game World Cup on 19 July 2026, along with AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

I speak on behalf of New Jersey but also as our partner of New York City, do not underestimate how aggressive we're prepared to be to get the best package of games possible," New Jersey's governor, Phil Murphy, said during a telephone interview last fall.