New Jersey is following the footsteps of New York City ahead of the world’s biggest sport event. Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced that 770 free tickets will be available for New Jersey communities to FIFA World Cup events at New York / New Jersey Stadium. Sherrill along with USMNT legend, the former pro player and New Jersey native Tony Meola, made the announcement Tuesday . “We are excited to welcome the world to the Garden State for the World Cup starting this week and to be at the very center of the festivities, but we want the experience, first and foremost, to be accessible and affordable for as many New Jerseyans as possible,” Sherrill said in a statement, adding that the free tickets are “a once-in-a-lifetime chance to attend these matches.” The free tickets was a joint effort over the past few weeks between the Governor’s Office, the FIFA World Cup 2026 New York New Jersey Host Committee, Uber, Hackensack Meridian Health, and Choose New Jersey to make sure that New Jerseyans had access to matches. Sherrill noted that the tickets are at no cost to taxpayers. The 770 tickets are at no cost to Jersey taxpayers and will be distributed across five Group Stage matches and two Knockout Round matches hosted at the New York New Jersey Stadium — formerly known as MetLife Stadium — in East Rutherford. The tickets were obtained by the Host Committee and will be distributed to community groups via Choose New Jersey.  “Over the past few weeks, we have worked closely with Governor Sherrill and corporate partners to secure additional tickets for the people of New Jersey,” Alex Lasry, CEO of the New York New Jersey Host Committee, said in a statement. “I’d like to thank the Governor for her leadership in ensuring that hundreds of New Jersey residents have the incredible opportunity to take part in this once-in-generation moment.” According to the governor’s office, 500 free tickets will be given to New Jersey residents, including: New Jersey Youth Soccer players from underserved communities across the state; Families of New Jersey National Guard service members currently deployed overseas; Hackensack Meridian Health patients in the Make-A-Wish program; and Bergen County first responders helping support World Cup operations. Additionally, 200 tickets will be given to: Frontline nurses and health care team members who serve New Jersey communities every day; and Pediatric patients, including children facing serious illnesses and their families. Sherrill’s announcement comes mere weeks after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced 1,000 tickets will become available at $50 apiece as part of a lottery. “To put that into perspective, that is five lattes in New York City,” Mamdani quipped from a bar in Harlem’s Little Senegal neighborhood alongside U.S. men’s national team forward Timothy Weah. ...read more read less