NYNJ Host Committee Highlights Enduring Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Legacy of FIFA World Cup 2026™
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK NEW JERSEY – Following the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Final on July 19th, the NYNJ Host Committee today highlighted the enduring transportation, infrastructure and public safety legacy of the tournament.
Preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ brought together federal, state, local and private-sector partners to advance investments in transportation infrastructure, public safety capabilities and regional operational coordination. Together, these efforts have created lasting assets and operational improvements that will continue benefiting New York and New Jersey beyond the tournament.
“It has been an honor to host the FIFA World Cup in New Jersey. For years, our state agencies have worked hand in hand with our partners in New York and the NYNJ Host Committee to prepare for this once-in-a-generation event and ensure every match day in New Jersey was a success. This historic undertaking required a whole-of-government effort, with agencies at every level working together to deliver for fans, teams, residents, and businesses,” said Governor Mikie Sherrill.
“Hosting the World Cup final doesn’t just put New York and the entire region front and center on the global stage, it also creates generational investments that will improve the safety and reliability of our infrastructure well beyond the final whistle,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “New York has been proud to work together with the Host Committee and our partners in government to deliver a world-class experience for everyone from local residents to supporters from around the globe. Whether you attended a match at NYNJ Stadium or are heading to a free watch party for the final this Sunday, this has been your World Cup, and the benefits of this event will support our region for years to come.”
“Preparing to host the FIFA World Cup required an extraordinary level of coordination and investment across every level of government and the private sector,” said Alex Lasry, CEO of the NYNJ Host Committee. “The result is a stronger transportation network, enhanced public safety capabilities and lasting partnerships that will continue benefiting New York and New Jersey well beyond the tournament.”
Permanent Public Safety Investments
As part of its legacy commitment, the NYNJ Host Committee will provide four SPECTER units—two to the New Jersey State Police and two to the New York City Police Department. The mobile camera systems are equipped with artificial intelligence capabilities that support real-time monitoring, situational awareness and coordinated public safety operations. The units were deployed in support of FIFA World Cup 2026™ operations and will remain available to NJSP and NYPD for future major events, emergency response efforts and critical infrastructure protection. This provides both agencies with a permanent, deployable capability that can be used independently or as part of coordinated bi-state operations.
During the tournament, public safety partners also utilized the SPECTER Regional Situational Awareness Platform to provide a shared common operating picture across agencies, improving real-time information sharing and coordinated decision-making. The operational framework established through the platform will continue supporting future major events and emergency operations by enhancing regional coordination among public safety partners.
Additional legacy investments include three deployable Rapiscan Gatekeeper Intelligent Vehicle Undercarriage Scanner systems acquired through the FIFA World Cup™ Grant Program, providing New Jersey with a permanent vehicle screening capability for future major events. Additionally, a dedicated federal Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (Counter-UAS) Grant Program established enhanced drone detection capabilities that will continue protecting critical infrastructure and large public gatherings across the region.
Tournament preparations also accelerated emergency response investments at the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Using federal grant funding, the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority upgraded its on-site fire station and expanded its emergency response fleet with two additional fire engines. Together with eight permanent cooling and misting stations installed to enhance heat mitigation during major events, these improvements strengthen emergency preparedness and visitor safety for future sporting events, concerts and other large-scale gatherings.
Transportation Investments Built for the Future
Several major transportation projects advanced as part of the region’s preparations for the FIFA World Cup™, delivering permanent improvements across the nation’s largest economic market and most densely populated region.
Among the most significant transportation investments was the Secaucus Meadowlands Transitway (SMT), which played a central role in delivering the FIFA World Cup 2026™ as a public transportation-first event. Throughout the tournament, more than 98 percent of fans entered New York New Jersey Stadium before kickoff, while NJ TRANSIT completed post-match rail egress within hours—demonstrating the region’s ability to successfully move tens of thousands of fans by public transportation at scale.
The SMT will have utility for future mega-events beyond the World Cup by providing an efficient route for buses to navigate between Secaucus Junction rail station and MetLife Stadium through the use of roadway and signal improvements. The goal of the (SMT) was to increase the capacity between Secaucus Junction and the Stadium to 20,000 customers per hour utilizing both rail and bus. During the World Cup matches, the SMT has accommodated bus trip times of approximately 15 minutes or less from the stadium to Secaucus Junction.
The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Transportation, also constructed a second permanent pedestrian bridge connecting American Dream and New York New Jersey Stadium, significantly expanding pedestrian capacity between the two destinations and improving the safe movement of large crowds during major events. Built in advance of the FIFA World Cup™, the bridge helped support the region’s operational plan by providing an additional pedestrian connection across Route 120 and will remain a permanent asset for future sporting events, concerts and other large-scale gatherings at the Meadowlands Sports Complex.
The New Jersey Department of Transportation also deployed one of the most advanced traffic technology packages ever used for a sporting event in New Jersey history. This expanded footprint created a real-time mobility intelligence network that enhanced security, improved incident response, and ensured seamless operations before, during, and after every match. NJDOT also transformed how New Jersey manages major-event congestion by shifting from reactive response to proactive intervention. Using an expanded network of cameras, LiDAR units, and real-time analytics, NJDOT identified emerging bottlenecks before they formed and deployed rapid operational adjustments — keeping fans, residents, and emergency services moving smoothly throughout the tournament. These investments will help with future large-scale events and will be a permanent safety upgrade for multiple corridors and the State.
In addition, the historic build-out of five new ferry landing platforms at Liberty State Park permanently boosted regional waterway transit capacity by 500 to 800 percent. These permanent advancements supported tournament mobility, while solidifying a cutting-edge infrastructure legacy that will benefit New Jersey’s everyday commuters, emergency operations, and economic centers for decades to come.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey also implemented a series of lasting operational and technology improvements to support FIFA World Cup 2026™ operations. These investments included upgrades to the Agency Emergency Operations Center that enhanced the agency’s ability to monitor transportation facilities during major events, the development of a regional event tracking application providing a comprehensive view of activity across the Port District, and expanded security camera coverage and other infrastructure improvements across PATH, tunnels, bridges and other Port Authority facilities. Together, these enhancements strengthen the agency’s ability to manage future large-scale events while improving day-to-day operational awareness and regional transportation security.
The New York City Department of Transportation also advanced a series of permanent transportation improvements in preparation for the FIFA World Cup™, including new bus priority infrastructure connecting travelers to LaGuardia Airport, bicycle network upgrades, roadway redesigns and pedestrian safety improvements. Together, these investments improved mobility during the tournament and leave behind permanent infrastructure that will continue benefiting New Yorkers and visitors for years to come.
Together, these investments position the region to host future sporting events, concerts and other internationally significant events while enhancing transportation infrastructure that will benefit visitors and residents alike.
Modernizing Regional Emergency Communications
The tournament also strengthened regional emergency communications through the deployment of Everbridge as the primary public safety messaging platform for FIFA World Cup™ in New York New Jersey.
Today, Everbridge remains the only public safety communications platform capable of jointly serving both New York and New Jersey while also reaching international mobile devices used by visitors traveling throughout the region. During the tournament, the platform enabled public safety agencies to deliver coordinated transportation updates, weather notifications, emergency alerts and other critical information through a single regional system.
That capability now provides New York and New Jersey with an enduring communications platform that can support future major events, severe weather, transportation disruptions and emergency response efforts while reaching both residents and international visitors.
Regional Coordination and Operational Planning
Preparation for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ established a comprehensive bi-state operational framework that strengthened coordination among transportation agencies, law enforcement, emergency management organizations, public safety partners and federal agencies across New York and New Jersey.
Agencies from both states developed and implemented a unified regional operating framework to coordinate planning, information sharing and incident response across multiple jurisdictions while preserving each agency’s statutory authorities. The framework supported integrated operations spanning transportation security, emergency management, public information, cybersecurity, intelligence sharing, medical operations, communications and alerts and warnings, and emergency response.
The effort brought together hundreds of organizations—including federal, state and local agencies, transportation operators, venue partners and private-sector stakeholders—under a common planning and operational structure based on the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS).
Tournament planning also resulted in new statewide and regional operational protocols that will continue supporting emergency preparedness beyond the FIFA World Cup™. These include standardized plans for hospital notification during significant incidents, coordinated EMS patient distribution following mass casualty events, and integrated food safety and public health coordination for large-scale events. The tournament also strengthened medical planning and coordination among New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, establishing a more integrated regional framework for future major events and emergency response.
The governance structures, interagency relationships, planning methodologies, interoperable communications and operational procedures established through the tournament provide a lasting foundation for future nationally significant special events, emergency response operations and critical infrastructure protection throughout the New York and New Jersey region.
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About the FIFA World Cup 2026™ New York New Jersey Host Committee
The FIFA World Cup 2026™ New York New Jersey Host Committee is the local organizing body responsible for planning and delivering regional host city operations and fan engagement activities associated with FIFA World Cup 2026™. New York New Jersey Stadium will host eight matches during the tournament, including the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Final on July 19, 2026.
