- 1 year ago
Gov. Phil Murphy (D-NJ) attended an announcement event for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Jersey City, New Jersey.
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00:00Okay, let's see what we got here. Good morning, Jersey City. What's going on?
00:06Oh, oh. We can make a little bit more noise than that. Jersey City, what's up?
00:13Ah, okay, okay, okay. Just making sure. It's an absolute honor to be here with you today at
00:19Liberty State Park, just standing one year from something that's truly historic,
00:24something great is coming here, the FIFA World Cup 2026.
00:30Right here in, I like to say, my backyard. This is my home. I'm born and raised in New Jersey,
00:36so this is my backyard happening right here. So I've obviously played in some big games,
00:40some big moments, but this, this is another level. I mean, we're talking about the biggest
00:44sporting event in the world, coming to the New York, New Jersey region, and this very park will
00:49be the place in the country where fans can catch every single one of the 104 matches right here
00:55on these grounds with views of the Statue of Liberty and all the vibes that are happening.
01:00It's going to be incredible. It's going to be iconic. This fan festival is more than just watching
01:05the games. It's a 40-day celebration of culture, music, food, community, a space where everyone
01:12belongs, where every chair counts, and every goal brings us that much closer. Today's a preview of
01:18what's to come. You're going to get a taste of the energy, the passion, and the people who are making
01:22this happen. And let me tell you, when the world tunes in next summer, they're going to see the
01:26heartbeat of New York and New Jersey on full display. So thank you for being part of this
01:31moment. Let's make today unforgettable, and let's make 2026 absolutely legendary. Welcome to the FIFA
01:38Fan Festival preview, and let's get started. All right? And with that being said, it's my esteemed honor
01:47to join me here on this stage in welcoming Governor Phil Murphy. Thank you.
02:00Let's hear from Patterson's own Victor Cruz.
02:08Victor knows this. I was born in Boston, and there was a day not that long ago where he broke my heart.
02:13Today, he makes my heart. And love the guy. Good morning, everybody. What a special treat to be
02:20with you all, and what a special day. One year from today, in Mexico City, by the way, the 2026 FIFA
02:29World Cup will kick off. And as you know, most importantly, it will end not too far from here
02:34on July 19th, 2026 for the most watched event in human history.
02:45And I am thrilled to be here today with a cavalcade of members of our cabinet, elected officials,
02:53other really important folks, SEA, represented in the House by both its chair and executive director
02:59and fellow board members, the Meadowlands Chamber, our friends from New York City, who have been
03:04extraordinary partners to us. I cannot say enough good things about Mayor Eric Adams. You're going to
03:11hear from his chief of staff, Camille Marlach, who is another superstar. People sometimes can't believe
03:18that two states or two entities, in this case a city and a state, can work so seamlessly together
03:25and so productively. But I will tell you that's exactly what's happening and what will continue
03:30to happen over the next year plus. And this location, Liberty State Park, will play an extraordinarily
03:39important role for the World Cup. Keep in mind the following. New York, New Jersey, is incredibly
03:48honored to have eight matches next year. Five first round matches, a round of 32 elimination, a round of 16
03:57elimination, and as I mentioned at 3 p.m. on July 19th, 2026, the World Cup final. That's an extraordinary
04:06lineup of matches. Do you know how many matches there are in the World Cup next year?
04:12104, which means 96 matches will not be at MetLife Stadium. And where are people going to go to
04:22watch them? A lot of them are going to come right here. This will be the official FanFest. I think the
04:29Live Nation folks have said to me that capacity is up to 45,000 fans here. We'll have FanFest, by the
04:36way, on both sides of the Hudson. But this will be the big one. And it will be extraordinary. I'm not
04:44going to put words into Jeff Gordon's from Live Nation's mouth, but he's low 20s, big screens will be
04:53kitted around Liberty State Park for each and every match, including, by the way, the eight that will be
05:01at MetLife. Obviously, every single seat of those will be sold out. And so for all those reasons, this is
05:09extraordinary. I'm going to get a chance in a minute to introduce Ross Levi, who's the man who brings you
05:15I Love New York. He'll come up in a minute. But to him, to Jeff, to Alex Lassery, who is the CEO of the
05:25Host Committee, to Tammy Murphy and her fellow board members, to the extraordinary, Lauren LaRusso is
05:32here, Bruce Redman is here, the extraordinary team that are working on this. I can't say enough good
05:38things about them. And as I mentioned, Eric Adams and Camille Varlack, you will hear from in a minute.
05:44And by the way, it's not like MetLife is doing something like this for the first time.
05:49Just in the past number of weeks, we've had five Beyonce's sold out. Last weekend, three consecutive
05:57weekend. We had Shakira for a couple of nights. Kendrick Lamar and New Jersey's own Maplewood,
06:04New Jersey, SZA sold out. It was one after another. And then if that weren't enough, beginning this
06:12weekend, first match Sunday at 6 p.m., Palmeiras against Porto in the first of our nine matches
06:20for the first ever Club World Cup, we'll have, my gut tells me we'll have 40,000 to 50,000 folks there
06:28on Sunday evening, which will be a great match. And unlike a lot of great soccer that comes through
06:35New Jersey every summer, and by the way, we've got a great Premier League doubleheader in late July,
06:40those are exhibition matches. This counts. There's an enormous amount of money at stake.
06:47So you've got the 32 best club teams from around the world for the first ever World Club, Club World Cup.
06:56And you've got, if that weren't enough, you've got their very best players because there's so much
07:01on the line. And by the way, we will have nine matches in the Club World Cup, and we will have
07:07as well, one quarter, both semis, and the final on July 13th at 3 p.m., right again at MetLife Stadium.
07:16So we are soccer. New York, New Jersey region is soccer central worldwide, globally, for the next 15 months.
07:26And I'll leave you with one last thought. I think one, I don't want to put words in the mouth of
07:31Gianni Infantino and his great FIFA colleagues, and we've got an outstanding relationship with them.
07:36We were with Gianni earlier this week. Cannot say enough good things about that relationship.
07:41I don't want to put words in their mouth, but a big reason why they love this region,
07:47in addition to diversity, passion for the sport, the fact that we'll turn out the fans,
07:54we'll host between a million and two million visitors next year, how about that, is because
08:01of the commitment to the legacy of this World Cup, not just for the six weeks and the 48 nations
08:08and the eight matches that met life in the 104 that you'll be able to watch at Liberty State Park,
08:15but what does it mean 10, 20, 30 years from now, particularly in neighborhoods that have not
08:20touched the sport yet, or little kids who may pick up that ball and kick it around for the first time.
08:27MLS was born out of the 1994 World Cup. I can only imagine what will be born out of this World Cup,
08:34and most importantly, in the communities in the region on both sides of the Hudson.
08:40So again, deep, deep thanks to all. Please help me give it up for the guy who brings you I love New York,
08:45the one and only Ross Levi.
08:50Thank you so much, Governor. Good morning. On behalf of New York Governor Kathy Hochul
09:00and the New York State Division of Tourism, it's wonderful to be here today to celebrate the one-year countdown
09:06to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. New York State is so excited to be co-hosting this event
09:13with our neighbors here in New Jersey, and what an honor it is to be here with Governor Murphy.
09:18I love New York and the New Jersey State Tourism Office. We've partnered together before. Earlier this year,
09:25we were at the Giants game in Germany to encourage overseas fans to attend a game here in the U.S.,
09:33and Commissioner Roger Goodell actually said at the time how impressed he was to see states working so well together,
09:41and we're very excited to be doing that again on this great partnership.
09:45The FIFA World Cup is expected to be the biggest sporting event in history, in humankind,
09:52bringing over one million visitors to the region over the 39 days of the tournament.
09:56And we're looking forward to welcoming those fans from all over the globe to enjoy everything they love,
10:02particularly in New York State. This epic sporting event adds to New York's heritage and pedigree
10:08as a global center for sports. We are, of course, the home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown,
10:15and home of the oldest sporting venue in America, where the thoroughbreds race in Saratoga Springs.
10:21We were, yeah, it's a great place. We were a host of two Winter Olympics, including, of course,
10:29the Miracle on Ice at Lake Placid, where the site of the U.S. Open, the third leg of Horse Racing's
10:36Triple Crown at Belmont, hopefully you saw that this past weekend, and this year Golf's Ryder Cup
10:41on Bethpage on Long Island. Now, we know the vast majority of fans attending the World Cup will
10:48actually not be going to the matches, so we look forward to hosting them in the region and across
10:54New York State. We expect for there to be special events all across the state, from watch parties to
11:00festivals that will make the World Cup a statewide celebration. We want to make sure that from Long
11:06Island to Buffalo that New Yorkers know that the World Cup is here and they are very much a part of it.
11:13We also hope that travelers from across the world can make an amazing vacation out of their World Cup
11:18visit, whether they're coming here for an early match or waiting for their team to return to the
11:24later rounds. So, of course, we want them to come across the river to New York City and see those
11:29iconic attractions that are known throughout the world. But we also want them to visit the outer
11:34boroughs and explore all that there is to do, whether it's a local soccer and baseball game in the Bronx,
11:40the art and culture of Brooklyn, delicious global food in Queens,
11:45or outlet shopping on Staten Island. And then, of course, just a day or overnight trip from New York
11:50City gets you to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, no disrespect, Governor Murphy,
11:55to get out to the Hamptons on Long Island, or see the Gold Coast mansions that inspired the Great
12:01Gatsby, or go just north of the city where there's a wealth of historical homes in the Hudson Valley,
12:07including the first presidential library in the United States for Franklin Delano Roosevelt,
12:13or go to the Catskills where the Woodstock Musical Festival took place, or go to the
12:18largest protected lands in the 48 states in the Adirondacks, island castles in the Thousand Islands,
12:24wine trails in the Finger Lakes, you get the idea. This is just a sample of all there is to do in New
12:29York State. There is truly nothing like it. And so on behalf of Governor Hochul, thank you again for the
12:35opportunity to join you this morning. We look forward to all the festivities around the World Cup just one
12:40year from now and encourage residents and visitors alike to get ready to discover everything they
12:46love in New York State as part of this historic world event. And now it's my pleasure to introduce
12:52the Chief of Staff for New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Camille Varlek.
12:56Good morning, everyone. I think we can do a little bit better than that. Good morning,
13:12everyone. Good, good, good. My name is Camille Joseph Varlek and I serve as Chief of Staff and
13:17Deputy Mayor for the City of New York. On behalf of Mayor Eric Adams, it is my pleasure to join you all
13:23here today. I'd first like to thank the host committee, the Governor, the First Lady and all our partners
13:29for including me today. Interesting fact, when I first moved to this country, I moved to New Jersey
13:34first and I subsequently moved to New York. So it is my pleasure to work in partnership with our sister
13:40state for this once in a lifetime opportunity. New York City is the most diverse place in the world.
13:48Millions of people from around the world come here to start new lives
13:52and they bring their love of football with them. Back in 2022, after a nail-biting penalty shootout,
13:59New Yorkers excitedly flooded the streets to celebrate the World Cup winning team because
14:04we are the capital of global soccer. We are excited to be the hosts of the new FIFA Club Cup this summer
14:11and the 2026 World Cup next year, including the World Cup final with a huge celebration and viewing
14:18party in our Central Park. Along with New York, New Jersey's host committee partners, the City of New
14:23York is hard at work planning for these games and all the events to come. We project that the 2026 World
14:30Cup will achieve between 2.14 and 3.45 billion dollars in economic output for this region with
14:38approximately 60 to 70 percent of that redounding to New York City thanks to tourism and events. A huge win
14:45for our region. We can't wait to welcome visitors from around the world for this historic event to
14:51experience the best of what New York City has to offer. The FIFA Fan Festival will be the central
14:57destination of the World Cup for local fans and fans from around the world. Look around you. In just a
15:04year, this very plaza will be buzzing with the cheers of thousands. In New York City, we are also working
15:11very hard to make sure that we bring the joy and excitement of this experience to every borough in
15:17the city. By bringing the best food, entertainment, and fan experiences together, we'll stimulate New
15:23York's economy, inspire the next generation of players and fans, and successfully execute the biggest
15:30sporting event the world has ever seen. We continue to be grateful for all of our partners and the
15:35continued work being put into every single aspect of this event happening in 2026. The game will be
15:42a testament to hope, excellence, and pride, embodying the journey of every club, federation, player, and fan
15:50united in their passion for this sport. I look forward to working with all of you and to all that next
15:55year will have to offer. At this time, I am pleased to introduce the CEO of the New York, New Jersey host
16:01committee FIFA World Cup 2026, Alec Lazzari.
16:15Awesome. Well, good morning, everyone. And thank you, Camille. Today is an extremely exciting day and one
16:22we've been looking forward to. The World Cup is becoming real. We are one year away. I'm Alex
16:30Lazzari, the CEO of the New York, New Jersey World Cup host committee, and I just want to thank you all
16:36for being here to mark this major milestone. As I said, one year to go until the FIFA World Cup is
16:43being played right here in the United States. For those unfamiliar, we at the host committee are the
16:50official entity responsible for planning and delivering the FIFA World Cup experience across
16:56the New York and New Jersey region. So that includes everything from stadium readiness to transportation
17:01planning, to fan engagement, community empowerment, and legacy impact. In short, our job is basically to
17:09ensure that the region shines on the global stage and today marks a key moment in that journey. As
17:15Governor Murphy shared, we're proud to announce that Liberty State Park will be home to the official FIFA
17:21fan festival in New York, New Jersey.
17:30Framed by the Manhattan skyline, Ellis Island, and the Statue of Liberty, this iconic site will serve as
17:35the central gathering place for fans from across the world. This will be the largest and most visible
17:42fan experience of the entire tournament, a 39-day celebration featuring live match broadcasts,
17:48a blockbuster lineup of entertainment, interactive activations, local food, global culture,
17:55and a dynamic sponsor integrations. Tens of thousands of fans will gather here each day creating a festival
18:01atmosphere that mirrors the energy of the World Cup itself. And that's just the beginning. We'll have
18:06additional van zones across the region that will be announced in the coming weeks and months ahead.
18:11But now, I know what you're all probably wondering. What will this actually look like? Well, we're excited
18:17to give you the first look at the vision for the FIFA Fan Festival for New York, New Jersey.
18:41So
19:08we'll be right back.
21:41Live Nation is very, very proud to support New York, New Jersey host committee on this
21:46historic event, and the working relationship New York and New Jersey has had together has
21:51been extraordinary.
21:53It's been a very, very collective, collaborative effort, so I applaud everybody in the government
21:57that has worked together so well.
21:59And please welcome, very importantly, New York, New Jersey host committee chair, Tammy Murphy
22:05to the podium.
22:06And thank you so much.
22:07Hello, everybody.
22:18So I get to do cleanup.
22:21Listen, I want to really thank everyone for coming out today.
22:25This is so exciting for all of us, and I know that each and every person here is super enthusiastic
22:32about soccer and the world of sports.
22:35As chair of the host committee, it is my absolute honor and privilege to work together with an
22:42amazing team of people, not only on the host committee, but also, obviously, across the Hudson, in government, in the private sector.
22:51We have it all going on, and we're starting to get a feel now as to where we're heading.
22:56I know that Alex just shared that we are going to be locating our fan festival here, our primary
23:06fan festival for the entirety of the World Cup, which is fantastic.
23:11Phil already talked about the fact that we do have eight games, and those eight games are
23:15going to be incredible.
23:17But there's going to be a heck of a lot of people who are going to be right here, present
23:21company included, along with all six of us Murphys, to enjoy this fan fest, which is going
23:26to be spectacular.
23:29There's obviously no better place to highlight this sport and what it means around the world.
23:37I mean, we've got the Statue of Liberty here.
23:39I think we all understand this is a sport that is played in backyards.
23:43It's played in back alleys.
23:45Everybody around the world, it doesn't matter what generation, it doesn't matter your age,
23:49everybody appreciates soccer.
23:52Actually, it was pretty funny.
23:53Phil referenced Gianni Infantino the other night, and Gianni took great pains to explain
23:59to us how we're the only country in the world that refers to soccer as soccer and football
24:07as in the Jets and the Giants as football, which you play with your hands.
24:12So I think we'll all get over that by the time next year arrives around.
24:15Obviously, today we're beginning to roll out the Skyline to Shoreline Road Tour.
24:22That is our fan engagement experience that is going to connect communities all across
24:26New Jersey and New York.
24:28This is going to bring the excitement of soccer directly to communities.
24:33It's going to have giveaways and music.
24:35It's going to have interactive soccer zones.
24:37And across our region, it is really going to build momentum and celebrate soccer well before
24:42the first whistleblows next year at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
24:46It's going to run through Labor Day, and there will be stops in iconic regional destinations
24:51such as Citi Field, Sports Illustrated Arena, Atlantic City, and Randall's Island.
24:57And it all starts right here today at Liberty State Park.
25:01We are going to invite you all to explore the activation sites and to get a preview of the
25:07excitement that's coming into life all summer long.
25:11Also, as another exciting kickoff, tonight we are going to light up New York and New Jersey
25:16in Liberty Green to begin the countdown to the FIFA World Cup.
25:20From 30 Rock at Rockefeller Center to Madison Square Garden and Lincoln Center, from Pier 17 to
25:28One World Trade Center, Sports Illustrated Stadium, and so many more locations, including the
25:34Governor's Mansion right here in Princeton, New Jersey.
25:37Fans across the region are going to be able to look up and see our signature color uniting
25:43the spirit of our region.
25:45I want to thank you to, send a thank you to all of our special guests who are here today
25:51and acknowledge, Phil's already acknowledged a number of them, but I also want to give a
25:57shout out to some of our iconic sports teams and some of the legends who are here to represent
26:02those sports teams.
26:04Obviously, front of the line, thank you to Victor Cruz and the legendary New York Giants.
26:15So here we go.
26:16On behalf of NJNY Gotham's FC, I know that Ryan Dillon is here somewhere, so God bless you,
26:24Ryan.
26:26We have New York Red Bull's Bradley Wright Phillips and Mike Grella here.
26:35New York Jets' Tony Richardson and Albert King.
26:39New Jersey Devils, Ken Danico and Travis Zajac.
26:52Steve Webb of the New York Islanders.
26:58And last but not least, Rutgers' own Epiphany Prince of the New York Liberty.
27:04I also want to acknowledge that today is UNICEF's International Day of Play, which celebrates
27:14children's rights to play all around the world.
27:18Joining us today, we have groups of youth from Jersey City, Street Soccer USA, and New
27:24Jersey Youth Soccer Association, all of whom are having fun and celebrating the spirit of
27:30the World Cup.
27:31Thank goodness the gods are shining down on us, and we gave us great weather for today.
27:36I want to thank you all again for being here to help us celebrate this incredible milestone
27:41moment for our region.
27:43We are so excited to welcome you here and look forward to seeing you again one year from
27:49today.
27:49By hosting our fan festival at this iconic American landmark, we hope to honor not just diverse
27:56cultures that built our country and the communities today that carry its legacy forward.
28:01But we want to bring everybody together in the united love of this particular game.
28:06So until then, please join us for our Skyline to Shoreline Road Tour, which will be coming
28:11to communities near you, starting now and going right through Labor Day.
28:16Today, the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be absolutely more than a sporting event.
28:20It will serve as a celebration of global cultures and unity through competition and camaraderie.
28:27Today marks, obviously, our official year-long invitation to connect, to participate, and to
28:32celebrate the game that brings the world together.
28:36365 days and counting.
28:38Bring it on.
28:39Let's go.
28:39Thanks, everybody.
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