MetLife Stadium Plans Seat Removal for 2026 World Cup Bid

Stadium among contenders for final; changes include widening field and replacing artificial turf with grass.

MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, plans to remove 1,740 seats to widen the field for World Cup matches, in a bid to host the 2026 final.
The stadium is among the contenders for the final of the expanded 48-nation, 104-game World Cup on July 19, 2026, along with AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
FIFA requires a 75-by-115 yard field for World Cup games, both MetLife and AT&T will have to replace artificial turf with grass, along with stadiums in Atlanta; Foxboro, Massachusetts; Houston; Inglewood, California; and Seattle.
The removed seats at MetLife will be in the corners and will be replaced with seats in removable sections after the World Cup.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has expressed his state's readiness to make necessary adjustments to secure the best package of games possible.