It’s the summer of the World Cup in New Jersey, and you don’t need tickets to a match to experience the excitement of our area hosting 14 games, 8 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford and 6 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Beyond World Cup watch parties happening all over the state (huge plug for the free admission watch parties at Sports Illustrated Stadium with activations, freebies, big screens, and food and drink) there are lots of experiences tied to the World Cup in New Jersey and New York. From interactive museum exhibits to public art, here are some standout spots to celebrate the beautiful game with your crew.
NEW JERSEY
The Messi Experience, American Dream, East Rutherford
This immersive walk-through experience dedicated to Lionel Messi, who on Monday became the highest goal scorer in World Cup history, follows the soccer icon’s life and career.
The attraction has nine installations where fans can test their soccer skills and step into moments from Messi’s life and athletic career. Visitors will move through a multi-room experience that traces Messi’s story from his childhood in Rosario, Argentina, to his years with FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami, and the Argentina national team. Throughout the immersive experience, visitors can take on AI-powered soccer challenges and practice ball control and shooting drills. There are holograms, cinematic sound, storytelling, a replica of Messi’s locker room, and a look inside his childhood bedroom. Visitors can also see AI-powered versions of Messi and snap an interactive selfie with Messi.
Summer of Soccer and Science, Liberty Science Center, Jersey City
During its Summer of Soccer and Science, Liberty Science Center is connecting soccer to movement, robotics, animals and experimentation through activities like Drone Soccer, LSC Rat-thlete Matches, Sock-er (played in your socks), and Subsoccer (played under a table).
There will also be athlete meet-and-greets with players from Gotham FC. During the weekend of the final (July 18–19), come for Pup Cup matches between dogs in training with the Seeing Eye. Liberty Science Center will also have screens showing the games and on days with 3 pm games, come for Soccer Watch Parties.
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The Art of the Game, across NJ and NYC
The Art of the Game is a public art project featuring oversized soccer ball sculptures in public spaces across New Jersey and New York City. Presented by ARTS 14C in partnership with the New York New Jersey 2026 World Cup Host Committee for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, The Art of the Game transforms soccer balls into a series of public sculptures.
The reimagined six-foot soccer ball sculptures are installed across New York City and New Jersey. There are 23 sculptures across New York and New Jersey, created by 23 artists for the 23rd World Cup. All are on public view through September 7th. Of the 23, 10 are in New Jersey and here are the locations:
J. Owen Grundy Park, Jersey City
Lincoln Park, Jersey City
The Yard, New Brunswick
The Journal, Jersey City
Mana Contemporary, Jersey City
Asbury Park Transportation Center, Asbury Park
Newark Riverfront Park — Somme Street Entrance, Newark
Maxwell Place Park, Hoboken
New York New Jersey Stadium / MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Jersey City City Hall, Jersey City
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Soccer Poster Design Workshop with Rich Tu, Newark Museum of Art, Newark
Artist Rich Tu, the designer of the official New York/New Jersey FIFA World Cup 2026 host city poster, will lead a hands-on poster design workshop at the Newark Museum of Art on June 25th from 1-4 pm. The idea behind the workshop (free with admission) is to show how design helps shape the way people see and remember a global event like the World Cup. Participants will learn about visual storytelling and get to design their own poster showcasing their favorite sport and team. The event coincides with a match viewing, so you can grab a snack and watch the game on a big screen.
Soccer Ball Art of the Game, West Orange Arts Center, West Orange
The Soccer Ball Art of the Game is an exhibit put together by the West Orange Arts Council showcasing soccer balls transformed into unique works of art. On view at the West Orange Arts Center through July, the exhibit includes original pieces by local artists and more than 40 community artists of all ages. Soccer ball art will also be displayed at locations throughout West Orange during June and July. The project was made possible with a donation of 100 soccer balls from the New York Red Bulls, along with art supplies from Jerry’s Artarama and support from local community partners.
NEW YORK
FIFA Museum Presented by Hyundai and Fan Village, Rockefeller Center, NYC
The FIFA Museum pop-up at Rockefeller Center brings World Cup history to New York through a free immersive exhibit called Legacies of Champions. The displays showcase nearly 100 years of FIFA World Cup, with objects from tournaments dating back to 1930. You’ll see items connected to fútbol legends like Pelé, Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi, along with jerseys from all 48 participating nations, the Jules Rimet Trophy and a Wall of Champions honoring World Cup-winning players.
The NYNJ World Cup 26 & Telemundo Fan Village turns The Rink at Rockefeller Plaza into a soccer-style gathering space with live match broadcasts on large screens from July 3 to 19. There’s also a Panini Sticker Truck and official FIFA World Cup 2026 merch for sale. The Channel Gardens celebrates the eight nations that have won the World Cup.
The Global Game, The Paley Museum, NYC
The Paley Museum’s “The Global Game: Soccer in the United States & the FIFA World Cup” looks at the rise of soccer in this country, including the impact of the 1994 World Cup. Created in collaboration with FIFA, MLS, U.S. Soccer, FOX Sports and Telemundo/Peacock, the exhibit includes game-worn jerseys, cleats, signed memorabilia, archival footage and iconic match moments. Visitors can step into a FOX Sports-style commentator booth and try a hands-on soccer training experience with penalty kicks, target shooting and a dribbling course. There are live watch parties for matches in its renovated theaters. The exhibit runs through July 26.
World Cup, World Cultures, American Museum of Natural History, NYC
The American Museum of Natural History has a mix of match screenings and hands-on soccer experiences throughout the museum. The kids can test their soccer skills in Goal Zone, where they can try digital simulators, reaction games, tabletop challenges, foosball and other soccer-themed activities. Visitors can also explore global sports through photography, video and trivia in the Global Sports Pavilion.
“For the Win” is an exhibit that showcases 70 objects that define athletic greatness across more than 15 sports, from the NFL’s Vince Lombardi Trophy to one of Jesse Owens’s gold medals from the 1936 Olympics, to championship awards from the New York Liberty, New York City FC, and more. The museum is also offering drop-in activities exploring the science and culture of sports.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Experience, LEGOLAND New York Resort, Goshen, NY
Kids can try soccer-themed activities, sharpen their skills through inclusive games, see soccer legends like Messi, Mbappé, Ronaldo and Vini Jr. in LEGO form, design a soccer uniform out of bricks and take photos with a LEGO version of the FIFA World Cup Trophy.
Kids can also design their own custom LEGO jersey for the growing “Heroes of Play” wall. To kick off the experience, LEGOLAND welcomed athletes and families from Beautiful People Adaptive Sports Group, a local organization that supports children with disabilities through sports. The experience runs through July 19th and is part of a visit to LEGOLAND New York Resort.
Editor’s Note: Always check times, dates and weather updates before heading out.
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