New Jersey Awards $5 Million to 34 Organizations Hosting Official World Cup Fan Experiences

New Jersey just made history — and this summer, the entire state is the stage.

Governor Sherrill and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) have officially announced the recipients of the NJ World Cup Community Initiative — a $5 million grant program designed to spread the energy of FIFA World Cup 2026™ beyond MetLife Stadium and into the neighborhoods, downtowns, and communities across New Jersey.

Thirty-four organizations were selected from a highly competitive applicant pool to host official fan experiences, viewing events, cultural activations, and community celebrations during the 2026 tournament.

What Is the NJ World Cup Community Initiative?

The NJ World Cup Community Initiative was built on a simple idea: the economic and cultural benefits of hosting a World Cup shouldn’t stop at the stadium. By funding community-led events and fan activations across the state, New Jersey is investing in its towns, visitor corridors, and tourism ecosystem at a scale that hasn’t been seen before.

The $5 million fund was distributed across 34 selected organizations, each receiving resources to plan, market, and execute meaningful World Cup-themed events for both residents and incoming visitors.

Why It Matters for New Jersey Tourism

FIFA World Cup 2026™ is expected to be the largest sporting event ever hosted on U.S. soil. Millions of international and domestic fans will move through New Jersey — through its airports, transit hubs, hotels, and downtowns — over the course of the tournament.

For New Jersey’s tourism community, this isn’t just a sporting event. It’s weeks of sustained high-intent travelers, many experiencing the state for the first time. The grant program ensures there’s a statewide network of funded, official activations ready to welcome them wherever they land.

See the Full List of Grant Recipients

The complete official list of all 34 recipients — including organization names, event details, and locations — has been published by Choose New Jersey.

Reaching the Fans Coming to New Jersey This Summer

With 34 funded events spread across the state and millions of fans in transit, the challenge for every destination organization and tourism brand in New Jersey is the same: how do you reach those fans before they decide where to go?

VSTR Media Partners operates the most comprehensive travel media screen network in the country — with screens in airports, train stations, transit hubs, and visitor centers across the Northeast. That means reaching fans the moment they land at Newark, pass through Penn Station, or step into a New Jersey visitor center, with your destination already in front of them.

• 500+ screens across the Northeast corridor
• Airports, transit hubs, and visitor centers in key NJ markets
• Targeted by region, market, and traveler profile

Whether you’re one of the 34 grant recipients promoting your event or a New Jersey DMO building summer awareness, VSTR puts you in front of travelers at exactly the right moment.