A look back at the World Cup in New Jersey, by the numbers

Now that the dust has started to settle and the turf is being restored at MetLife Stadium, it seems like a good time to take a quick look back at the FIFA World Cup 2026 by the numbers.

>The regional host committee reported that more than 640,000 fans attended the matches in the Meadowlands and more than 61.5 million people in the United States tuned into the tournament at home.

>It wasn’t just the matches themselves that drew crowds, either. More than 1 million people attended the fan events and watch parties in the New Jersey-New York region.

>There was a bit of attention given to exactly how fans would get to MetLife Stadium, and while some illegally braved Route 3 traffic to get there on foot, more than 116,000 took the official host committee bus shuttle and 370,000 took NJ Transit.

>Although staff members were involved, more than 8,000 volunteers worked to welcome fans and help the experience run smoothly.

>And dating back to last year, the World Cup trophy tour — known as the Skyline to Shoreline Road Tour — had more than 70 stops throughout the region.

>The New York-New Jersey Welcome World Rewards Program had more than 1,000 businesses participating and more than 10,000 visitors taking part.

>Local host committee CEO Alex Lasry said the tournament was evidence of what the region has long known: “When the world comes together, there is no better stage than New York and New Jersey.”

>“Hosting eight World Cup matches showcased our region’s ability to deliver the world’s biggest event through extraordinary partnership, innovation, and execution,” he said in a statement. “The matches may be over, but the bi-regional coordination, infrastructure, and opportunities created through this tournament will continue to strengthen our region for years to come.”

>And though the tournament is over, not everything is gone forever.

>People still have about a month to see the 23 soccer ball-themed sculptures created as part of “The Art of the Game” project. They’ll be up at points in New Jersey and New York City until Labor Day.

>Also due are the mini pitches promised by the host committee. There now are 17 mini pitches under construction or completed, and more are expected to follow.

>The tournament ended with a victory for Spain over Argentina in the final in East Rutherford on July 19.

>That was the culmination of several years of work, by state agencies and the nonprofit host committee.

>More than $300 million in taxpayer money was used to finance the efforts, including a $15 million loan to the host committee, which must be repaid by the end of the year.

>This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: A look back at the World Cup in New Jersey, by the numbers