World Cup Fever Varies by Region

On May 9, 2024

Reaction to New Jersey hosting the 2026 World Cup is uneven across the Garden State. North Jersey residents are more engaged and excited than those in the southern part of the state according to the Monmouth University Poll. Most residents believe New Jersey will reap an economic benefit from hosting the event, but in the end, neighboring New York will probably profit even more.

One-third (33%) of New Jersey residents have heard a lot about New Jersey hosting the 2026 World Cup, while 36% have heard a little and 31% know nothing about it. North Jersey residents are most likely to have heard a lot (41%) while South Jersey residents are most likely to have heard nothing at all (46%) about the state hosting eight games, including the final championship match, at MetLife Stadium. Younger New Jerseyans under age 35 (45%) are also more likely than older residents (30% ages 35 to 54 and 27% ages 55 and older) to have heard a lot about the World Cup coming to the state.

Just over 1 in 5 state residents (22%) are very excited about New Jersey hosting the World Cup and 36% are somewhat excited, while 41% are not excited about this. There are some significant regional differences in World Cup anticipation. North Jersey residents are the most likely to be excited – 29% very and 36% somewhat – while 33% are not excited about the state’s host status. In South Jersey, however, more than half (55%) are not excited about the World Cup coming to the state, with just 15% who are very excited and 30% who are somewhat excited. In Central Jersey, 18% are very excited – which is close to the South Jersey result – and 42% are somewhat excited. Another 40% are not excited – placing the amount of indifference in the central region midway between levels reported in the north and the south. The poll also finds that similar numbers of non-Hispanic whites (21%) and people of color (23%) are very excited about hosting the World Cup, but whites (45%) are somewhat more likely than other New Jerseyans (36%) to show no excitement about this news.

“The World Cup buzz is certainly bigger in the region where the matches will be held. South Jersey residents are probably more interested in the games that will be played in Philadelphia than in East Rutherford,” said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute.

Six in ten (60%) New Jerseyans say the World Cup will provide an economic benefit to the state. Just 32% think it will cost the state more money than it brings in. However, 50% say that New York City – the official co-host for matches taking place on Garden State soil – will see more benefit than the host state. Just 15% say New Jersey will see more of an economic boon than New York and 31% say New Jersey and New York will share this benefit about equally.

“Most residents feel that New Jersey’s World Cup ledger will end up in the black. But there is the question about scoring an economic own goal. This may equate to New Jersey underwriting most of the expenses only to have more of the economic benefit wind up in the net for New York,” said Murray.

The Monmouth University Poll was conducted by telephone from February 29 to March 4, 2024 with 801 New Jersey adults. The question results in this release have a margin of error of +/- 4.2 percentage points for the full sample. The poll was conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute in West Long Branch.

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