Brazil vs Morocco – FIFA World Cup 2026 Group C, Matchday 1
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey | Saturday 13 June 2026
The Stadium
MetLife Stadium sits in the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, roughly eight miles west of Midtown Manhattan. It is the shared home of the New York Giants and New York Jets, and its sheer scale makes it one of the most recognisable venues in American sport. The stadium is entirely enclosed, with an open roof design that channels noise inward — on a sold-out night, the atmosphere is loud in a way that surprises first-time visitors expecting an antiseptic NFL venue.
The ground’s capacity in its standard NFL configuration sits well above 80,000, and FIFA’s staging requirements for the World Cup typically reconfigure seating to meet tournament standards. For the 2026 tournament, MetLife is one of the marquee United States venues, and its proximity to New York City makes it arguably the highest-profile site on the roster.
Historically, MetLife has punched above its weight for large-scale events. It hosted Super Bowl XLVIII in February 2014 — the first Super Bowl played outdoors in a cold-weather city — and has staged international football fixtures, concerts, and college games that have tested its infrastructure repeatedly. Those events matter here because they demonstrate the stadium’s proven ability to manage the kind of crowd and logistical complexity a World Cup group game between Brazil and Morocco will demand.
For this fixture specifically, the occasion is Group C, Matchday 1 — Brazil and Morocco kicking off their respective tournament campaigns. The result will set the tone for both sides’ routes through the group stage, and with two of the world’s most passionately supported footballing nations involved, a capacity crowd is essentially guaranteed.
Getting There
The single most important thing to know about MetLife Stadium is that it is in New Jersey, not New York City — and that distinction shapes every transport decision you make.
By rail (recommended): NJ Transit runs direct trains on the Meadowlands Rail Line from Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan. On event days, dedicated shuttle trains run frequently from Penn Station to Meadowlands Station, which sits within walking distance of the stadium gates. The journey takes roughly 20–25 minutes. Buy your NJ Transit ticket in advance through the NJ Transit app or at Penn Station ticket machines; paper tickets are accepted on event trains.
From Newark Liberty International Airport: Take the AirTrain from any terminal to Newark Penn Station, then connect to a Manhattan-bound NJ Transit train or switch to the Meadowlands event service depending on scheduling. Allow at least 60–75 minutes total from airport to stadium, more if you’re coming on a busy match day.
From New York Penn Station (Amtrak or LIRR arrivals): Walk across to the NJ Transit concourse and follow the Meadowlands event signage. This is the most straightforward connection for visitors arriving by Amtrak from other US cities.
By car: The Meadowlands is accessible via the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) and Route 3. Parking is available on site, but traffic after large events can be severe. If you drive, factor in at least 60–90 minutes of post-match delay. A better strategy is to park at a nearby NJ Transit station and take the event train.
From Manhattan by taxi or rideshare: Uber and Lyft operate freely across the Lincoln Tunnel into New Jersey, but surge pricing on a World Cup match day will be aggressive. Arrange a drop-off point away from the stadium perimeter to avoid gridlock.
Travelling From Home Country of Each Team
For Brazilian fans: Brazil does not share a land border with the United States, so air travel is unavoidable. Direct flights operate from São Paulo (GRU) and Rio de Janeiro (GIG) to Newark Liberty (EWR) and JFK. Flight time from São Paulo is roughly ten hours. Connecting services via Miami, Houston, or other US hubs are widely available and can be cheaper, though they add transit time. Newark is the most convenient airport for MetLife; the AirTrain and NJ Transit connection is straightforward. Visas or ESTA authorisation must be obtained in advance — check US government requirements early, as processing times vary.
For Moroccan fans: Direct connections from Casablanca (CMN) to New York-area airports operate via Royal Air Maroc and several European carriers with connections through Lisbon, Madrid, Amsterdam, or Paris. Total journey time from Casablanca to Newark including connections typically runs 10–14 hours. Moroccan passport holders should confirm ESTA or visa requirements well ahead of travel. JFK and Newark are both viable entry points; Newark edges it for Meadowlands access.
Tickets
Official tickets for all FIFA World Cup 2026 matches, including Brazil vs Morocco, are sold exclusively through FIFA’s official ticketing platform at tickets.fifa.com. FIFA operates a ballot-based system for high-demand fixtures, and a Brazil group game in the New York metro area will be among the most contested allocations in the entire tournament. If you did not register for the initial ballot phases, monitor the FIFA site for any resale or returned ticket windows closer to the event.
Secondary market platforms — StubHub, Viagogo, and SeatGeek among them — will list tickets, but expect significant premiums above face value for a fixture of this profile. Prices on the secondary market for marquee World Cup group games have historically been multiples of the official rate. Exercise caution: only buy through platforms that guarantee the ticket’s validity, and be aware that FIFA’s mobile ticketing system makes fraudulent transfers difficult but not impossible to attempt.
If tickets are genuinely beyond budget or availability, the fan zone and bar scene around New York City will be extensive — see below.
Fan Zones and City Guide
FIFA typically establishes official fan zones in host cities during the World Cup, and New York City’s zone is expected to be one of the largest in the tournament given the city’s size and international fanbase. An official location had not been confirmed at the time of writing; check FIFA’s official channels and NYC & Company (the city’s tourism board) for announcements as the tournament approaches.
For Brazilian fans, the neighbourhood of Little Brazil on West 46th Street in Midtown Manhattan has historically been a gathering point for the diaspora community, though its character has shifted over the years. The broader Midtown bar scene will be saturated with World Cup viewing parties. For Moroccan supporters, areas in Brooklyn and the Bronx with significant North African communities are worth exploring for a more local atmosphere.
Recommended bars near the stadium corridor: Bars in Hoboken and Jersey City — both a short PATH train ride from Manhattan and a manageable distance from the Meadowlands — tend to be less crowded than Midtown on big match days and offer a more relaxed pre-game option.
Top three things to do if you arrive a day early:
1. Walk the High Line in Chelsea for a free afternoon — it is genuinely one of the more interesting pieces of urban infrastructure in any host city and takes about 90 minutes end-to-end.
2. Take the Staten Island Ferry across the harbour for a free view of the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty — a better orientation exercise than most paid attractions.
3. Catch an evening in Flushing, Queens, which has one of the most diverse food corridors in the United States and is practical if you’re flying in through JFK.
Watch the Match Remotely
If you cannot be at MetLife Stadium in person, broadcast coverage of Brazil vs Morocco will be available across multiple platforms depending on your country. For a full breakdown of where to watch the match in your territory, along with team news and a detailed match preview, visit the link below.
Full preview and where to watch
FAQ
- Where is Brazil vs Morocco being played?
- Brazil vs Morocco will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Saturday 13 June 2026. The stadium is located in the Meadowlands Sports Complex, approximately eight miles west of Midtown Manhattan.
- How many fans does MetLife Stadium hold?
- MetLife Stadium's standard NFL capacity exceeds 80,000. FIFA may reconfigure seating for World Cup fixtures, so the exact match-day capacity will be confirmed closer to the tournament. It is one of the largest venues in the 2026 host city roster.
- How do I get to MetLife Stadium from New York City centre?
- The simplest route is the NJ Transit Meadowlands event train from Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan. On match days, dedicated trains run directly to Meadowlands Station, a short walk from the stadium, with a journey time of around 20–25 minutes. Buy tickets in advance via the NJ Transit app or Penn Station ticket machines.
- Can I still buy tickets for Brazil vs Morocco?
- Official tickets are sold through FIFA's ticketing platform at tickets.fifa.com. This is a high-demand fixture and initial ballot allocations are competitive. Monitor the FIFA site for resale windows or returned tickets. Secondary market platforms such as StubHub and SeatGeek will have listings, but expect prices well above face value. Only use platforms that guarantee ticket validity.
- What is there to do in New York for football fans during the World Cup?
- New York City will host an official FIFA fan zone — location to be confirmed on FIFA's channels and through NYC & Company. For neighbourhood atmosphere, the bar scenes in Hoboken, Jersey City, and parts of Brooklyn offer alternatives to crowded Midtown. The High Line, Staten Island Ferry, and Flushing in Queens are all worth a day-before visit for fans arriving early.