Norway vs Senegal — FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I, Matchday 2
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ · Monday 22 June 2026
The Stadium
MetLife Stadium sits in the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, roughly eight miles west of Midtown Manhattan. Opened in 2010, it replaced the old Giants Stadium that had stood on the same site and serves as the shared home of both the New York Giants and the New York Jets. The building cost roughly $1.6 billion to construct and, at the time of its opening, was one of the most expensive stadiums ever built.
The venue holds around 82,500 spectators in NFL configuration, making it one of the largest stadiums in the United States. For the 2026 World Cup, FIFA will adapt the layout — as it does at all host venues — to meet football-specific sightline and pitch requirements, so the working capacity for tournament matches may differ slightly. The bowl structure is a steeply raked, fully enclosed design with a partial roof that keeps crowd noise compressed and atmospheric inside, even on a warm June evening.
MetLife is hosting several matches across the 2026 World Cup, a tournament that is the first ever expanded to 48 teams and is being co-hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The New York/New Jersey metro area is one of the flagship host cities, and MetLife is its centrepiece.
It is worth noting for historical context: while New York/New Jersey hosted matches in the 1994 World Cup, those games were played at Giants Stadium — the predecessor on this site — not in this current building, which did not exist until 2010. The Super Bowl has been played at MetLife (Super Bowl XLVIII in February 2014, played in cold and windy conditions), but for World Cup purposes, 2026 represents the first time FIFA’s flagship event comes to this specific structure.
Getting There
MetLife Stadium is not directly served by a conventional train station in the usual sense, which is the single most important logistical point for fans to understand before they travel.
From Midtown Manhattan: NJ Transit runs dedicated event trains from Penn Station (New York) to Meadowlands Station, which sits right outside the stadium. Journey time is roughly 20–30 minutes. These trains typically begin running a couple of hours before kick-off and continue well after the final whistle. Check the NJ Transit website for the specific World Cup service timetable, as additional trains are usually added for major events.
From Newark: NJ Transit trains connect Newark Penn Station to Secaucus Junction, where you change for the Meadowlands service. Allow around 45 minutes total.
From JFK Airport: Take the AirTrain to Jamaica, then the Long Island Rail Road or subway into Penn Station (New York), then the NJ Transit Meadowlands train. Allow a minimum of 90 minutes, more at peak times.
From Newark Liberty Airport: The AirTrain connects directly to Newark Penn Station, from where you follow the route above. Newark is the more convenient airport for this venue.
By Car and Parking: The Meadowlands complex has extensive surface parking. For World Cup matches, parking will almost certainly require pre-purchased permits — do not assume you can pay on the day. Expect road congestion on the New Jersey Turnpike and Routes 3 and 17 for several hours around kick-off. If you are driving, arrive very early or consider parking at a New Jersey train station and riding the rail service in.
Travelling From Each Home Country
For Norway fans: The main international gateway is Oslo Gardermoen (OSL). Direct transatlantic services to New York are available from Oslo, with Norwegian carriers and others operating the route. Flight time is approximately eight to nine hours to JFK or Newark Liberty (EWR). Newark is the easier airport for reaching MetLife. Fans connecting through European hubs will add several hours. Norway is in the CEST time zone (UTC+2 in June), so a 23 June match means accounting for a significant time difference — check kick-off time in local Norwegian time before booking.
For Senegal fans: Most fans will fly from Blaise Diagne International Airport (DSS) outside Dakar. There are no direct services from Dakar to New York; most itineraries route through Paris Charles de Gaulle, Casablanca, or Istanbul. Total journey time including layover is typically 16–22 hours depending on connections. Fans in Senegal’s diaspora communities — particularly large in France, Italy, and the United States itself — will have far shorter journeys. New York has a notable Senegalese community in areas such as Harlem and the Bronx, so visiting fans may find familiar cultural touchstones on arrival.
Tickets
FIFA is the sole official seller of 2026 World Cup tickets. All purchases should go through the official FIFA ticketing platform (FIFA.com/tickets). The sale process has involved multiple ballot phases and first-come, first-served windows; by the time you are reading this guide, primary allocation for individual matches may be limited or exhausted, so check the official site for any remaining inventory or resale through FIFA’s official channels.
The secondary market — StubHub, SeatGeek, Viagogo, and similar platforms — will carry tickets, but prices for World Cup group-stage matches at a New York venue are expected to be significantly above face value given the market. Treat any seller outside official FIFA channels with appropriate caution: only buy from platforms that offer buyer guarantees. Physical counterfeit tickets remain a risk at major tournaments; digital transfer through verified platforms reduces but does not eliminate that risk.
For a Group I, Matchday 2 fixture, demand will reflect both the size of the travelling fan bases and the local New York population’s general enthusiasm for World Cup football. Scarcity is real — do not leave it late.
Fan Zones and City Guide
FIFA and the host cities are expected to operate official fan zones for the 2026 World Cup, though the exact locations and operational details for the New York/New Jersey area were still being confirmed at the time of writing. Check FIFA.com and the official NYC 2026 host city pages for confirmed fan zone sites as the tournament approaches.
For Norwegian fans, the Scandinavian community in New York has a presence in the Brooklyn neighbourhood of Bay Ridge — historically known as a Norwegian enclave — and several bars there will likely screen matches and attract a natural Viking gathering.
For Senegalese fans, Harlem and parts of the Bronx have established West African communities and restaurants. The energy around a Senegal World Cup match in those neighbourhoods is worth experiencing.
More broadly, Hoboken and Jersey City on the New Jersey waterfront offer bars with Manhattan skyline views and are positioned between the city and the stadium. They make a practical pre-match base.
Two or three things to do if you arrive a day early:
– Walk the High Line in Manhattan and grab food at Chelsea Market — it is genuinely one of the better urban walking experiences in the US.
– Cross the Brooklyn Bridge on foot from Manhattan side in the morning before the crowds build.
– Visit Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, which hosted the 1964 World’s Fair and has its own sporting history — a different kind of context for a World Cup trip.
Watch the Match Remotely
If you cannot make it to East Rutherford in person, full broadcast and streaming details for Norway vs Senegal — along with a comprehensive match preview covering both squads — are available here: Full preview and where to watch
FAQ
- Where is Norway vs Senegal being played?
- Norway vs Senegal in FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I, Matchday 2 is being played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Monday 22 June 2026. The stadium is located approximately eight miles west of Midtown Manhattan.
- How many fans does MetLife Stadium hold?
- MetLife Stadium has a capacity of around 82,500 in its standard NFL configuration. For World Cup matches, FIFA adjusts seating layouts to meet football requirements, so the confirmed matchday capacity may vary slightly from that figure.
- How do I get to MetLife Stadium from New York City centre?
- The most practical route is the NJ Transit event train from New York Penn Station to Meadowlands Station, which sits directly outside the stadium. The journey takes roughly 20–30 minutes. Trains run on a dedicated timetable around match days. Driving is possible but expect heavy congestion on the New Jersey Turnpike and approach roads — pre-purchased parking is essential if you go by car.
- Can I still buy tickets for Norway vs Senegal at the 2026 World Cup?
- Official tickets are sold exclusively through FIFA's ticketing platform at FIFA.com/tickets. Primary sale inventory for individual matches may be limited by the time you search — check the site for any remaining allocation or FIFA's official resale channel. Secondary market platforms such as StubHub and SeatGeek will have listings, but expect prices above face value for a New York venue. Only buy from platforms that offer buyer protection.
- What is there to do in New York for football fans during the World Cup?
- Official FIFA fan zones are expected across the New York/New Jersey host area — check FIFA.com and NYC 2026 host city pages for confirmed locations. For Norwegian fans, the Bay Ridge neighbourhood in Brooklyn has historic Scandinavian roots and local bars. West African restaurants and community spaces in Harlem and the Bronx provide a natural hub for Senegal supporters. Hoboken and Jersey City on the NJ waterfront offer good bar options close to the stadium corridor, and exploring Manhattan the day before a match — the High Line, Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park — is straightforward and free.