The head of the New York/New Jersey 2026 World Cup Host Committee has vowed that the crowd control issues that plagued the 2024 Copa America final will not be repeated when the biggest show on Earth comes to town next year.
The showpiece event of last year’s US-hosted tournament was delayed by over an hour as fans without tickets attempted to force their way into the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens ahead of the Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia on July 14.
However, Alex Lasry, a former Milwaukee Bucks executive who served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism in the Biden Administration before being selected to head the NY/NJ Host Committee for next year’s World Cup, said the committee will ensure that “nothing like that” can happen when the World Cup Final takes place at MetLife Stadium on July 19 next year.
Lasry said the host committee can “100% learn from what happened at the Copa” last summer, adding that the committee’s “first pillar” is safety and security.
“People need to know that going to a game — children are going to be at these games — that everyone can feel safe and secure and know that they are going to a safe and secure environment,” Lasry said.
Lasry described scenes at last year’s Copa América final as “unfortunate” and “one-in-a-million”, noting that the vast majority of sporting events across the United States occur without incident.
“That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be taking all the precautions and ensure and taking lessons from that, but I’ve got all the faith and belief in the world in our security plan and our ticketing plan and ensuring that something like that’s not going to happen,” Lasry said.
Lasry added security plans for World Cup games at MetLife, which is set to host eight games throughout the tournament, will prevent ticketless fans from overrunning security personnel.
Lasry believes that “excitement and enthusiasm” are building for the global event, which is set to begin in almost exactly 12 months. He noted that events such as the 2025 Club World Cup, which will be anchored around MetLife Stadium, and the upcoming Premier League friendly series, which is due to take place at the stadium in July, will help to build enthusiasm for soccer in New York and New Jersey ahead of the main event next year.
He cautioned that the Club World Cup will be “nothing” in terms of size and scale compared to the World Cup next summer, but said the upcoming event will give the committee an opportunity to “test some things out” regarding transportation to and from the stadium.
Lasry said the committee will make announcements on travel plans for the World Cup this fall, but is confident that NY/NJ can deliver “seamless” transit to and from MetLife Stadium using a combination of ride share, bus services, and rail. He added that transportation is a “top, top priority” for the Host Committee.
“What makes our stadium unique compared to other stadiums around the country is we do have public transportation that can take you there,” Lasry said. “I definitely see New Jersey Transit as a main way for people to be able to get to and from the stadium.”
The committee is currently finalizing plans for fan zones in New York City, with an announcement on the city’s “Fan Fest” to come later this summer, Lasry said. He added that the fan zones will be open for all 40 days of the World Cup, allowing fans to enjoy games from around the country.
“We’re the only host city that’s going to be open for 40 days, from day one to the finals,” Lasry said. “We plan on putting on Fan Fest and fan zones that are going to be worthy of New York/New Jersey.”
Lasry forecasted that the 40-day tournament will be a “really special time” to be in New York or New Jersey and stated that the economic impact of hosting a World Cup final will still be seen a decade after the tournament has come and gone.
“This isn’t just about what it’s going to do during those 40 days. This is about what it’s going to do for the next five years, 10 years. This is a chance to re-establish New York as the place to put a sports or entertainment event.
“To be able to be the place that can say ‘we’ve hosted a World Cup final’ – that’s a massive deal.”
The tournament will generate over $2 billion for the region, with millions of visitors forecasted to visit New York/New Jersey over the 40-day tournament.
He said he is not concerned by early travel figures in 2025 that suggest international tourism to the US has been down since President Donald Trump took office in January. Reports indicated that year-on-year tourism to the US had fallen by 12% by March 2025 compared to other years, but Lasry is confident that downward trends will not continue for the tournament next summer.
“These big sporting events transcend geopolitics, and we’re seeing right now that the administration is taking the World Cup very seriously,” he said. “FIFA has been in conversations with the administration on this very issue.
“Our hope and our belief is that people are going to be coming here for the World Cup. People are going to want to participate and see their country try to win the World Cup.”
