Why is 2026 World Cup final in New Jersey, not Mexico’s iconic Estadio Azteca?

A view of MetLife Stadium, host of 8 FIFA World Cup 2026 matches, together with the World Cup Closing, in East Rutherford, New Jersey / Reuters-Yonhap

The ultimate of the 2026 FIFA World Cup won’t be performed at Mexico’s iconic Estadio Azteca — extensively thought to be one in every of soccer’s best venues— however at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, simply outdoors New York Metropolis.

At first look, it looks as if a shocking alternative.

Azteca has already hosted two World Cup finals. It witnessed Pelé lifting the trophy and Diego Maradona’s legendary “Hand of God” purpose, making it a dwelling monument to World Cup historical past. Additionally it is one in every of worldwide soccer’s most intimidating venues. Mexico has held 90 residence internationals there, compiling a outstanding file of 70 wins, 17 attracts and simply three defeats.

England’s Harry Kane, left, and Bukayo Saka rejoice after profitable their FIFA World Cup match towards Mexico at Estadio Azteca, Mexico Metropolis, July 5. Reuters-Yonhap

So why did FIFA select MetLife Stadium as a substitute?

The selection of venue for a World Cup last is rarely primarily based merely on who has the largest stadium. It represents the face a bunch nation needs to current to the world — an area that encapsulates the message it hopes to ship. The place the ultimate is held usually reveals what every World Cup values most.

Brazil staged two World Cup finals (1950 and 2014) on the Maracanã, a stadium that embodies each the triumphs and heartbreaks of the world’s most football-obsessed nation.

South Africa held the 2010 last at Soccer Metropolis, the place Nelson Mandela delivered his first public speech after his launch from jail, utilizing the match to represent reconciliation and democracy.

Argentinian followers cheer earlier than the World Cup last match between Argentina and France on the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Dec. 18, 2022. AP-Yonhap

Qatar, in the meantime, showcased its monetary energy and nationwide ambitions by internet hosting the 2022 last at Lusail Stadium, projecting the nation’s model onto the worldwide stage.

MetLife Stadium, the venue for the 2026 last, sends a distinct message altogether.

Situated within the coronary heart of the New York metropolitan space — America’s largest media market — the stadium is linked by pedestrian bridge to the huge American Dream buying and leisure complicated, seamlessly combining soccer, retail and leisure right into a single customer expertise. Through the World Cup, the encompassing space is anticipated to perform as an enormous client ecosystem.

Brazil and Morocco followers arrive at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, June 3. AFP-Yonhap

That philosophy displays the distinctly American method to sports activities enterprise and is obvious all through the match’s group.

For the primary time in World Cup historical past, the ultimate will characteristic a Tremendous Bowl-style halftime present. Mid-match hydration breaks have grow to be alternatives to maximise promoting publicity, whereas seating has advanced right into a tiered expertise providing dramatically totally different ranges of service relying on ticket worth. The best-tier seats for the ultimate value roughly 50 million gained (about $36,000).

Even stadium names have grow to be advertising property. Levi’s Stadium, for instance, was required beneath FIFA rules to cowl its company branding throughout the match. Nevertheless, the corporate turned the restriction right into a profitable advertising marketing campaign, producing publicity similar to that of official World Cup sponsors.

Trying again, even the selection of the Rose Bowl for the 1994 World Cup last was no coincidence.

Higher generally known as a shrine to American-style soccer, the Rose Bowl mirrored FIFA’s recognition of the big potential of the U.S. market. That match went on to grow to be one of the commercially profitable World Cups ever, marking the start of soccer’s transformation into a world enterprise.

This could not merely be dismissed because the commercialization of the game.

The big broadcasting revenues, infrastructure investments and participant growth applications that maintain in the present day’s World Cup are in the end made attainable by capital. There was a time when soccer’s romance outlined the match, when democracy, reconciliation and nationwide unity formed its that means. Right this moment, international capital, media content material and the leisure trade have grow to be the forces driving the world’s largest sporting occasion.

BTS members get pleasure from Korean barbecue, as seen on this picture from social media. The Okay-pop group will carry out on the inaugural FIFA World Cup last halftime present on the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, July 19. / Captured from V’s social media

Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, incoming music director of the New York Philharmonic, will conduct a joint efficiency by members of the philharmonic and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela on the inaugural FIFA World Cup last halftime present on the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, July 19. This efficiency may also act as a tribute to Venezuela following current earthquakes. Dudamel is sharing the stage with Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Justin Bieber. AFP-Yonhap

Nonetheless, one factor ought to by no means be forgotten.

Irrespective of how giant the World Cup grows as a world leisure product, soccer itself should stay at its heart. Costly tickets, spectacular halftime reveals and big sponsorship offers are all secondary. Their objective is to reinforce the 90 minutes performed on the pitch.

The true star of the World Cup ought to at all times be the sport itself.

This text from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Instances, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Instances.