FIFA failing to deliver NJ World Cup community legacy

Aaron Razak called the 2022 FIFA World Cup "one of the best things I experienced. " He watched matches on television at home with family and friends. A 13-year-old from Hopatcong, Razak was planning to watch the 2026 World Cup the same way – even though the games will be far closer to home.

He and other young players from Morris Elite got an early brush with soccer celebrity, leading the New York Cosmos onto the field at Hinchcliffe Stadium in Paterson on March 14. It was the inaugural match for the Cosmos reboot , a long-planned development which is tied to the upcoming World Cup. "You never expect to meet these amazing players," said Razak, who picked Spain to win the title.

"It's crazy thinking about it. You can drive an hour down the road and you're at the stadium, and you know they're right inside. " Though FIFA has promised to leave a legacy in each World Cup host city, local soccer teams haven't yet been offered many opportunities to get involved.

There will be eight matches at the Meadowlands: five in the group stage, two knockout-round games, and the July 19 final. NJ funding fan events, not fields On May 6, the NJ World Cup Community Initiative announced $5 million in grants to 34 organizations hosting public fan experiences and community events. That is state money via the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, not from the host committee or U.