The FIFA World Cup is coming to American soil, and New Jersey wants to make sure the people who can least afford a ticket aren’t locked out of the experience. Governor Mikie Sherrill announced on June 9 that the state will distribute 770 free tickets to community groups and frontline workers for World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium.
How the tickets break down
The allocation follows a pretty clear logic. The largest chunk, 500 tickets, goes to youth soccer clubs and players from underserved communities through a network of community partners. These are kids who play the sport but might never otherwise set foot in a stadium hosting the world’s best.
Another 200 tickets are routed through Hackensack Meridian Health, one of New Jersey’s major healthcare systems. Those seats are earmarked for frontline healthcare workers and pediatric patients.
The remaining 70 tickets will be available through something called the Welcome World Rewards program. National Guard families and Make-A-Wish participants are also among the targeted recipient groups.
