World Cup Flag Cities 2026 Fan Festivals Announced

On Dec 2, 2025

The Meadowlands Chamber of Commerce and regional leaders today formally announced the Flag Cities 2026 program, a series of fan-festival celebrations that will be held in the days leading up to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ games at MetLife Stadium.

Designed to give local residents and regional visitors a vibrant, soccer-infused atmosphere, Flag Cities will be produced by Axiom Communications, delivering food, music, entertainment, and authentic cultural connections from each visiting team at sites across the Meadowlands Region.

According to Jim Kirkos, President & CEO of the Meadowlands Chamber, millions of visitors will be coming to the region from around the world, but not all will have tickets to the World Cup games. For those people, “we want the opportunity to showcase our communities and local businesses,” Kirkos said. “Those of us who live and work here know how great our communities are, but they [visitors] do not.”

Ron Simoncini, owner and president of Axiom Communications, said all but one Flag City events will be held the day before a World Cup group game, while another will be held two days before a game.

This Friday, the FIFA World Cup Draw will be held. When that happens, everyone, for the most part, will know what teams will be playing at MetLife stadium and other stadiums in the US, Mexico and Canada. At that point, Simoncini said the Flag Cities will be contacting foreign embassy consuls of the selected teams, as well as various cultural and civic organizations representing the chosen teams. “They will want to know about the special events that have connection points to their countries, so they will be able to support and celebrate the presence of their teams in the Meadowlands,” Simoncini said.

Sites have been chosen for four of the five events,

• Friday June 12:  Riverside Park in Lyndhurst
• Sunday June 14:  Overpeck Park Bergen County
• Sunday June 21:  Secaucus Downtown
• Wednesday June 24:  OPEN
• Friday June  26:  East Rutherford Downtown

An estimated 8,000 to 15,000 people are expected to attend each Flag City event, and programming will include:

• Live broadcast of World Cup games on large scale LED screens
• Food trucks, international cuisine, and beverage vendors
• Beer garden and VIP lounge
• Live music, DJs, and community performances
• Kids’ zones with family-friendly activities
• Shopping vendors, soccer gear, and local crafts
• Soccer-themed games and immersive fan experiences
• Embassy and cultural activations
• Flag installations, town-wide decorations, and pep rallies

As the Presenting Sponsor, Goya Foods will serve as the culinary and cultural centerpiece of Flag Cities, elevating each festival with international food and beverage sampling and among other activations.

Additional sponsors are being finalized and will be announced soon. Ticket sales will begin in early 2026, and a limited number of VIP tickets will be available offering premium amenities.  Municipalities will host pre-event kickoff ceremonies to build momentum in the spring.

For the Overpeck Park celebration, organizers are working closely with Bergen County Executive James Tedesco and his team to coordinate the event. Overpeck’s size, location, and accessibility make it an ideal venue for a high-energy fan experience representing the county’s enthusiasm for the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

“Next year, Bergen County will be center stage as we welcome the world to the Meadowlands for the FIFA World Cup 2026™,” said Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco III. “We’re proud to partner with the Meadowlands Chamber of Commerce to help build excitement for this once-in-a-generation moment. Hosting a Flag City celebration at Overpeck County Park is a fantastic way to bring our communities together, showcase the best of Bergen County, and show visitors what our region is all about.”

Municipalities will begin hosting pre-event pep rallies in spring 2026 to generate excitement and local momentum. The full event schedule and country matchups will be revealed in the coming months.

For sponsorship or vendor opportunities, contact: Lisa Herrmann- [email protected] or Ron Simoncini – [email protected]

To access more business news, visit NJB News Now.

Related Articles: