The Fifa World Cup’s “Flag Cities” festival will launch with a performance by the the Village People at a Jersey City event on June 12th, the Meadowlands Chamber of Commerce announced at a press conference this morning.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
Initially, the-Gov. Phil Murphy (D) had announced there was going to be one large festival in Jersey City‘s Liberty State Park, but the plan has since been revised to include several smaller celebrations throughout Hudson and Bergen Counties.
Axiom Communications Executive Vice President Lisa Hermann announced the Jersey City festival will be free due to support from Colliers Event and Design and JCT Solutions, who are covering the costs.
“Three years ago, when I spoke to the governor and his team, I told him you don’t have my support unless something changes. There was really no … economic benefit to Bergen County,” Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco said about Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014.
That major sporting event, like the World Cup, took place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
Given that Bergen County will be “the host county for the largest sporting event in the world” starting next month, Tedesco emphasized he wanted additional tourism that benefits local businesses this time around.
Further, Soulja Boy will headline the Newark Flag City event on June 24th, while the Meadowlands Chamber also announced two additional Flag Cities: Bayonne and Paterson.
The Peninsula City’s Stephen Gregg Park will have an event on Sunday, June 28th, with a will fan festival taking place at Paterson’s Hinchcliffe Stadium on Friday, July 3rd.
To Tedesco’s earlier point, Meadowlands Chamber CEO Jim Kirkos said they seek to surpass the economic impact of the Super Bowl from 12 years ago.
He said they have been developing the Flag Cities program for 3 years for several World Cup fan festivals.
“It’s a celebration of the diverse ethnic communities around the region,” Kirkos explained, noting that immigrant communities from all the countries playing in the World Cup are thriving across North Jersey, where the parties will be.
He also noted that security will be at “the highest level,” explaining that municipal and county law enforcement will be working in collaboration with the New Jersey State Police, drawing applause from the crowd on hand.
“We’re immensely grateful to the governor for the introduction of the grant program,” he said of the millions of dollars being invested by the state.
Jenny Davis, chief of staff to Hudson County Executive Craig Guy, recalled how they got to this point.
“We had a vision. We had to figure out how to make that financially … We came to Flag Cities because we needed some help. Our residents will be able to enjoy and be able to afford to enjoy these events,” she said, noting the exorbitant cost for World Cup tickets.
While Guy and Hudson County Commissioner Kenny Kopacz (D-1), who represents Bayonne, were not able to attend today’s event in Lyndhurst, they expressed their enthusiasm in statement.
“Hudson County is proud to be part of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Flag Cities initiative and help bring the excitement of the world’s biggest sporting event directly to our communities,” Guy declared.
“Hosting a World Cup celebration at Stephen Gregg Park is a tribute to the generations of families throughout Hudson County and Bayonne … Celebrating the World Cup in Bayonne honors that proud history and inspires the next generation to carry it forward,” added Kopacz.
Each event will feature live entertainment, DJs, giant TV screens broadcasting World Cup matches, food trucks, beer gardens, kids’ soccer zones, shopping vendors, cultural activations, and immersive fan programming.
After the free inaugural event in Jersey City, admission will be $20 for adults and $10 for children.
The list of fan festivals includes:
• Friday, June 12 – Jersey City
• Sunday, June 14 – Overpeck Park, Bergen County
• Sunday, June 21 – Laurel Hill Park, Secaucus
• Wednesday, June 24 – Newark
• Friday, June 26 – Riggins Field, East Rutherford
The events are all produced by Axiom Communications on behalf of the Meadowlands Chamber and in partnership with Bergen County, Hudson County, the City of Newark, Jersey City, Bayonne, Paterson, and the Borough of East Rutherford.
Tickets for all Flag Cities events are available here.
