770 World Cup Tickets Will Be Free For NJ Residents, Sherrill Says: Here's Who'll Get One

A total of 770 children and adults in New Jersey will get free tickets to the World Cup matches scheduled to begin this weekend at MetLife Stadium, officials said Tuesday.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced the ticket giveaway at Hackensack University Medical Center, which is helping provide the freebies as part of a partnership.

Eight matches in the international soccer championships will be played at the stadium in East Rutherford from June 13 through July 19.

Sherrill, along with New York New Jersey Host Committee Chief Executive Officer Alex Lasry and several corporate sponsors, announced Tuesday that the tickets will be distributed to certain groups, including sick children and military families, at no cost to the taxpayers.

The groups are:

500 Tickets

• New Jersey Youth Soccer players from underserved communities across the state,
• Families of New Jersey National Guard service members currently deployed overseas,
• Hackensack Meridian Health patients currently in the Make-A-Wish program; and
• Bergen County first responders helping support World Cup operations

200 Tickets

• Frontline nurses and health care team members,
• Pediatric patients, including children facing serious illnesses and their families.

70 Tickets

Will be provided to people who participate in the Welcome World Rewards program by visiting participating small businesses and attending New Jersey World Cup Community Initiative events.

The tickets are being funded by the corporate sponsors, including Uber and Hackensack Meridian Health.

“We are excited to welcome the world to the Garden State for the World Cup starting this week and to be at the very center of the festivities," Sherrill said, "but we want the experience, first and foremost, to be accessible and affordable for as many New Jerseyans as possible. I’d like to thank the Host Committee, Uber, and Hackensack Meridian Health for providing over 750 free tickets."

Amy Herbold, the president and CEO of Choose New Jersey said, “Choose New Jersey is honored to partner with the Governor, the NYNJ Host Committee, and Uber to help distribute 500 free tickets to community groups throughout our state. These efforts will give New Jersey fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend a match and take in all the World Cup has to offer."

New Jersey officials had argued that FIFA should make affordable tickets available to residents after the city of New York was able to offer low-cost tickets for their residents.

Hackensack University Medical Center, located 6.5 miles from MetLife Stadium, has been designated the Official Hometown Hospital of the NYNJ Host Committee, officials said.

Learn more about the World Cup matches being held in New Jersey here.