New Jersey seeks share of FIFA's World Cup final turf sales revenue

New Jersey is seeking a share of the revenue generated by FIFA from selling pieces of the turf used in the World Cup final match. The state's officials expressed anger over FIFA's plan to market the grass as souvenirs.

FIFA announced it would sell portions of the final match's turf, with prices ranging from $450 to $3,000. This decision has drawn criticism from New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill and state legislators, some of whom have called for a ban on selling such memorabilia. "As the governor has said, New Jersey has paid several million dollars in expenses to prepare the playing field at MetLife Stadium, so the state's taxpayers should receive a portion of any profits," explained state government spokesperson Maggie Garbarino.

The state's World Cup 2026 preparation authority spent $13 million to ready the stadium's field, which typically hosts American football games for the NY Giants and the Jets. Governor Sherrill, who took office this year with the World Cup plans already underway, has had several disputes with FIFA. These include disagreements over public transport costs to the stadium, which rose to $98 due to required investments, prompting Sherrill's team to ask FIFA to cover the extra expense to maintain regular train fares.

FIFA anticipates a record revenue of $11 billion from the 2026 World Cup, which will feature 104 matches. Meanwhile, the most expensive remaining tickets for the final match at the New York New Jersey stadium are priced between $10,000 and $40,000.

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As the governor has said, New Jersey has paid several million dollars in expenses to prepare the playing field at MetLife Stadium, so the state's taxpayers should receive a portion of any profits.