New Jersey’s path to hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final wasn’t a quick pitch or a flashy campaign. It was the result of a marathon effort that began quietly in 2018, guided by two public servants who worked for years, often unnoticed, to bring the world’s most-watched sporting event to the Meadowlands.
What began as routine government work eventually turned into a massive interstate mission crossing the Hudson River and navigating a pandemic, shifting political landscapes, and a mountain of technical requirements.
The Unlikely Duo Who Led the Bid
On one side was Lauren LaRusso, then a lawyer for the State of New Jersey. The first World Cup–related request came when she was on parental leave, holding a newborn and still in her robe. The task sounded simple: prepare a document. It would become the first of many.
Across the river in Manhattan, Bruce Revman, a longtime tourism and events expert at New York City Tourism + Conventions, discovered a large cardboard box on his very first day back at work. Inside it: thousands of pages tied to bidding for the world’s biggest tournament.
Neither knew the other existed. But both would soon become central to the enormous effort needed to bring the World Cup, and specifically the coveted Final, to New Jersey.
Years of Work, Countless Calls, and a Pandemic
From 2018 onward, LaRusso and Revman built the foundation of the joint New York–New Jersey bid. It required deep coordination across agencies, cities, and states. Stadium specifications, transportation planning, legal documents, financial guarantees, lodging capacity, emergency services, everything had to meet FIFA’s strict standards.
The pandemic added new complexity. Suddenly, discussions moved to Zoom, and the bid team had to plan for a global sporting event under the uncertainty of public-health restrictions.
Yet the two pressed on through each election cycle, administrative change, and logistical hurdle.
“Bruce and Lauren are the M.V.P.s,” New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said recently. “Especially when it was cold and dark and nobody was looking.”
A Bit of Luck on a Broken-Down Bus
One unexpected moment helped solidify the region’s chances.
During a site visit, a FIFA delegation boarded a bus to tour the area. The vehicle broke down, a potential disaster. But instead of frustration, the officials were treated to a spontaneous, informal New Jersey welcome, complete with local hospitality and conversations that left a surprisingly strong impression.
It turned into an oddly memorable highlight of the tour.
MetLife Stadium Set to Host Eight Matches | Including the Final
FIFA’s final decision brought major rewards:
- Eight total matches at MetLife Stadium
- The 2026 World Cup Final, the most-watched sporting event on Earth
- An estimated $3 billion regional economic impact
- Approximately 14,000 jobs are expected to be created around the tournament
The Meadowlands, known for football, concerts, and iconic local skyline views, will now become a centerpiece of global sports this summer.
A New Jersey Win Years in the Making
Today, the two leaders of the bid have moved forward:
- Revman is now 68 and widely regarded as one of the region’s top tourism experts.
- LaRusso, 44, served as senior counsel to Governor Murphy and became a key strategist behind the scenes.
What began as a stack of documents and a surprise phone call turned into a historic accomplishment.
When the world turns its eyes to East Rutherford in 2026, few spectators will know the full story, that two public servants spent years stitching together an improbable, bi-state campaign that ultimately brought the World Cup Final to New Jersey.
And for that, many in the region say, the credit belongs to them.
