2026 World Cup Live Updates: New York New Jersey Stadium matches, security and more

It's the busiest crosstown street in Manhattan, used by more than 25,000 vehicles and 300,000 pedestrians every day. But on eight days over six weeks, 42nd Street will be shut down for several hours and open only to shuttle buses moving soccer fans to and from the World Cup.

The corridors will run crosstown, from river to river. Portions of West 40th and West 41st streets will also be closed. Additional corridors will take up two lanes on 5th and 6th avenues to access pick-up and drop-off locations.

It's all part of a master plan to move tens of thousands of fans to the World Cup. New Jersey Transit has its own system, which will limit certain trains to ticketholders during certain hours.

The city's street closures will be in effect only on game days-but for several hours before and after the matches.

A full breakdown of the traffic patterns on match days can be found on the NYCDOT website.

A free watch party will be held in Central Park for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final on Sunday, July 19.

The free event will be one of the largest watch parties in the world as it brings together 50,000 people on the Great Lawn to watch the match.

Tickets for the event - which will be one of the largest free FIFA World Cup 2026 watch parties in the world - will be administered by Global Citizen through a lottery system. Individuals interested in participating must register here, with the lottery opening up on Thursday, June 11, at 10 a.m. and closing on July 16.

Doors will open at 12:00 p.m. ET and the Final match will begin at 3:00 p.m. ET.

"You shouldn't have to spend tens of thousands of dollars to be part of the World Cup. Under our administration, you won't have to," said Mayor Zohran Mamdani. "From a free watch party for 50,000 New Yorkers on the Great Lawn to fan festivals in every borough and investments that help small businesses share in the benefits of this tournament, we're making sure the World Cup belongs to the people who make this city what it is. This is a once-in-a-generation event, and working-class New Yorkers deserve to experience it, celebrate it, and benefit from it."

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch notified uniformed officers they will be working 12-hour shifts starting the week of July 1, citing the "unprecedented demands" of July events, happening under a "heightened threat environment."

Officers will still get their regular days off as a general matter, but previously requested days off may not be granted.

The department notification cites department resources being dedicated to secure the World Cup, the NBA Finals, America 250, Sail250 and July 4.

"Each of these will bring large crowds, complex operations, and significant demands on this department. All of this is happening in a heightened threat environment," Tisch said in the note to the department.

She says additional dates may be added closer to the World Cup finals in the middle of July.