Amid Trump threats, Airbnb announces investments in area ahead of 2026 World Cup
The 2026 World Cup opens on June 11, with the first game at MetLife scheduled for June 13.
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Days after threats from President Donald Trump about the potential of moving some matches in the 2026 World Cup, Airbnb announced an investment in the New York-New Jersey area as MetLife Stadium hosts some of the games.
The event has the potential to create a major impact, as Carli Lloyd knows from experience.
The two-time World Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist was on hand at Wednesday's announcement in Prospect Heights and says she clearly remembers when the Women's World Cup was at Giants Stadium in 1999.
"That was life-changing," Lloyd told News 12. "Because it made me dream big, and was so inspirational."
With the hope of making the 2026 Men's World Cup create the same spark, Lloyd joined Airbnb to announce plans to build five mini-soccer pitches in New York City's outer borough's and New Jersey.
"We can't have the World Cup come to North America, for the games to be exciting, and then for everybody to forget about it afterwards," explained Jay Carney, the global head of policy and communications for Airbnb.
Plans for a free fan fest in The Bronx during the tournament were also announced.
"To create these pitches and have this kind of investment, is hopefully what's going to lead to having the next Carli Lloyd," said Alex Lasry, the CEO of FIFA's World Cup 2026 New York/New Jersey host committee.
But first, there could be an issue getting to the games here.
Last week, Trump told reporters about some of the World Cup host sites, "If i think it's not safe, we're going to move it out of that city."
That's an umbrella the MetLife Stadium games would apparently fall under. "New York, Los Angeles. They're very unsafe places," he said.
However, Trump does not actually have the power to move World Cup games. That decision would have to come from FIFA, and the soccer organization's vice president told reporters Wednesday morning that games would not be moving.
"We were given the big responsibility of hosting the finals, and I think that is an opportunity that we can't take lightly and one that we have to make sure that we capitalize on," said Lasry. "So we want (people in attendance) to see the culture, the rich diversity, and all that this region has to offer."
The 2026 World Cup opens on June 11, with the first game at MetLife scheduled for June 13.
