The key detail here is restraint.
That matters because major tournaments are never just about prestige. Hosting games can elevate a region’s profile, fill hotels and put a stadium back in the global spotlight. But it also brings hard negotiations over transport, security, branding and who ultimately pays.
The report says the 2026 experience put New Jersey firmly back on ’s radar, but it also exposed familiar friction points.
Transit appears to be one of them, especially around the cost and flow of travel to the stadium. Branding is another. ’s tournament rules can be strict, and local sensitivities do not always line up neatly with global event demands. That is why the tone from officials sounds welcoming, but conditional.
As Garbarino put it: “Qualquer acordo futuro deve reconhecer o valor que Nova Jersey oferece e entregar o melhor negócio possível para os moradores de Nova Jersey.”
There is also a football reason this makes sense. The women’s game keeps growing in visibility, attendance and commercial pull, and a huge East Coast venue would be an obvious option if organisers want major-market stages. Reports suggest the 2031 Women’s World Cup is expected to involve a wider North American footprint, which would only strengthen MetLife’s case.
For now, this is exploratory rather than imminent. The next storyline to watch is whether ’s host planning becomes clearer - and whether New Jersey decides the terms are right to turn interest into something more concrete.