Overview
The goal of this peer exchange was for 2026 World Cup host cities to learn from each other’s experiences hosting planned special events and to identify effective strategies for their World Cup mobility and operations planning.
The peer exchange was designed to strengthen regional collaboration among host cities by aligning operational strategies and event planning with industry best practices.
The intended outcome of the exchange is to enhance the ability of host cities to effectively manage the unique mobility challenges presented by the FIFA World Cup, ensuring a successful and well-coordinated event.
Attendees
NOCoE invited two attendees from each World Cup site to attend as well as the FIFA World Cup Mobility Planning team and the FHWA Office of Operations. Given the location in New Jersey, many of the New Jersey-New York stakeholders also contributed to the event.
Location
Met Life Stadium and New Jersey DOT hosted the two-day event, under the leadership of Sal Cowan, New Jersey DOT. Attendees met in the press lounge of the stadium and received a tour of the stadium and its surrounding areas to discuss their event management strategies and operations. Additionally, Francis O’Connor, Commissioner of New Jersey DOT, opened the event with a discussion on the importance of partnerships in planning for special events.
Agenda
The agenda was structured to both learn from each of the World Cup sites and their specific needs while also identifying key industry practices that sites can consider as they build their operations and mobility plans for 2026. Below is the list of presentations and discussions topics, grouped by focus the focus areas of identifying practices, lessons learned, and resource development.