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FIFA announced on February 4 that the 2026 Men’s World Cup final will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The home of the New York Jets and Giants, less than 80 miles from the university, will become the center of the football world on July 19, 2026.
This event hits close to home for the Princeton community, which has deep ties to the U.S. Men’s National Team.
Jim Barlow ’91, head coach of the Princeton University men’s soccer team and the 1990 Ivy League Player of the Year, is enthusiastic about what this means for soccer in the state.
“Everyone in the New Jersey soccer community was very excited to hear the news,” he said in an interview with the Daily Princetonian. “It’s going to be an incredible experience.”
Princeton’s men’s soccer team has established ties to the founding of the U.S. national team. Palmer Stadium has been considered for hosting international matches in the past, and hosted training camps for the U.S. team, including pre-tournament sessions for the 2010 Men’s World Cup. “It was a great experience,” Barlow said, recalling the public training sessions the university community attended.
Perhaps the best known connection between the university and the men’s national team is Bob Bradley ’80, who served as head coach at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Jesse Marsh ’96 previously played under Bradley at Princeton and Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire, and was an assistant coach on the 2010 U.S. team. Since then, he has managed some of Europe’s top clubs, including RB Leipzig in the German Bundesliga and Leeds United in the English Premier League.
He remembers the excitement of watching the 1994 World Cup semifinals at Giants Stadium before it was changed to MetLife Stadium in 2010. “Baggio played,” he recalled of the famous former Italian soccer player in an interview with The Prince newspaper. , Roberto Baggio. “I think he scored the winning goal.” In fact, Baggio scored Italy’s two goals that day, leading the team to the finals. “What this did for the entire U.S. soccer community was amazing,” Marsh said.
To the Princeton community, Marsh and Bradley remain legends.
“[They] It meant a lot to our program over the years,” Barlow said.
Last year, some media speculated that Marsh would become head coach of the U.S. men’s national team. Despite this, Marsh said, “It’s definitely not something we’re closing the door on.”
Marsh believes the decision to hold the finals in New Jersey will continue to strengthen soccer in the U.S. The men’s team failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, but will advance to the Round of 16 in 2022. and was defeated by the Netherlands. tournament. The women’s team suffered a shocking loss to Sweden at last summer’s World Cup, but won their last tournament in a memorable defense in 2015.
Still, Marsh remains hopeful. “There’s no reason we can’t have great optimism about what this team can accomplish,” he said.
His diagnosis is that sports only become important when you grow up and have enough experience with them. “When I come back [to the States]“The people who recognize me are people in their 20s,” he said.
According to FIFA, the 2022 World Cup final will be watched by 1.5 billion people, making it the most-watched tournament in the world. In 2026, all eyes will be on New Jersey.
“That’s amazing, isn’t it?” Marsh said of the ratings. “I hope so [this] The World Cup generally excites the U.S. soccer community. ”
Theo Wells-Spackman is an associate podcast editor. Contribute to news writer For the “prince”.
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