New York-New Jersey

• Soccer in New York-New Jersey
• About New Meadowlands Stadium
• About New York-New Jersey

New York - New Jersey has more people than any other metropolitan area in the United States and its love of soccer is even greater than its population.

From 1975-1977, New York-New Jersey was at the forefront of American soccer as Brazilian Star Pele signed with the New York Cosmos. The man that the International Olympic Committee named the "Athlete of the Century" led the team to a 1977 NASL championship in his third and final season with the team. Some of the world's greatest players including Franz Beckenbauer, Carlos Alberto Torres, and Giorgio Chinaglia, later joined Pele on the Cosmos.

On October 1, 1977 Pele closed out one of the most storied careers in the history of the greatest game in front of a capacity crowd at Giants Stadium. The game was an exhibition match pitting the Cosmos against Santos FC - the Brazilian team Pele played on for 17 years. The soccer star played the first half for the Cosmos and the second half for Santos.

Today, the New York Red Bulls call New York - New Jersey home. They will be unveiling a new stadium - Red Bull Arena - in 2010.  Also that year, the city will welcome FC New York which is set up to be an expansion team in the USL 1st Division.

The area is home to a number of teams in other leagues including: Long Island Academy (NPSL), Morris County Colonials (NPSL), New York Athletic Club (NPSL), NJ Ironmen (XSL) and in 2010 the Brooklyn Italianos will join the NPSL.

NY-NJ is a hotbed for USMNT coaches. Current USMNT coach Bob Bradley (Montclair, NJ) and former coach Bruce Arena (Brooklyn, NY) both were born in the area. 1990s USMNT goalie Tony Meola was also born in Belleville, NJ.

Scheduled to open in early 2010, New Meadowlands Stadium is located in East Rutherford, N.J. with a seating capacity of 82,000, the stadium will play host to the New York Giants (NFL) and the New York Jets (NFL).

On Sunday, July 26, 2009, FIFA President Joseph 'Sepp' Blatter toured the stadium and was presented with a commemorative ball for the first goal in the new stadium which he then used to record that honor.

The new venue will be replacing Giants Stadium, the venue that hosted seven matches during the 1994 FIFA World Cup USA™, including a semifinal victory by eventual runner-up Italy over Bulgaria witnessed by 74,110 spectators.

The venue also hosted four matches in the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Giants Stadium has a long history with soccer beginning with serving as the home of Pele and the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League from 1977 to 1985.

The stadium is also in its 14th and final season as the home of Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls.

Giants Stadium hosted the CONCACAF Gold Cup Final in 2005, won by the United States over Panama, and again in 2009, won by Mexico over the United States in front of 79,156 spectators.

Meadowlands Station rail spur will serve the stadium.

Immerse yourself in New York City for five minutes, and you'll see why it's like no other place on earth. 

Only here will you find all of America's best attributes - the diversity, the culture, the style - intensified in such an intriguing way.

New York City's five boroughs are home to some of the most recognizable and cherished landmarks and attractions in the world.

Visitors marvel at the stunning icons they've come to know through TV and the movies, while locals revel in the historic sites that define the place they call home.

If you're a first-time visitor, come see the Empire State Building and Chrysler Building, the Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, Central Park, the Bronx Zoo, Staten Island Ferry, Brooklyn Bridge and all our other world-famous attractions.

If you've been here before, there's always another neighborhood to explore, another restaurant to try, another Broadway show or museum to see, another don't-miss cultural performance or sporting event.

Featuring the world's most recognized skyline, New York City houses the world's economic engine - Wall Street - while also serving as the focal points of the fashion and entertainment industries.

Known around the world as "The City that Never Sleeps" and "The Big Apple," New York City is the world's melting pot with almost 40 percent of its inhabitants being foreign born, making it a natural home for the international headquarters of the United Nations.