770 free World Cup tickets will be given to N.J. residents, Gov. Sherrill announces

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced Tuesday that 770 free World Cup tickets will be given out to New Jersey residents.

They will go to certain groups, including the families of National Guard members currently deployed abroad, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, frontline healthcare workers, and pediatric hospital patients, among others.

Hackensack University Medical Center says it is donating 200 tickets, while Uber is donating 500. The New York New Jersey FIFA World Cup Host Committee was able to secure 70 tickets through personal donations.

Rewarding children for their "tremendous courage"

The announcement in New Jersey came after Mayor Zohran Mamdani secured 1,000 $50 tickets for New York City residents.

"These kids and so many like them have shown tremendous courage, more than most of us will ever be called to find," Sherrill said. "What we can do is give them and their families a day of joy to remind them that they're not alone, and we have their backs."

Soccer legend Tony Meola was also at the announcement on Tuesday.

"Growing up, breathing, feeling this sport every single day, to think that the world will descend on East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19, it's just a pinch-me moment," he said.

One recipient said getting a ticket was a dream come true. He was able to pick which match he wanted to go to and chose the first one at MetLife Stadium, Brazil vs. Morocco on Saturday.

"When they said they could make that possible, I got excited. I was so hyped up," he said.

"I love the sport so much"

Also getting a ticket was M.J. Sular of Belleville, an 8-year-old who has been battling non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

"I'm really excited. I have been waiting to go to a game for a long time. I have been waiting since the start of my treatment," Sular said.

Sular is half-way through treatment at Hackensack University Medical Center, which is donating tickets to cancer patients, including 12-year-old Danny Chuta, who has leukemia.

"It was really tough. I trusted in God, you know," Chuta said.

He's got a ticket for Saturday's game and said he'll be rooting for Brazil.

"I play a midfielder. I love the sport so much. I support the teams, you know," Chuta said.

FIFA World Cup 2026 matches are set to kick off Thursday.