[title]
Soccer-induced emotional whiplash is coming for New York next month. One minute you'll be screaming through extra time at MetLife Stadium, the next you'll desperately need to lie face-down on a beach towel somewhere far away from a pitch.
Thankfully, the 2026 FIFA World Cup host stadium for New York and New Jersey isn't actually that far from the ocean.
A new study from Beach.com looked at more than 1,500 beaches near all 16 World Cup host stadiums across the U.S., Canada and Mexico, ranking the best nearby stretches of sand based on drive time, distance and Google review scores. And for MetLife Stadium, the results are surprisingly solid—especially considering the stadium itself sits squarely in the Meadowlands, where the closest body of water is, well, questionable.
Topping the list is Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach, the perpetually lively boardwalk destination where post-match recovery could involve everything from a cold plunge in the Atlantic to dumplings. According to the study, it's about a 42-minute drive from MetLife Stadium and remains the most-reviewed beach near any World Cup stadium in the entire analysis, with more than 30,000 Google reviews.
Not far behind is Manhattan Beach Park, Brighton's quieter, more residential neighbor that tends to attract families and locals who would rather not fight for towel space near a blaring Bluetooth speaker.
Then there's Fort Tilden, the gloriously underdeveloped Queens beach that somehow still feels like a secret despite years of New Yorkers insisting for years that “it's totally ruined.” The former military site inside the Gateway National Recreation Area is beloved for its dunes, lack of commercial chaos and generally chill atmosphere, as long as you can find parking.
For travelers willing to cross into New Jersey after a match, the list also includes Sea Bright Beach Pavilion and Belmar Beach, two Shore favorites.
The broader study also found that MetLife Stadium ranks somewhere in the middle for beach accessibility among World Cup venues. Toronto and Vancouver have beaches practically next door, while places like Kansas City and Dallas require a full road trip.
Still, by New York standards, being less than an hour from a decent beach after watching the biggest sporting event on Earth honestly feels pretty luxurious.
The five closest beaches to MetLife Stadium during the 2026 World Cup
- Brighton Beach — 42 minutes, 31 miles
- Manhattan Beach Park — 45 minutes, 32 miles
- Fort Tilden Beach — 49 minutes, 37 miles
- Sea Bright Beach Pavilion — 60 minutes, 50 miles
- Belmar Beach — 60 minutes, 57 miles