The biggest soccer tournament in the world arrives in just over two weeks, and Morris County has one of the best seats in the house. Brazil, the five-time World Cup champion and one of the most closely followed teams on earth, has set up its base camp at the Columbia Park Training Facility in Morris Township. The team will train there throughout the tournament, with its first Group Stage match scheduled for June 13 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
And right on cue, the State of New Jersey launched a program this week that gives Morris County residents and local businesses a direct way to benefit from the wave of World Cup activity rolling into the region.
The Welcome World Rewards Program
Governor Mikie Sherrill announced the Welcome World Rewards Program on May 26, a first-of-its-kind initiative developed by the FIFA World Cup 2026 New York/New Jersey Host Committee. The program officially kicks off June 1 and runs through July 19, the date of the World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium.
Here is how it works: fans register on the platform, then check in at participating small businesses across New Jersey and New York to earn points. Those points can be redeemed for prizes including:
- Tickets to FIFA World Cup 2026 matches, including the Final on July 19
- Concert tickets to events at MetLife Stadium and SI Stadium
- Local sporting event tickets
- Official merchandise
- Access to Official New York/New Jersey Host Committee Fan Events
Businesses across New Jersey and New York were able to enroll on a rolling basis through May 22. Morris County shops, restaurants, and venues that signed up are eligible to receive those check-ins and attract new customers during the tournament.
Brazil Is Training Right Next Door to Morristown
Brazil selected Columbia Park in Morris Township as its official base camp earlier this month. The 80-acre facility features eight full-size outdoor soccer pitches, a modern team building, fully equipped gyms, a dining hall, and advanced tracking and medical technology. Brazil’s head coach Carlo Ancelotti called it “new, modern, and offering all the conditions for our work.”
Brazil opens Group Stage play on June 13. Fans traveling to that match, or simply following the tournament while based in the New York/New Jersey area, will move through Morris County’s orbit for the full run of the competition.
Four national teams in total are training at New Jersey facilities during the World Cup, with the NYNJ area emerging as one of the most concentrated hubs of elite teams anywhere in the host nation.
How to Participate as a Fan
The Welcome World Rewards platform is now live for fans. To register and find participating businesses near you, visit the FIFA World Cup 2026 New York/New Jersey Host Committee. Check in at local shops, restaurants, and venues to earn points toward match tickets, prizes, and exclusive experiences.
For Morris County residents, the combination of Brazil training locally and the rewards program launching this week makes this an unusually direct connection to a global event. We will be covering the World Cup’s local impact throughout the summer. Keep reading at ShopMorrisCounty.com for updates.
