CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ — Visit South Jersey is proud to announce that it has been selected as one of three recipients of a Regional, Multi-Day, Multi-Location Event grant through the NJ World Cup Community Initiative, a $5 million grant program announced on May 6, 2026 by Governor Mikie Sherrill, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the FIFA World Cup 2026™ New York New Jersey Host Committee, and Choose New Jersey.
The funding will support Visit South Jersey World Cup Activations, a series of public events taking place from now through July 19, 2026, designed to bring the energy and excitement of FIFA World Cup 2026™ to residents, visitors, small businesses, and community partners throughout the region.
“As Chair of the Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee, I understand the impact these funds will have for our South Jersey businesses and communities,” said Assemblyman Bill Moen. “I applaud the World Cup Community Initiative for supporting local activations across our region and state. Visit South Jersey’s work will help our towns participate in the economic and cultural opportunities the World Cup will bring this summer.”
Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. talked about the importance of creating access and equity for fan zones around the state and praised Gov. Sherrill’s decision to spread the spectating experience to all corners of the state.
“I want to applaud Gov. Sherrill for her expansive vision in making World Cup activations a statewide event and focusing her sights on Camden County and South Jersey,” Cappelli said. “This region is the home to World Cup champions and has a strong love for the beautiful game. We are looking forward to having active community wide participation in these upcoming events here in Camden County and beyond and want to thank the Governor and her agencies for their relentless work and confidence in us and Visit South Jersey to make the county a destination for World Cup spectating sites.”
“South Jersey is ready to welcome the world,” said Michael Snyder, Director of Operations for Visit South Jersey. “This grant gives us the opportunity to build on years of regional planning and create public experiences that connect the excitement of the World Cup with South Jersey’’s waterfronts, parks, small businesses, cultural assets, and communities.”
Visit South Jersey’s planned activations include soccer-themed programming at the Dad Vail Regatta, SoccerFest26 at the Camden Waterfront, Freedom Festival, and a World Cup Finals Viewing Event.. As part of the broader regional program, Visit South Jersey also plans to regrant a portion of the award to partners in Burlington County and Gloucester County to support local World Cup-related events and community activations that align with the overall “Welcome the World to South Jersey” effort.
“SoccerFest26 at the Camden Waterfront will be the signature event of this effort, but the goal is much bigger than one weekend,” Snyder added. “This is about using a once-in-a-generation global event to drive local economic activity, support small businesses, showcase Camden County, and make sure South Jersey residents across our region are part of New Jersey’s World Cup moment. By supporting additional activations in Burlington and Gloucester Counties, we can extend the impact of this grant beyond one location and create a true South Jersey-wide celebration.”
SoccerFest26 at the Camden Waterfront will take place June 25–27, 2026, at Wiggins Waterfront Park in Camden. The event is designed as a welcoming, high-energy gathering space for residents and visitors during the 2026 World Cup season, with large-screen match screenings, international food and cultural offerings, community-based soccer programming, youth activations, and a curated vendor marketplace featuring New Jersey craft and gift vendors.
The Camden Waterfront provides a highly visible and accessible setting for the signature activations, located near major attractions including Adventure Aquarium, Battleship New Jersey, Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, Downtown Camden, Cooper River Park, and Philadelphia. Visit South Jersey expects the grant-supported events to draw thousands of attendees and create direct opportunities for local vendors, restaurants, attractions, hotels, nonprofits, youth organizations, and community partners throughout South Jersey.
Visit South Jersey is developing SoccerFest26 in partnership with regional public, private, and community partners, including those listed at SoccerFest26.com. Current sponsors featured on the event site include AAA South Jersey and the New Jersey Lottery. The event also includes youth soccer activations with Rutgers University–Camden.
Businesses, vendors, sponsors, artisans, crafters, community organizations, and sports-related groups are encouraged to participate. Sponsorship opportunities and vendor applications are available through the SoccerFest26 website (www.soccerfest26.com), with Visit South Jersey inviting partners to help support the event, reach residents and visitors, and be part of South Jersey’s regional World Cup celebration.
Grant-funded events will also be integrated into the NYNJ Host Committee’s Welcome World Rewards Program, helping connect fans with local businesses and experiences throughout the region.
Visit South Jersey thanks its partners Camden County, the City of Camden, Camden Community Partnership, Rutgers University-Camden, local municipalities, business organizations, and community stakeholders to deliver events that are welcoming, accessible, and reflective of South Jersey’s role in New Jersey’s FIFA World Cup 2026™ experience.
About Visit South Jersey
Visit South Jersey is the official destination marketing organization for Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem Counties, as well as the Outer Coastal Plain AVA. The organization promotes South Jersey’s communities, attractions, downtowns, historic sites, wineries, restaurants, arts and cultural destinations, outdoor spaces, and events to support visitation, tourism growth, and local economic development.
