New Jersey governor assures 2026 World Cup will be 'safe tournament'. GETTY IMAGES

Governor Phil Murphy delivered a reassuring message in Berlin on Sunday. It came a day after Donald Trump was shot in the ear during an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania. New Jersey will host eight matches, including the final, at the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

"New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said on Sunday, "This is an incredibly safe tournament. He made the statement during a public appearance in Berlin, hours before the Euro 2024 final between Spain and England, which ended with a 2-1 victory for Spain. He made the promise on Sunday, hours after an assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump and amid violence at Copa America matches.

The 2026 World Cup will be hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico, with New Jersey's MetLife Stadium hosting eight matches, including the final. Murphy's statement comes amid a tense atmosphere after Trump was shot in the ear by a gunman at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, killing a bystander.

Violence also erupted in the stands at the end of Wednesday's Copa America semi-final between Colombia and Uruguay in Charlotte. It took more than 10 minutes for the police to arrive and restore order, while players, including Liverpool striker Darwin Núñez, were seen entering the crowd to protect family members. 

The MetLife Stadium will host eight matches and the final in the 2026 World Cup. GETTY IMAGES
The MetLife Stadium will host eight matches and the final in the 2026 World Cup. GETTY IMAGES

These moments of tension have raised concerns about security, one of the most important aspects of organising an event of this magnitude.

Murphy told reporters he was confident the 2026 World Cup would be peaceful and safe. Referring to the assassination attempt on Trump, Murphy said: "This kind of violence has no place in the American public discourse. He stressed that New Jersey and neighbouring New York "have some of America's strongest gun laws."

Murphy added, "I can say with a great deal of confidence that this is going to be an incredibly safe tournament."

The governor also addressed the violence at the Copa America, saying: "The 2026 World Cup organisers will have much more time to put on a safe tournament. Murphy focused his remarks on the New York-New Jersey bid, saying it will be one of the safest. 

He made a specific reference to MetLife Stadium, which is located in New Jersey, just outside New York City, and is home to the NFL's New York Giants and Jets.

"I wasn't there, but that's not the way we do things at MetLife. That is something that has never been the case in our stadium and, God willing, never will be the case. It's just not how we approach segregation (of fans) and security," he concluded.