New Jersey Democrats Divided on Mikie Sherrill’s World Cup Sales Tax Increase Could Cover Parts of the Jersey Shore

Trenton, NJ — A proposal to raise taxes to help cover 2026 World Cup costs is exposing divisions among New Jersey Democrats, after U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer publicly pushed back on a plan tied to Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s administration. Gottheimer warned against shifting costs onto residents and businesses in the Meadowlands region, where MetLife Stadium will host World Cup matches, including the final. The dispute centers on a proposal to increase the state sales tax from 6.625% to 9.625% within the New Jersey Meadowlands District—a defined 30-square-mile zone spanning parts of Bergen and Hudson counties. There’s just one misconception. It has been reported in the news that the proposal covers a 30 mile radius around Met-Life Stadium, but the reality is that the Sherrill World Cup Tax Zone is 30 miles from the Meadowlands District in its entirety, which allows the governor to reach even further to pull more taxes out of New Jersey businesses and residents in the region. That would put portions of the Jersey Shore well within its boundaries. Sherrill says this tax will help New Jersey pay the costs to host the event, but she’s still looking toward FIFA to pay an additional $40 million in