Michael Dolaghan & Jesus Carrión Named Harrison's World Cup Ambassador

Harrison 4^th Ward Councilman Mike Dolaghan and Harrison Redevelopment Agency Commissioner Jesús Carrión have been appointed as host-site Ambassadors/Greeters for Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison’s 25,000-seat venue designated as an official training and practice facility for the FIFA World Cup 2026™. The stadium, formerly Red Bull Arena, will serve teams playing World Cup matches at New York-New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium).

The newly appointed ambassadors will serve as local representatives and liaisons as the world’s largest sporting event unfolds next door.

In practical terms, the Ambassador/Greeter titles position both men to represent Harrison in formal World Cup–related settings at the stadium and in coordination with the New York New Jersey 2026 Host Committee. Their roles are essentially public-facing: putting a local voice and a familiar face on Harrison’s part of the World Cup story.

There is no information on compensation, hours, and detailed job descriptions for these specific Ambassador/Greeter posts that has not been made public.

What World Cup 2026 Means for Harrison

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest in history—48 teams, 104 matches, three host countries (United States, Canada, Mexico) and 16 host cities.

The New York/New Jersey region will host eight matches, including the World Cup Final on July 19, 2026, at New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium).

An economic-impact study commissioned by the NYNJ Host Committee projects:

• $3.3 billion in total economic activity across New York and New Jersey
• Over 26,000 jobs supported
• More than 1.2 million visitors to the region
• About $432 million in combined state and local tax revenues

Although these figures are regional, Harrison will hopefully see some economic impact if the administration helps publicize what Harrison has to offer in accommodations and restaurants for tourists. We are not sure the Fife Administration is capable of doing so.  It has failed to design a program to get fans to stay in town after a game at Sports Illustrated Stadium. The town can reasonably expect:

• More use of the Sports Illustrated Stadium for team training and media events
• Heavy PATH ridership through the Harrison station on training and match days
• Increased traffic throughout the Town because of additional use of the Sports Illustrated Stadium.

Because the stadium is surrounded by new residential buildings and mixed-use redevelopment, Harrison residents will face quality-of-life pressures, increased congestion, noise, and a higher demand for public safety services.

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