We respectfully urge the Mayor and Borough Council of East Rutherford to temporarily lift the borough’s ban on short-term rentals—including platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO—for the duration of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, during which eight matches, including the 2026 World Cup Final, will be held at MetLife Stadium.

The World Cup is a once-in-a-generation global event that will bring tens of thousands of visitors to East Rutherford and the surrounding region. As the host community for MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford will be at the center of this international spotlight. Existing hotel capacity alone will not be sufficient to meet the extraordinary lodging demand created by this event.

Importantly, neighboring municipalities—including Clifton—have already taken steps to allow short-term rentals, recognizing the economic and logistical realities of hosting a major international event. Without a temporary accommodation in East Rutherford, visitors will simply stay elsewhere, taking their spending power with them.

A time-limited suspension of the short-term rental ban—restricted to the World Cup period and paired with reasonable safeguards—would provide clear benefits:

1) Expand lodging options for visitors while reducing pressure on hotels

2) Allow local homeowners to participate in the economic upside of the World Cup

3) Drive increased spending at East Rutherford restaurants, shops, and small businesses

4) Help ensure East Rutherford is fully prepared to host a global audience

This request is not for a permanent policy change. It is a narrowly tailored, temporary solution that reflects the unique scale and opportunity presented by the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With clear rules, registration requirements, and enforcement mechanisms, the borough can protect neighborhood quality of life while also supporting a successful international event.

We respectfully ask Mayor Jeffrey Lahullier and the Borough Council to align East Rutherford with neighboring communities and take action now to ensure our borough is not left behind as the world comes to New Jersey in 2026. The 2026 NY/NJ FIFA World Cup Committee has not done much to allow residents to take advantage of this momentous occasion and this would be a prudent course of action that will help residents benefit.

Thank you for your consideration and leadership.