World Cup Wrap Up From Mayor Nunziato & Chief John Russo

World Cup Wrap-Up From Mayor Nunziato:

It’s been just over a week now since the World Cup came to its conclusion. While we may not have seen the tremendous economic boom we had hoped for, we did see a tremendous job done well by numerous local law enforcement agencies.

As our area returns to business as usual, I would be remiss to not document how diligently our Rutherford Police Department worked with these agencies to keep our area safe over the course of those six weeks. It’s important to remember that these agencies prepared together for years in the leadup to World Cup. As such, I asked Chief John Russo to share with the public a synopsis of the RPD’s activities, preparations and operations for the World Cup.

On behalf of the Borough of Rutherford, Chief Russo and the Rutherford Police Department – thank you for a job well done.

After years of preparation, The Rutherford Police Department involvement during the 2026 FIFA World Cup at New York/ New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) was a success. The Rutherford Police prepared for the games attending multiple trainings, table top exercises and participated in numerous exercises with our local, county, state and federal law enforcement partners. The Department’s Administration attended TEEX’s (Texas A&M Engineering Extension Services) Law Enforcement training to enhance the Department’s preparedness and response for the World Cup. The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup was a tune up for the Department on what was to be expected. The added challenge of “No Parking” at the Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, added additional challenges for Law Enforcement in the surrounding Towns for traffic control.

Rutherford P.D. added additional manpower for the games hosted at NY/NJ Stadium. Officers worked long hours for each game and were assigned fixed and non-fixed posts to ensure safety, security checks on infrastructure, heightened awareness and security for World Leaders and Dignitaries in attendance, monitor traffic flows and crowd control in the Borough, participated in the NJSP Mobility Plan and assisted the surrounding towns addressing specific issues that were observed. The Department’s Administration was all on hand in various Command Posts to quickly identify and address the pop-up issues. The Command Centers utilized sophisticated technology and drones to monitor the Stadium and the surrounding highways. Other Rutherford Police Officers were assigned to specialized units- the Rapid Deployment Force and the Motorcycle Unit. No regular services to the Borough were affected for all 8 FIFA World Cup Games.

Rutherford Police monitored the FIFA related safety and security issues as well as; responded to 4 unauthorized drone calls for the operation of drones during restricted periods for FIFA Games (response with our Federal Partners- FBI & FAA), protests on the highway overpasses, fans walking on the highway and ride share drivers parking on the highways, crowd control and assisting surrounding agencies when requested. In total Rutherford PD Officers worked 409 hours for the World Cup in extremely hot conditions.

- Chief John Russo