FIFA Fan Zones: NJIT Architecture Students Reimagine Public Spaces for World Cup

When the FIFA World Cup kicks off next summer, all eyes will be on the 16 host cities across North America - especially East Rutherford, New Jersey, where the tournament's final will be played at the 80,000-seat MetLife Stadium. But for Tatiana Florexil '25, a recent graduate from New Jersey Institute of Technology's (NJIT) Hillier College of Architecture and Design (HCAD), the true potential of the World Cup lies beyond the stadium walls. It lives in the streets, parks and plazas of local communities.

Florexil, an Irvington native and Albert Dorman Honors scholar, participated in a special Independent Study Studio led by Professor Gernot Riether, chair of NJIT's School of Architecture. The rest of the team included students Damian Summers, Francesca Valdez-Tan, Rina Finkelstein and Tiffany Hu.

The studio, supported through a grant from the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), focused on using the World Cup as a placemaking opportunity, rethinking how public spaces across New Jersey could transform into dynamic, inclusive fan zones for the five-week tournament.

"I like soccer at NJIT," Florexil said. "Sometimes I would catch the games, and it's actually a really cool sport to see. I thought it would be an interesting opportunity. I applied, and I was lucky enough to be selected."

This past winter, Florexil spent time in Seville, Spain, where she explored the city's architecture and historical sites. She also witnessed the power soccer has in Spanish society, and how it's part of the social fabric. Next year, she looks forward to seeing all the cultures coming together right around the corner from where she lives in New Jersey.

"Why not harness the global narrative of soccer to bring communities together at the local level by activating public spaces in small towns across New Jersey?" said Riether.

Designing for connection

The studio titled "Game On! Activating Public Spaces During the World Cup," explored how everyday urban spaces - like a street in a downtown area or a parking lot in front of a school or a public park - could be converted into vibrant viewing and social areas. The students developed a "kit of parts": simple, affordable and easily deployable components that could bring people together. These included collapsible tents, playful furniture designed to look like soccer balls, interactive games and even ball pits.

As part of their research, students presented their work to the NJTPA's Regional Transportation Advisory Committee during a virtual meeting on June 9.

"This grant, in collaboration with NJTPA, offered our students a unique opportunity to tackle real-world design challenges tied to one of the world's largest sporting events," said Riether. "The projects focus on strategic, small-scale interventions that generate significant social and economic impact, ensuring that even municipalities without large stadiums can benefit from the World Cup."

Soccer as a cultural bridge

Florexil quickly grasped that the World Cup is about far more than just the matches. "The FIFA World Cup is a cultural experience where you're mixing with different countries," she said. "It's not just about soccer as much as it is about socializing with others."

In the U.S., we typically watch sports from the couch in our living room or at a sports bar. But what if a public space became the living room of the community - or the sports bar for everyone?

According to Blythe Eaman, NJTPA's director of Environmental & Sustainability Planning, the project was also about stimulating economic development by turning match days into local events. "We wanted to support communities to tap that spending potential and bring people together," she said in a press release.

Eaman added that NJTPA plans to package the students' ideas into a guide for municipalities and business improvement districts. Staff will offer technical assistance, site design support, and outreach similar to NJTPA's Complete Streets Demonstration Library, but with a World Cup-specific focus.

An eye toward the urban future

The experience left a deep impression on Florexil and expanded her view of what architecture and urbanism can accomplish.

"Actually, I have become more interested in urbanism and urban planning," she said. "It made me think about the small things - like how many people do you expect to gather in a space, what is its intended use?"

She also connected the project to a sustainability course she took in her final semester, which helped her think more holistically about public spaces. "It's more than just planting trees, but also thinking about how the spaces could promote mental health."

The real highlight for Florexil, however, was presenting her group's ideas to professionals and seeing how their concepts were taken seriously.

"Being able to present it in front of the New Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, it made it fulfilling," she said. "Okay, this actually happened."

Practical design, real-world questions

Throughout the process, the students were challenged to balance design vision with practical considerations. "They would ask us questions like... how many people do you tend to use this space for? Is it just for a street, or can it be used in a park?" Florexil recalled. "And it just reminds me that design can never be too perfect."

As NJTPA and local governments look to engage residents and visitors during the World Cup, Florexil hopes the work she and her peers contributed will shape how New Jersey shows up on the world stage - not just in stadiums, but on sidewalks.

"It's about being present in the space," she said. "Creating something that's simple but allows people to connect, celebrate, and belong."

To view the presentation, click here.