Deaf & Hard of Hearing World Cup Guide: MetLife Stadium Services

MetLife Stadium provides a comprehensive suite of services for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing fans to ensure they can fully experience the 2026 World Cup Final. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), large sports venues are required to provide equivalent access to all audio communications for fans who are Deaf or hard of hearing.

Services include assistive listening devices (ALDs), captioning on the stadium's 200-foot LED scoreboard, ASL interpretation at key announcements, and visual emergency alert systems throughout the venue.

This guide covers every service available and how to access each one on matchday.

Complimentary assistive listening receivers are available at all Guest Services Booths inside the stadium. These devices pick up the stadium's PA announcements and commentary feed directly, amplifying the signal through a neck loop or earpiece.

The stadium uses a telecoil (T-coil) compatible induction loop system across the Plaza Level and Club sections. Hearing aid and cochlear implant users can switch their device to "T mode" to receive direct amplified audio without a separate receiver.

A photo ID deposit is required when borrowing ALD receivers. Devices must be returned to a Guest Services Booth before exiting the stadium.

MetLife Stadium's main scoreboard displays real-time captioning of all PA announcements during the World Cup Final. This includes safety announcements, referee decisions, substitution notifications, and post-match ceremonies.

Emergency evacuation messages are delivered via both audio PA and high-contrast visual strobing alerts on all concourse screens. These visual alerts are visible from all public spaces and concourses throughout the stadium.

Individual seating areas in ADA sections also feature smaller companion caption display screens mounted to the armrests of companion seats in select high-demand accessible areas.

FIFA and MetLife Stadium will provide American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters at dedicated positions near the field for key announcements including pre-match ceremonies, national anthems, trophy presentations, and safety briefings.

Fans who are Deaf can request ASL-interpreted communication with Guest Services staff at any Guest Services Booth inside the venue. Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) tablets are available at Guest Services desks for real-time two-way communication.

International Deaf fans should note that signed communications during FIFA events default to International Sign (IS), with ASL available for domestic announcements.

The MetLife Stadium app features a text-based guest services channel accessible to all ticket holders. Deaf fans can send text requests for assistance directly to stadium operations staff and receive text responses without any audio communication.

For security or safety concerns, Deaf fans can also text 911 directly in New Jersey — all NJ counties support text-to-911 emergency services.

The stadium's internal SMS line for matchday assistance is printed on the back of all ticket holders' printed confirmation emails and is also available at Guest Services Booths.