NFL star Wilson: You can't hear when MetLife gets loud

• Garrett Wilson is one of the top wide receivers in the NFL
• He plays his home games at MetLife Stadium, which will host the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final
• The New York Jets player talks about his affinity for soccer and what it’s like playing in New York New Jersey

The USA is set to be the epicenter of international soccer in the next two years, as both the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ and FIFA World Cup 26™ will take place on its shores. At the heart of it will be New York New Jersey, specifically MetLife Stadium, where the final of each tournament will be played.

The stadium, which opened in 2010 and has a capacity of 82,500, has already been the venue for the 2016 Copa America Centenario final and a 2024 Copa America semi-final. It is also the home of two NFL franchises, the New York Giants and the New York Jets.

The Jets boast one of the best wide receivers in the league in Garrett Wilson, who is in his third year with the team. The 24-year-old is renowned for his incredible athleticism and ability to make stupefying catches.

Wilson recently spoke with FIFA about what it is like playing in front of a full house at MetLife Stadium and his excitement about being able to watch Club World Cup and World Cup matches at this spectacular arena.

FIFA: How familiar are you with the sport of soccer?

Garrett Wilson: Soccer was my first sport. I feel like a lot of people that end up in the NFL say that. I took it pretty seriously until about age 10. I started playing football at six, soccer at five, so it was exclusively soccer for a year there. I loved it. My sister and I found a way to be on the same team. We were pretty good.

From that point on, I got into FIFA the video game, but I watch on Sundays, on the weekend, if I wake up early enough. I like Man United a lot. And I got certain players that I root for. But really, it all stems from playing at a young age and kind of keeping track throughout the years because of the video game.

Who are some of the players you like?

For me, it all started with Wayne Rooney and Ronaldinho. Those are the two players I remember at a young age gravitating towards. And nowadays, I find myself really liking Erling Haaland and Alejandro Garnacho, who plays for United. And I know I said Haaland, who plays for Man City, but sometimes you root for the individuals.

With soccer, I can really appreciate the crafts and everything that goes into it. In my opinion, it's the hardest sport, being that in tune and that coordinated with your feet. The guys that are great at it are the ones that I love. Seeing a guy like Lamine Yamal go out at that age [17] and play the EURO this past year, stuff like that is what I love to see. Greatness at all different levels.

Could you have been a soccer player?

I don't want to discount anyone that's at that level because, being at the pro level of this sport, I know how much goes into it and how much things have to be on your side. But I like to think that if I really dedicated myself to it at the same age that I dedicated myself to football or basketball, I would have been able to get there. But like I said, it's just such a hard sport and you have to be so skilled that I don't know. I think I'm playing the right sport now because those soccer players, they're different animals, truly.

You were in Europe during the EURO last summer. Did you get to experience any of it?

I found myself in London when England was playing their last game of the group stage. We went to a place to watch it… I don't want to say the whole city shuts down, but it kind of does. We went to a spot and just the atmosphere, the way those fans were rallying behind the team and the way they all left so mad because it was a tie game. It was just a really cool atmosphere. I was like, man, if we could find a way to bottle this up and take this to America, that would be special.

Is there a sense of excitement about the World Cup, and the fact MetLife is getting the final, there in New York New Jersey?

I know that, personally, me and one of our other receivers, Allen Lazard, have been talking about how it's going to be here and how we're going to be at every game we can. Stuff like this doesn't happen every day. Having it come to New York is something that I feel like I can't pass up. I just hope that we give them everything that they've seen on the other side of the world, because I know how it is over there. If we can give them a piece of that, it'd be awesome.

What is MetLife like when the stadium is full and the fans are rocking?

This is one of those cities that really rallies behind their teams, rallies behind sports. MetLife is a testament to that. Playing there and getting to have that as our home stadium has been something that's really special to me.

I can really imagine with soccer coming here to play the World Cup and how fired up these fans will be, the atmosphere will be special. I mean, the fans show up for us every week, but this is a whole different level of fandom when it comes to the World Cup.

What's one of the most memorable moments you’ve experienced at MetLife?

My second year in the first game against the [Buffalo] Bills, it was Monday Night Football. It was [Quarterback Aaron] Rodgers's first game [with the Jets]. He ended up getting hurt that game, but just the way we finished it on [Xavier Gipson’s punt return for a touchdown], hearing the roar of that crowd, to know that we're finishing off the game in the fashion we did, that's something I'll never forget.

It was so loud and I was so excited. I don't even really remember exactly every detail of it; I kind of blacked out at that moment. It was just an all-around cool moment and you really can't hear your thoughts. I'm sure it'll get that loud for the World Cup. You get a goal, you get someone winning the game at the end of the match, it'll be that loud.

What do you tell people from all over the world about going to a game at MetLife?

It'll be cool. It's already a melting pot being in this city, being in this part of the world. You get so many different types of people, different cultures, and all of the sudden we all come together over this one sport we love. I expect to see a lot of that. As far as MetLife goes, it’s not in the city but it brings that same energy that comes with being in the city. I can imagine people will tailgate, they'll do everything that that we do up in here before a Jets game or Giants game. It should be a good time.

And what are your favorite things about New York?

Personally, I'm a history guy, and I really like walking around the city and seeing some of the architecture in New York. Also, the food is second to none. You got restaurants scattered all throughout the city that are just great food, great vibes. All the bad restaurants have been weeded out because people caught on to them. You got great food all over, whether it's a hole in the wall or a Michelin star restaurant, you can find it anywhere. New York is a really a special city and one that I've grown to love a lot.