The official New York New Jersey (NYNJ) Host City poster for FIFA World Cup 2026 is more than just eye candy — it’s the first flare in what promises to be a summer of global celebration, seen through a local lens. Designed by New Jersey native and Brooklyn-based artist Rich Tu, the artwork doesn’t just represent a region — it pulses with its energy, history, and identity, as we found out when we spoke with Tu recently.
The countdown to the FIFA World Cup 2026 just got its latest major jolt of creative electricity with the reveal of the official host city posters. With anticipation building for the biggest tournament in football history, the New York New Jersey (NYNJ) Host Committee unveiled its official Host City poster — a vibrant, layered, and deeply local piece of art by award-winning artist and creative director Rich Tu. More than just a visual introduction, it’s a cultural calling card — a symbol of the energy, identity, and diversity that NYNJ will bring to the global stage.
Designed by someone who’s walked both sides of the Hudson, the poster captures what it means to belong to this part of the world. Born in Jersey, now based in Brooklyn, Rich Tu’s roots run deep. His work is bold and kinetic, a reflection of the streets that shaped him and the creative communities he now helps foster. This commission isn’t just a professional milestone — it’s personal.
“Honestly? My first reaction was, ‘Did they send this to the right person?’” Tu laughs when I spoke with him recently. “There’s so much history tied to World Cup visuals. Once I got over the initial surprise, we jumped on a call to align on the goals, tone, and how it would fit into the broader FIFA campaign.”
With this edition of the tournament marking the first time FIFA has commissioned city-specific posters, the opportunity was wide open — and uniquely rich. The NYNJ poster is the first of its kind: bold, bright, and full of symbolism. It features the Statue of Liberty holding a football-flamed torch, “NYNJ” integrated into the skyline, and a host of visual Easter eggs — from floral motifs nodding to the Garden State to slices of pizza and dice that tip a hat to Atlantic City.
“The Statue of Liberty sits geographically between both states,” Tu explains. “So it became a perfect anchor. I was raised in Jersey and have lived in New York for nearly 20 years — there’s a personal connection there, but also a symbolic one. It’s a shared icon.”
That shared spirit was central to the brief — and to the message the poster needed to convey. With the final set to take place in NYNJ, this moment isn’t just about hosting. It’s about leading. And for Tu, that meant creating a piece that resonated both globally and locally, equally at home on the streets of Newark as it is in Times Square.
“New York and New Jersey are incredibly diverse,” he says. “I wanted to reflect that through energy, vibrancy, and symbolism. The Statue of Liberty — a gift from France, a beacon for immigrants — became the emotional core. It says: this place is for everyone.”
That principle — inclusivity through creativity — runs through Tu’s entire body of work. A graduate of Rutgers and the School of Visual Arts, he’s co-founder of the COLORFUL Awards, an initiative spotlighting emerging artists from diverse backgrounds. His recent solo exhibit, Human Response, was nominated for a Webby Award. He’s worked at Nike, taught at SVA, and helped shape campaigns across sports and culture.
“I wanted people to keep discovering things. It’s like a cultural collage... the roar of the crowd, the rhythm of the city — I wanted that pulse to come through.”
But despite his accolades, this project hits different.
“It’s surreal,” he admits. “These posters live on. When people Google ‘World Cup Posters,’ this will be part of that canon. And with that comes responsibility. But also — joy. I want this to be part of the fun, the memories, the nostalgia. Something that kids today will remember in 20 years.”
And there’s a lot to remember. Every detail in the poster has intention behind it. Orange hues echo the energy of the region’s sports teams. Graphic flourishes pull from Tu’s Filipino heritage. And cheeky nods to local life — like a slice of New York pizza — give the piece a grounded sense of place.
“I wanted people to keep discovering things,” he says. “It’s like a cultural collage. From the Red Bulls to the Knicks, the sports energy here runs deep. I wanted that pulse — the roar of the crowd, the rhythm of the city — to come through.”
As for the design process? Tu kept it old-school: sketchbook first. “Very traditional — pen to paper,” he says. “I started as an illustrator, and I still approach projects through that lens. Finding unexpected connections between elements. That’s how the football torch happened — it just clicked.”
Tu’s passion for sport is more than surface-level. He credits the 2010 World Cup — Landon Donovan’s late goal, that unforgettable surge — as his entry point into football culture. Since then, he’s worked across multiple sports, absorbing the energy of competition, community, and creative expression. “Whether it’s sports, theater, or design — I love seeing people master their craft,” he says. “That excellence is inspiring.”
And now, he’s added his own masterpiece to the world stage. As FIFA continues to roll out host city posters — from Mexico City to Toronto — the friendly creative rivalry is on. But Tu is clear about his intention.
“These posters live on. When people Google ‘World Cup Posters,’ this will be part of that canon... I want this to be part of the fun, the memories, the nostalgia.”
“I’m a fan of what other cities are doing — especially Toronto’s. Beautiful work. But of course, there’s a competitive edge to all this,” he says, grinning. “I want my poster to sit up there among the best. Not just for 2026, but across all World Cups.”
At its heart, Rich Tu’s poster is more than an image. It’s a love letter to the place that raised him, the game that unites us, and the future that’s about to unfold on home turf. It’s a signal — bright, bold, and unmistakably NYNJ — that this region is ready to welcome the world.
And if this is how the story starts, we can’t wait to see what comes next.
You can pick up the NYNJ Poster and all the FIFA World Cup 2026 posters here.
