A bomb threat sent by text message targeting MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford during a FIFA World Cup match on Sunday, July 5, led to the arrests of two Jersey City residents and prompted an immediate security response across the entire Meadowlands Sports Complex, New Jersey State Police said.
The threat was received at approximately 4:15 p.m. — just minutes after the 4 p.m. kickoff of a Group Stage match between Brazil and Norway. Bergen County officials notified the New Jersey State Police, who quickly coordinated with local law enforcement to strengthen security at all venues in the complex as a precautionary measure. Norway went on to win the match 2-1. The game was not interrupted or suspended.
State Trooper Charles Marchan said the threat was sent via text message and was described as “targeting FIFA.” Investigators traced the phone number used to send the message and determined it originated from a vehicle that had been present at the Sports Complex at the time the threat was received. That vehicle was subsequently tracked to Jersey City, where authorities intercepted it and conducted searches of both the vehicle and a residential property connected to the occupants. No explosive devices were found during either search.
The primary suspect identified by authorities is Amar Ramkissoon, 26, of Jersey City. He was arrested on Sunday and charged with second-degree terroristic threats occurring during a state of emergency and second-degree false public alarm involving a bomb threat with serious bodily injury. The case was transferred to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office on Monday, July 6, and Ramkissoon was booked into Bergen County Jail, where he remained in custody as of press time. A woman was also arrested in connection with the incident, though additional details about her identity and specific charges had not been formally released by authorities at the time of publication.
2 arrested after alleged FIFA bomb threat in NJ: NJSP
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Court records indicate that Ramkissoon has a prior history with New Jersey law enforcement spanning several years and multiple jurisdictions. He was charged with cyber harassment in Jersey City in 2022, faced charges of making terroristic threats and filing a false report involving a bomb or hostage situation in Jersey City in 2025, and was charged with harassment by communication intended to cause public alarm in Belleville as recently as April 2026.
Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller separately confirmed that his department also received a threat directed at the stadium on the same day. He declined to release additional details, and it was not immediately clear whether the Secaucus threat was connected to the same suspects.
MetLife Stadium, temporarily renamed New York New Jersey Stadium for the duration of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, is hosting eight matches during the tournament, including the final on July 19. The stadium has been designated a National Special Security Event for the final, the highest federal security designation available in the United States, which activates a Secret Service-led operation involving hardened perimeters, counter-drone systems, FAA-enforced flight restrictions, and coordinated monitoring across federal, state, and local agencies. The eight Group Stage and knockout matches hosted at the venue carry Special Event Assessment Rating designations, placing them under extensive security protocols as well.
Sunday’s incident underscored the security pressures surrounding a tournament of this scale being hosted in a densely populated region. New Jersey had previously canceled plans for outdoor fan viewing events, in part due to the costs and complexity of providing adequate security in the New York metropolitan area. Law enforcement agencies from multiple jurisdictions have been operating in close coordination throughout the tournament.
The investigation remains active and ongoing, according to authorities. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office had not issued a formal statement as of Monday evening.
