Soccer, or "football," is the most popular sport on the planet, but not in the United States.

So, it's logical that the burgeoning hype over the World Cup matches and final at MetLife Stadium has some people confused. Take state Sen. Declan O'Scanlan, a Republican from Monmouth County.

"I don't understand because soccer sucks," O'Scanlan said Tuesday at a hearing in Trenton. He went on to say football, meaning the NFL, is a much better sport and that, "we all know it."

It's a good bet many New Jersey sport fans would second that sentiment.

The issue at hand was an appearance by Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell, who is also Secretary of State in New Jersey, at a legislative hearing about the 2026-27 fiscal year budget.

Some estimates are that the World Cup, which begins in June, will generate from $2 billion to $3 billion in business revenue for the state.

O'Scanlan called that estimate "pie in the sky."

Caldwell, whose office oversees tourism, argued that World Cup matches will draw soccer fans from "everywhere," who will be willing to pay "whatever" for the experience of it all.

Pay "whatever" is a relevant point in this discussion.

Round trip tickets to the matches on NJ Transit will cost $150.

The state also plans a hotel surcharge and a temporary 3 percentage point increase in the sales tax for a 30 square mile radius surrounding MetLife.

The higher sales tax, of course, would impact state residents as well as visitors. The increase would be tax deductible for residents, but as O'Scanlan noted, that would require people to save their receipts. He said that could prove to be unrealistic.

Pushback to some of the state's plans for the World Cup is also coming from Democrats.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, whose fifth district is very close to MetLife, wants state residents to be excluded from any World Cup related tax hikes.

In a letter to Mikie Sherrill and other state leaders, Gottheimer said:

"People in our state are already stretched too thin, and we should not ask them to cover even more costs of the FIFA World Cup."

He called the sales tax increase "staggering," and added:

"These (local) communities didn’t ask for higher taxes; they shouldn’t be punished for living near an event venue. I strongly suggest that you reconsider this proposal."

The backstory here is interesting.

Former Gov. Phil Murphy, a soccer enthusiast, was a big proponent of bringing the World Cup final to the Meadowlands. But he's out of office,

The Sherrill Administration is now stuck with carrying out his plan.