New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) has officially announced that during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, round-trip train tickets between New York’s Penn Station and MetLife Stadium will cost $150, a significant increase from the usual $12.90 fare, exceeding 10 times. Officials state that despite receiving federal and local subsidies, the overall transportation costs are still substantial, necessitating a price adjustment.
NJ Transit President Kris Kolluri pointed out that the estimated total event transportation cost was around $62 million. Even after receiving $10.6 million from the federal government and $3.6 million from the New York-New Jersey organizing committee, the agency still needs to cover approximately $48 million in expenses, equivalent to about $6 million per match. He emphasized that the system can transport a maximum of around 40,000 passengers per game, and under this cost structure, tickets must be set at $150 to sustain operations.
In addition to the railway, organizers have planned shuttle bus services departing from the Port Authority Bus Terminal and Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine in Nutley, New Jersey, with a one-way fare of $80. Kolluri also revealed that only 40,000 railway tickets will be available for each match, and once sold out, other fans will not be able to take the train to the stadium.
However, this arrangement quickly sparked controversy between New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill and the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA). According to the New York Post, Sherrill criticized that FIFA did not provide any funding for World Cup transportation in the existing agreements undertaken by the state government. Instead, NJ Transit is bearing the entire cost of around $48 million, while FIFA is expected to generate revenue of up to $11 billion from this edition. She emphasized that she will not let New Jersey taxpayers and commuters bear the long-term transportation costs for fans, stating that “this is not fair”.
In response, FIFA expressed surprise at the criticism and denied responsibility for the ticket price hike. A spokesperson stated that FIFA had already signed a transportation agreement with the host city in 2018, initially planning to offer free transportation, but had revised it in 2023 to allow fans to travel to and from the venues at regular fares. They also stressed that the organization has assisted host cities in planning transportation and seeking federal funds over the years, with the World Cup expected to bring significant economic benefits to the local area.
Apart from the ticket price dispute, traffic restrictions during the event could also impact daily commuting. Officials have indicated that on match days (June 13, 16, 22, 25, 27, 30, and July 5 and 19), within four hours before kickoff, only ticket holders will be allowed access to the NJ Transit area within Penn Station in Manhattan, potentially affecting the evening rush hour commutes. Furthermore, parking will be completely prohibited at the stadium during the matches, with limited spaces available at the nearby American Dream shopping center, costing between $225 and $300.