New York City residents and tourists will now pay a steep $150 for round-trip train fares on NJ Transit to attend World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
NJ Transit announced the significant price increase ahead of the tournament, which is scheduled to take place from June through July. MetLife Stadium will host eight matches, including the championship game on July 19.
Typically, a day-to-day train fare from Manhattan’s Penn Station to East Rutherford costs $12.90. However, for World Cup events, fans must now pay up to $150 for round-trip tickets.
NJ Transit officials reported that the entire event will cost at least $62 million in transportation services, with outside grants covering only $14 million of those expenses. The agency’s president and CEO, Kris Kolluri, stated the increase is not price gouging but a necessary measure to recoup costs.
Governor Mikie Sherrill criticized FIFA’s agreement that requires the organization to cover transportation costs for fans. “We inherited an agreement where FIFA is providing $0 for transportation to the World Cup,” she said. “And while NJ Transit is stuck with a $48 million bill to safely get fans to and from games, FIFA is making $11 billion.”
Sherrill added that New Jersey will not bear the burden of covering costs indefinitely: “I’m not going to stick New Jersey commuters with that tab for years to come. FIFA should pay for the rides. But if they don’t – I’m not going to let New Jersey get taken for one.”
The high costs extend beyond New Jersey. In Boston, fans traveling to Gillette Stadium will face $95 round-trip bus fares, four times the usual price of a special event ticket.
Other host cities have maintained lower fares: Los Angeles offers one-way fares at $1.75; Atlanta locks its base fare at $2.50; Houston remains at $1.25 per ride; and Philadelphia keeps subway fares at $2.90. Kansas City provides a $15 round-trip shuttle from the airport to downtown and free buses.
NJ Transit also confirmed that on-site parking will not be available for most fans at MetLife Stadium, forcing many to rely on public transit or a $80 bus ticket option.
Sherrill emphasized New Jersey’s preparations: “Since I took office, my Administration has been working to prepare for the biggest sporting event our state has ever seen – and today, NJ Transit released their Mobility Plan to move 40,000 fans to and from each match safely and efficiently.”
The state official reiterated that FIFA’s agreement, which was inherited by her administration, requires no funding for transportation. “This agreement will cost NJ Transit at least $48 million, while FIFA is positioned to make $11 billion during the World Cup,” she stated.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended high ticket prices for this summer’s events, stating: “The main, and so far the only, revenue-generating event for FIFA is the World Cup. The World Cup takes place one month every four years, so we generate money in one month. The 47 months until the next World Cup, we spend that money.”
With the World Cup approaching, residents and visitors across the U.S. are scrambling to plan their travel as costs rise.
