World Cup fans will have to pay $150 for NY stadium train ticket, officials say

Lead

Fans attending World Cup matches at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium will pay $150 for a round-trip train ticket from Manhattan, transit officials confirmed Friday. The fare, which covers the roughly 15-minute, 14-kilometre ride between Penn Station and East Rutherford, is nearly 12 times the standard $12.90 price, according to multiple reports.

NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri announced the pricing at a briefing, stating, "We are going to charge $150 for our roundtrip ticket on our system. So from New York to MetLife, MetLife back to New York." The stadium, home to the NFL's New York Giants and Jets, will host eight World Cup matches including the final on July 19.

Coverage Comparison

Coverage of the fare increase has been consistent across international outlets, though some details vary. Most sources, including Al Jazeera and France 24, report the $150 round-trip figure, while ABC Australia initially reported a $209 round-trip fare — a figure that appears to be an outlier and has not been repeated elsewhere. The Guardian, citing The Athletic's earlier reporting, noted that the return ticket would be "more than $100," but said the price had not yet been finalized at the time of writing.

All sources agree on the magnitude of the increase relative to the normal fare, though they differ on the exact comparison. Most say the new fare is nearly 12 times the usual $12.90, while ABC Australia compared it to an $18 regular fare, a discrepancy that likely reflects different fare structures or timing.

Key Claims

Rationale for the fare hike: NJ Transit officials say the increase is needed to cover the $62 million cost of transporting fans to and from the stadium during the tournament. Only $14 million of those expenses are covered by outside grants, leaving a $48 million gap, according to figures cited by Governor Mikie Sherrill and NJ Transit. "This isn't price gouging," Kolluri told reporters. "We're literally trying to recoup our costs."

Political backlash: Governor Sherrill, a Democrat, has blamed FIFA for the price hikes, saying the organization has contributed "zero dollars" to transportation. In a social media post, she wrote: "I won't stick New Jersey commuters for that tab for years to come, that's not fair. So here's the bottom line: FIFA should pay for the rides, but if they don't, I'm not going to let New Jersey commuters get taken for one." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer echoed the call, noting that FIFA is "set to reap nearly $11 billion from this summer's World Cup."

FIFA's response: FIFA pushed back, saying it was "quite surprised" by the governor's approach. The organization noted that the original Host City Agreements signed in 2018 required free transportation for fans, but that in 2023, "FIFA adjusted the Host Agreement requirements across all host cities" to allow transportation to be offered "at cost" on match days.

Comparison with other host cities: Not all venues are raising prices. Houston, which hosts seven matches, plans to keep fares at current levels: $1.25 for buses and light rail, with park-and-ride options from $2 to $4.50. Kansas City is running shuttles to Arrowhead Stadium for $15 round-trip. Boston, however, will charge $80 for round-trip tickets from the city to Gillette Stadium, up from the usual $20 event-day fare. Express buses to Gillette Stadium will cost $95.

Perspectives

Supporters' groups have expressed outrage. Guillaume Aupretre, spokesman for France's main supporters' group, told AFP: "It's a disgrace. In recent tournaments, transportation was either included in the ticket price or offered at a heavily discounted rate for ticket holders." The English fans' group Free Lions posted on social media: "Another day, another rip-off at this World Cup. What on earth is going on?"

New York Governor Kathy Hochul also weighed in on social media, writing: "The World Cup should be as affordable and accessible as possible. Charging over $100 for a short train ride sounds awfully high to me."

Corrections and Context

Earlier reports suggested the fare might be even higher — ABC Australia reported $209 round-trip — but the official confirmation of $150 has since been widely reported. The Guardian noted the price had not been finalized at the time of its report, but Friday's announcement from NJ Transit settled the matter.

FIFA's statement highlights that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar offered free metro rides to ticket holders, a contrast it did not explicitly make in its defense of the at-cost arrangement for 2026. The final fare decision comes as the US, Mexico, and Canada co-host the tournament from June to July, marking the first World Cup on US soil since 1994.