With public transport costs for getting to and from World Cup games repeatedly reaching or exceeding $100 each way, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill is the latest United States official to speak out about the cost to the public of the 2026 tournament while asking FIFA to help subsidise the expense. Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Democrat in the US Senate, had already called on FIFA, football’s global governing body, to pay for World Cup public transportation costs on Tuesday. This came after a report that local authorities in New Jersey are planning significant price hikes during the tournament.
According to the US-based website The Athletic, train tickets from New York’s Penn Station to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will top $100 for World Cup games. The standard fare for that route is $12.90. Sherrill tweeted: “We have inherited an agreement in which FIFA doesn’t contribute a single dollar toward transportation for the World Cup. And while NJ Transit is left with a $48m bill to safely transport 40,000 fans from the stadium to wherever they’re headed, FIFA is generating $11b from this World Cup.
Charging over $100 for a short train ride sounds awfully high to me.” Schumer, who represents New York in the Senate, commented: “FIFA is set to reap nearly $11 billion from this summer’s World Cup, yet New York area commuters and residents are being handed the bill. I am demanding FIFA step up and cover transportation costs for host cities and states. Train tickets from Boston to Foxborough, Massachusetts, for World Cup games will cost $80, and bus rides will be priced at up to $95.
A FIFA spokesperson responded on Thursday with a statement outlining “mobility plans” to support host cities. The original FIFA World Cup 2026 Host City Agreements signed in 2018 required free transportation for fans to all matches. Recognizing the financial strain this placed on the host cities, back in 2023 FIFA adjusted the Host Agreement requirements across all host cities as follows: All Match Ticket holders and accredited individuals shall be able to access transport (public or additionally planned transport) at cost to allow travel to Stadiums on match days.
Many of these fans will travel to NYNJ to enjoy the eight matches scheduled, including the FIFA World Cup Final. FIFA is not aware of any other major event previously held at NYNJ Stadium, including other major sports, global concert tours, etc., where organizers were required to pay for fan transportation.” The US is hosting the World Cup from June to July with Mexico and Canada.
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