New Jersey officials and FIFA are in disagreement over who should cover the cost of transporting supporters to World Cup matches this summer. The issue centres on rail travel between New York’s Penn Station and MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which is expected to host multiple tournament fixtures.
According to reporting from The Athletic, New Jersey Transit is preparing to introduce special event pricing for journeys of around 30 minutes to the stadium. The planned fares would apply during matchdays at the venue.
The stadium, which will be referred to as New York/New Jersey Stadium during the tournament under FIFA naming rules, is scheduled to stage eight games, including an England group match and the final on 19 July.
Surge in ticket prices to stadiums
The proposed pricing would see a return train journey cost more than $100, compared with the usual fare of about $12.90. This represents a multiple-fold increase for fans travelling from New York to the stadium.
No reduced fares are expected to be offered, meaning children and senior passengers would also be required to pay the full amount. Officials expect this to apply across matchdays.
Similar pricing increases have also been reported elsewhere. At Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, near Boston, train fares for World Cup matches are set to rise to around $80, while coach transport is expected to cost about $95.
Parking charges are also notably high, with a space at MetLife Stadium priced at $225, while Foxborough parking is set at $175 per vehicle.
Political response from New Jersey governor
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has publicly criticised the arrangement, arguing that FIFA should contribute to transport costs. She said the state would not allow commuters to be burdened with what she described as long-term expenses linked to the tournament.
In a post on X, she said New Jersey Transit is facing a $48m cost to move fans to and from matches, while FIFA is generating $11bn. She also stated that FIFA should fund the travel costs, warning that the state would not allow residents to “get taken for one”.
Sherrill insisted that taxpayers and regular commuters should not be left to cover the bill, given FIFA’s revenues from ticket sales and the scale of the event.
FIFA response and agreement terms
FIFA responded by saying it was surprised by the governor’s comments. The organisation stated that supporters are expected to be able to travel “at cost” and that there is no requirement for increased pricing for other major events at the same venue.
FIFA also referred to the original 2018 host city agreements, which required free transport for ticket holders. It said these terms were later adjusted in 2023 to allow access to transport at cost after concerns that the earlier arrangement placed financial pressure on host cities.
The governing body added that it has worked with host cities on transport planning for years and supported efforts to secure federal funding for mobility and infrastructure needs connected to the tournament.
Impact on fans and fixture schedule
The higher transport costs are expected to affect supporters travelling from England and Scotland for matches in the United States. England is scheduled to face Ghana in Foxborough on 23 June, before meeting Panama at MetLife Stadium on 27 June.
Scotland are also set to play twice in Foxborough, with matches against Haiti on 13 June and Morocco on 19 June. These fixtures will likely be impacted by the increased travel costs for visiting fans.
The combined effect of higher rail fares, expensive coach tickets, and elevated parking fees is expected to significantly increase the overall cost of attending matches at both venues.