World Cup: MetLife Train Fares Soar to $150
World Cup train fares to MetLife Stadium will rise to $150 round-trip in 2026, as New Jersey officials cite a $48 million transit funding gap.
Mehmet Şahinoğlu ·
New Jersey transportation officials said Friday that round-trip rail tickets for fans traveling from New York City to MetLife Stadium for 2026 World Cup matches will be priced at $150. Officials contrasted that with the usual $12.90 fare for the 9-mile trip, describing the change as a nearly 12-fold increase.
Officials said the higher price is designed to cover transit expenses tied to the tournament that are not being met through outside funding. They put the uncovered portion at an estimated $48 million, citing a gap not filled by external grants or contributions from FIFA.
State leaders also linked the fare plan to crowd-management constraints around the venue. Officials said roughly 40,000 fans are expected to use mass transit for each match because on-site parking will be largely unavailable, making rail and other public options central to moving spectators to and from the stadium.
MetLife Stadium is set to stage eight World Cup matches, including the final on July 19. Group stage games are scheduled to begin June 13, placing the New Jersey venue among the tournament’s key sites and making its transport plan a focal point for regional logistics.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill said the fare increase is intended to avoid shifting the event’s costs onto everyday commuters in the state. NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri said the total cost of transporting fans across the tournament is $62 million, and that only $14 million has been offset by grants so far.
Other U.S. host cities are taking different approaches, according to officials cited in the announcement. Los Angeles, Atlanta, Houston, and Philadelphia plan to keep regular transit fares in place, pointing to $100 million in U.S. government transit grants.
Boston’s pricing plans were also cited as a comparison point. Officials said express buses to Gillette Stadium will cost $95, while train tickets will be priced at $80, which they described as four times the normal rate.
The fare decisions highlight how host regions are balancing event operations with public budgets, with different funding mixes shaping what fans pay. Officials have not detailed how the New Jersey pricing will be administered across services beyond the stated round-trip figure, leaving some implementation specifics unclear as planning continues.