NJ Transit tickets for FIFA World Cup games will cost $150, with 40k per match up for grabs
The controversial pricing plan to get to and from World Cup games at MetLife Stadium has been revealed.
The round-trip tickets are going to come at a hefty price.
NJ Transit officials announced Friday that only 40,000 $150 round-trip tickets will be sold to transport fans to each FIFA World Cup game.
NJ Transit President Kris Kolluri said no more tickets will be sold after the 40,000 are gone. They will be on sale starting next month.
NJ Transit expects 28,000 fans will head from New York City to Secaucus before switching trains to MetLife. There will be security checkpoints at Penn Station, Secaucus, and MetLife.
Kolluri said customers will be able to choose certain blocks of time in which their tickets can be used.
There will also be shuttle buses, because there will be no parking allowed at MetLife Stadium, which has been temporarily renamed New York New Jersey Stadium for the World Cup.
Shuttle bus tickets will cost $80 and are on sale starting Friday. They hope to move an additional 10,000 ticket holders to the stadium.
"We'll be running shuttles from Port Authority and east of Grand Central, and also a park-and-ride from New Jersey from Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine," Alex Lasry of the FIFA World Cup New York New Jersey host committee said.
Transportation officials also said there will be a ride-share pickup at Meadowlands Racetrack, which is expected to take some 6,000 fans to the stadium. Fans will then have to walk about 1 mile to the stadium.
Why NJ Transit says the tickets are so expensive
Kolluri said the $150 ticket can be used from any location. A normal round-trip ticket from New York Penn Station to MetLife Stadium costs $12.90.
Kolluri said that's the reason tickets will cost so much more.
"Commuters in New Jersey should not carry the cost years into the future for this wonderful event, but the fans going to the game should bear the burden of the cost," Kolluri said.
Kolluri estimated the overall cost to NJ Transit will be $62 million. He said the federal government is contributing $10.6 million, and the host committee is giving just over $3 million, which leaves NJ Transit footing the bill for $48 million with no help from FIFA.
"I can't tell you how important security as an expenditure is. Out of the $48 million, I want to say that almost $11 million is just security. That's not what happens at a Taylor Swift concert," Kolluri said.
New Jersey State Police officials said people attending the game will go through a magnetometer, like they would if they attended a football game.
Authorities said FIFA's original deal required free transportation, but it was revised in 2023.
"The NJ Transit current pricing model will have a chilling effect. Elevated fares inevitably push fans toward alternative transportation options. This increases concerns of congestion, late arrivals, and creates broader ripple effects that ultimately diminish the economic benefit and lasting legacy the entire region stands to gain from hosting the World Cup," said Heimo Schirgi, chief operating officer for FIFA World Cup 2026.
Fans living in the city must use Penn Station for rail travel to the stadium on matchdays, according to a news release.
The only way to and from the games will be mass transit, ride shares, chartered buses and parking, which will cost $225 at the nearby American Dream Mall. Walking to MetLife Stadium is prohibited, since many roads nearby are not pedestrian-friendly.
Sources also previously told CBS News New York Penn Station will partially close for four hours before each match, adding to the transportation headache.
Local leaders criticize FIFA
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill has slammed FIFA for exorbitant transportation costs for fans.
"We know that this event will deliver real economic benefits for our communities and businesses. At the same time, hosting cannot come at the expense of New Jersey commuters and taxpayers," Sherrill said Friday. "We are committed to ensuring costs are shared fairly. As I have said repeatedly, FIFA should cover the cost of transporting its fans. If it won't, we will not be subsidizing World Cup ticket holders on the backs of New Jerseyans who rely on NJ Transit every day."
Sherrill said she's directed NJ Transit to provide discounts for riders who will be impacted by FIFA World Cup games on June 22 and June 30, and says PATH will cross-honor tickets and provide additional service during those times.
"This is about striking the right balance. We will showcase New Jersey on the world stage while protecting our residents, supporting our workforce, and making sure the economic upside of this event is felt in communities across our state," Sherrill added.
"Give me a break. Charging more than eleven times the normal fare for a train ride is a ripoff — plain and simple. FIFA is making billions from this World Cup, and fans are being hit with a $150 ticket before they even walk through the gate. FIFA should cover the ride — not stick fans with the bill," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said.
"Hosting the World Cup final is an exciting opportunity for New York and New Jersey to showcase ourselves to the world. NJ Transit and the FIFA Host Committee have created a comprehensive plan to deliver the best possible travel experience for fans, but everyday riders can't be asked to foot the bill," said Tom Wright, president of the Regional Plan Association. "Governor Sherrill is right that the cost of special event service should be borne by FIFA or the people attending the event, not by commuters just trying to get to work. Even with the special event fare, NJ Transit remains one of the most affordable and efficient ways to get to the game."
FIFA criticizes "arbitrarily set elevated prices"
"To arbitrarily set elevated prices and demand FIFA absorb these costs is unprecedented. No other global event, concert or major sporting promoter has faced such a demand," Schirgi said. "While FIFA is projected to generate approximately $11 billion in revenue, not profit, as the governor incorrectly claims, FIFA has always been a not-for-profit organization as per our statutes. Revenues from the FIFA World Cup are reinvested into developing the game of football, particularly for youth and women, worldwide."
Schirgi said other host cities have made arrangements for mass rail tickets to cost $2.50 for a round trip.
