New Jersey officials have confirmed that extortionate ticket prices will be necessary to attend this summer's FIFA World Cup games at MetLife Stadium.
The World Cup will include games across the United States, Canada , and Mexico , with Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Seattle all scheduled to stage games for the quadrennial competition.
Fans will need to pay a substantial sum to attend the games, particularly in the New York/New Jersey region. This follows Governor Mikie Sherrill's scathing criticism of FIFA for neglecting to fund World Cup transport expenses.
MetLife Stadium will host eight FIFA World Cup games this summer, including the Final -Credit:Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
On Friday, New Jersey Transit officials confirmed they will levy $150 train fares between Penn Station and MetLife Stadium for the World Cup. Standard fares would ordinarily cost $12.90, with the journey lasting approximately 15 minutes and covering just nine miles, according to ABC 7 NY .
Parking will also be restricted for most supporters, with only a limited allocation priced at $225, and officials estimate that around 40,000 will rely on public transport for each game. Eight games are scheduled for MetLife Stadium, including the World Cup final.
As for why services will cost $150, Kris Kolluri, NJ Transit President and CEO, explained that the figure was determined to recoup the $48 million it will cost to operate the trains to the stadium from Penn Station. "This isn't about apportioning blame, this is about the governor saying we need to make sure that the people who are going to this game pay for the service we're providing," he said, per the outlet.
"So when you net out how we are thinking about this, this isn't profit-making. We're not trying to gouge anybody. We're trying to recover the cost of $48 million that it's going to cost by charging $150 a ticket period."
The latest development comes just days after Sherrill publicly shamed FIFA for failing to cover the transportation costs.
Taking to social media, she wrote, via The Mirror US : "We inherited an agreement where FIFA is providing $0 for transportation to the World Cup. And while NJ TRANSIT is stuck with a $48 million bill to safely get fans to and from games, FIFA is making $11 billion.
"I'm not going to stick New Jersey commuters with that tab for years to come. FIFA should pay for the rides. But if they don't - I'm not going to let New Jersey get taken for one."
Following confirmation that the $150 fare was accurate, Sherrill once again turned to social media with a fresh statement. "I have directed NJ TRANSIT to provide discounts for riders impacted by service changes caused by the FIFA World Cup on Monday, June 22nd and Tuesday, June 30th, the two dates that overlap with peak commuting hours," her post on X began.
"My Administration is also coordinating closely with PATH to cross-honor tickets and provide additional service to keep people moving during this busy time. 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."
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to get underway on June 11, with Mexico facing South Africa in Mexico City.
