World Cup transit prices spark backlash from fans and officials

Football fans are pushing back against sharply higher transport costs tied to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, as local transit authorities move to raise fares for match-day travel.

The shift is most visible around key venues. New Jersey Transit plans to charge more than $100 for a return trip from Manhattan’s Penn Station to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, according to a report by The Athletic. Under normal circumstances, that same journey costs $12.90.

Similar increases are being reported elsewhere. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority confirmed that return tickets from Boston to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough will cost $80 during the tournament, up from the usual $20 event-day fare.

For many supporters, the scale of the increases marks a departure from past tournaments. “It’s a disgrace. In recent tournaments, transportation was either included in the ticket price or offered at a heavily discounted rate for ticket holders,” said Guillaume Aupretre, a spokesman for France’s main supporters’ group.

“They keep piling on the extra costs without giving any thought to the fans,” he added, accusing FIFA of prioritising “the most loyal supporters in favour of the wealthy”.

The reaction has been echoed by fan groups online. “Another day, another rip-off at this World Cup. What on earth is going on?” Free Lions, a group for travelling England fans, wrote on social media.

The issue has also drawn political attention. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill placed responsibility on FIFA, pointing to the cost of hosting matches at MetLife Stadium.

“I won’t stick New Jersey commuters for that tab for years to come, that’s not fair,” she wrote, noting that the state faces a $48m bill related to hosting duties. “So here’s the bottom line: Fifa should pay for the rides, but if they don’t I’m not going to let New Jersey commuters get taken for one.”

US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer voiced a similar position, calling on FIFA to cover transport costs for fans travelling to matches.

FIFA, however, has pushed back on the framing. The organisation said initial host city agreements required free transportation for fans, but those terms were later renegotiated to provide transport “at cost” on match days.

“We are quite surprised by the NJ Governor’s approach on fan transportation,” FIFA said.

“The FIFA World Cup will bring millions of fans to North America along with the related economic impact.”

It added:

“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.”

New York Governor Kathy Hochul also weighed in, questioning the scale of the increases. “Charging over $100 for a short train ride sounds awfully high to me,” she wrote on X.

Transit authorities have yet to fully explain the pricing structure, and NJ Transit did not respond to requests for comment.