NJ Transit Cuts World Cup Train Fare to MetLife Stadium by 30%
NJ Transit is reducing the cost of its round-trip rail fare for the eight 2026 FIFA World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium in June and July by 30% to $105 from $150 after facing blistering criticism from the public and elected officials over the original pricing plan.
The reduced fare comes after NJ Transit, in concert with Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s administration, got financial support from “sponsors and other sources” that will help offset some of the estimated $48 million cost related to World Cup transportation and security operations. The financing sponsors and sources were not identified.
NJ Transit originally planned to charge $150 for a round‑trip train ticket between New York Penn Station and MetLife Stadium during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The typical cost for the same 18-mile trip is $12.90.
After the fare structure was first reported in April in the Regional Mobility Plan announced by The FIFA World Cup 2026 New York New Jersey Host Committee and NJ Transit, Sherrill took FIFA to task over the cost and said the international soccer organization should help defray the costs.
The governor said on her X account that her administration “inherited an agreement where FIFA is providing $0 for transportation to the World Cup, while NJ Transit is stuck with a $48 million bill to safely move fans to and from games — all while FIFA is set to make $11 billion.”
In response, FIFA noted that the Host City Agreements signed back in 2018 required free transportation for fans to all matches, and that the requirements were modified in 2023 to instead secure access to transit — public or otherwise — to match venues.