20.04.2026 22:41
With only a few days left until the start of the 2026 World Cup, the ticket prices for train transportation have become a topic of discussion between FIFA and the New Jersey administration.
As the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues, the heart of the massive organization, the New York – New Jersey area, remains turbulent. MetLife Stadium, which is preparing to host the final match, is currently at the center of a severe "cost and transportation" crisis between FIFA and the local government.
TICKET CRISIS BETWEEN FIFA AND NEW JERSEY GOVERNMENT
The leak of discussions regarding the increase of the round-trip ticket from Pennsylvania Station in New York to the New Jersey Stadium, which will host World Cup matches, from $13 to $150 during the tournament has sparked controversy.
New Jersey's transportation agency, NJ Transit, claims that planning services for the 82,000-capacity stadium, which will host 8 matches, will cost the agency approximately $50 million when accounting for potential disruptions.
"FIFA SHOULD PAY FOR TRANSPORTATION COSTS"
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill stood behind the increase in train ticket prices, stating, "I will not pass this bill onto New Jersey passengers for years, it is not fair. FIFA should pay for transportation costs; if they do not, I will not allow the exploitation of New Jersey passengers."
FIFA, on the other hand, points out that the host city agreement signed in 2018 included a clause for free transportation on match days, but this clause was revised in 2023 to state that "all ticket and accreditation holders will bear their own transportation costs to the stadium on match days." In Boston, the price of train services to the stadium during the tournament was also increased from $20 to $80.