FIFA’s war of words with New Jersey governor Mikie Sherrill continued on Friday night, as the World Cup organizers claimed that New Jersey Transit’s $150 round-trip trains to MetLife Stadium will have a “chilling effect.”
On Friday lunchtime, NJ Transit confirmed previous reports from The Athletic that the agency would charge $150 for a return trip from New York Penn Station to MetLife Stadium for World Cup ticket holders — more than an 11-fold multiple of the usual $12.90 ticket.
The New York/New Jersey host committee also laid out an alternative price plan for a bus service to games, which will cost $80 per passenger. Neither service will offer reductions for children, seniors or disabled passengers.
In a statement on Friday night, Heimo Schirgi, the Chief Operating Officer for FIFA World Cup 2026, said: “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.”
Since entering office in New Jersey, Gov. Sherrill has sought to reduce the burden on her taxpayers towards this World Cup. FIFA originally made an agreement with host cities for transportation to games to be free for ticket holders – as it was in Qatar in 2022 and Russia in 2018 — but after pressure from host cities, FIFA removed this requirement and agreed it should be done at cost. The catch came this week when NJ Transit claimed their costs will be $48m — or $6m per game across the eight World Cup matches, including the final — and Sherrill declared that the cost will born by World Cup fans.
Tickets for the 18-mile rail journey are ordinarily priced at $12.90. (Photo: Luke Hales / Getty Images)
NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri also said that NJ Transit has a $200m structural deficit, insisting this is “not profit making or gouging — we are trying to recover the cost.”
The host city contracts agreed with FIFA are, in many ways, generous to the competition organizers. FIFA banks the income from tickets, broadcasts, concessions, sponsorships and official parking fees. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said his organization will earn around $11 billion in revenue from the World Cup in North America, while its budget is around $3.6 billion.
Cities carry the cost burden for “safety, security and protection,” plus stadium adjustments — which have cost many cities huge sums of money — as well as public transportation expenses.
In return, FIFA and the cities themselves often touted the World Cup’s huge economic impact, with Infantino citing a report that claimed the U.S. economy would gain $30 billion by hosting the tournament, numbers now doubted by many city executives. Given the already significant costs for federal and local taxpayers, Gov. Sherrill once again sought to redirect the blame for the sky-high transit tickets towards FIFA – claiming they should use their revenue from the tournament to offset the costs.
She said: “In the agreement that my Administration inherited, FIFA put zero dollars towards transporting World Cup fans. In addition, it eliminated parking at MetLife Stadium, putting the burden of transporting four times more matchday riders than typical for an event at the stadium on NJ Transit.
“On top of extensive logistical considerations to ensure transportation is safe and efficient throughout the tournament — for regular commuters and FIFA ticket holders alike — this agreement will cost NJ Transit at least $48 million, while FIFA is positioned to make $11 billion during the World Cup.
“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.”
FIFA, however, hit back again with a strident statement of their own. Their World Cup COO Schirgi claimed it was “unprecedented” to arbitrarily set higher prices than usual fares and demand FIFA absorb the costs.
“No other global event, concert or major sporting promoter has faced such a demand. Revenues from the FIFA World Cup are reinvested into developing the game of football, particularly for youth and women, worldwide.”
FIFA’s preparedness to go on the record to attack a position by a host city and host politician is striking, in part because the organization has appeared rather timid in the face of complications caused by President Trump’s words or actions.
In a news conference in November, FIFA President Gianni Infantino nodded along and did not question the president as Trump warned host cities including Seattle and Los Angeles may be in danger of having their games relocated due to “safety” concerns.
In the same news conference, Trump also said he would be prepared to launch “strikes” in 2026 World Cup co-hosts Mexico due to concerns about drug trafficking. Infantino has also remained supportive of Trump while the involvement of World Cup-qualified Iran has been called into question during the conflict between the United States and Iran in recent months.
FIFA’s preparedness to go on the record to attack a position by a host city and host politician is striking, in part because the organization has appeared rather timid in the face of complications caused by President Trump’s words or actions.
FIFA have also themselves been severely criticized by supporter groups for unprecedentedly high World Cup tickets, while the organization has also charged high prices for parking spaces at the World Cup. FIFA have listed car parking spaces for $300 near MetLife Stadium for the round of 16 game at the venue.
On Friday night, FIFA also distributed to media a document that outlined some of the steps other host cities have taken to keep transit prices lower for fans during the World Cup.
On Wednesday, Kansas City rolled out a much gentler pricing plan, with the host committee offering complementary bus services for visitors to travel downtown from the airport during the World Cup. Matchday round-trip buses to the stadium will be available for $15, and drivers will collect and drop off fans from four different locations.
Philadelphia also announced on Wednesday that its SEPTA subway service will remain priced at $2.90 for fans to get to World Cup matches at Lincoln Financial Field. FIFA’s list also said Houston’s light rail will cost $2.50 for a round trip to the venue and LA’s metro train will cost $3.50.
However, FIFA’s list did not include the Boston host committee’s pricing. MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) took the decision to raise its pricing for travel from Boston to Foxboro’s Gillette Stadium to $80 for World Cup games, up from $20 for travel to an NFL game, sparking similar anger. It was also confirmed that Boston’s alternative bus service to the stadium would cost $95 per seat.
