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MetLife Stadium will host its first World Cup game next Saturday, but it doesn’t look like many fans right now will be taking public transportation there.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Host Committee New York New Jersey and New Jersey Transit originally announced that round-trip train tickets to and from the stadium will cost $150; a regular ticket from Penn Station to MetLife Stadium costs $12.90. However, after additional private funding, tickets have been reduced to $98.
NJ Transit plans to transport 40,000 people for each of MetLife Stadium’s eight games, but according to The Athletic, as of Monday at 5 p.m. ET, only 17,739 total tickets have been purchased for the entire eight-game slate.
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Transit officials are preparing for unprecedented numbers of riders during World Cup games this summer. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
This is less than 6% of the 320,000 tickets available.
ET on Tuesday, train schedules are not yet available, but fans can purchase tickets at select departure times, ranging from one to five hours before kickoff.
Fans have been encouraged to purchase tickets in advance as they will not be available for purchase on game day.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill and FIFA traded blows over ticket prices, with Sherrill imploring FIFA to pay for fans to attend games.
“Our administration inherited an agreement in which FIFA provides $0 for transportation to the World Cup: zero. That leaves New Jersey Transit with a $48 million bill to safely transport 40,000 fans to and from each game…” Sherrill said. in a video.
Commuters move through the NJ Transit section of Penn Station in New York City on May 20, 2025, after NJ Transit resumed operations following a tentative agreement to end a three-day strike by train engineers. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
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“I won’t be paying that bill to New Jersey travelers for years to come; that’s not fair. So here’s the bottom line: FIFA should pay for the trips, but if they don’t, I’m not going to let New Jersey travelers be taken for one.”
FIFA said it was “quite surprised” by Sherrill’s unprecedented “approach.”
“The FIFA World Cup will bring millions of fans to North America along with the related economic impact,” FIFA said. “Many fans will travel to NYNJ to enjoy the eight scheduled matches. FIFA is not aware of any other major events previously held at NYNJ Stadium, including other major sports, world concert tours, etc., where organizers had to pay for transportation of fans.”
New Jersey Transit branding is displayed in front of MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, ahead of the 2026 World Cup on May 1, 2026. (Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
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Many travel restrictions have also been imposed on game days, including NJ Transit service to and from New York that was suspended four hours before kickoff, except for World Cup attendees. There will also be no parking at MetLife Stadium and ride sharing will also not be available on stadium property. Instead, rideshare users will be dropped off near the racetrack adjacent to the stadium.
The first match pits Brazil and Morocco, and MetLife Stadium will also host the championship on July 19.
