MetLife Stadium, which will be rebranded New York New Jersey Stadium for the 2026 World Cup, will host eight games this summer in East Rutherford, N.J. File Photo by Chris Brunskill/UPI | License Photo
Fans who attend 2026 World Cup games in East Rutherford, N.J., can expect $150 round-trip train fares, transportation officials said Friday.
The total is nearly 12 times the typical rate of $12.90 from Penn Station in Manhattan to MetLife Stadium — to be rebranded New York New Jersey Stadium.
There, eight games, including the World Cup Final, will be held during the five-week tournament. The New York New Jersey host committee also announced $80 round-trip bus fares.
Officials said it will cost $48 million for NJ Transit to move 40,000 passengers to games held in East Rutherford. Another 10,000 are expected to use buses. No general spectator parking will be available on stadium property on game days for security, crowd control and capacity limits.
“The fans who go to the game should bear the burden of the costs and that’s all we’re trying to say,” NJ Transit President Kris Kolluri told reporters Friday in Newark, N.J.
Transportation officials said they will sell “time tickets,” with passengers specifying when they plan to arrive. They suggested that locals work from home to help facilitate the flow of passengers.
“Having the timed bus and train tickets is a way for us to hopefully get people to say plan your trip earlier than just the day of the game,” said Alex Lasry, the CEO of the host committee. “Think about what your transportation plan is on a match day.”
Brazil will face Morocco in the first 2026 World Cup game in East Rutherford. That matchup will be held June 13. France will face Senegal three days later on the same field. Norway and Senegal will meet June 22 in the next game.
Ecuador and play Germany on June 25 in East Rutherford. England and Panama will face off on June 27 in the final group stage match. The stadium will host a Round of 32 match June 30 and a Round of 16 meeting July 5. The finale will be held July 19.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill reiterated Friday on social media that she believes FIFA “should cover the cost of transporting its fans.” She also directed NJ Transit to provide discounts for riders impacted by service changes caused by games held June 22 and 30. Those discounts were announced through a news release.
“This is about striking the right balance,” Sherrill wrote. “We will showcase New Jersey on the world stage while protecting our residents, supporting our workforce and making sure the economic upside of this event is felt in communities across our state.”
Bus tickets for the event went on sale Friday. Rail tickets will go on sale May 13.
Mexico will host South Africa in the first game of the World Cup on June 11 in Mexico City. The first United States-based matchup will pit the United States Men’s National Team versus Paraguay on June 12 in Inglewood, Calif.
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Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates with the FIFA World Cup trophy after Argentina’s 2022 FIFA World Cup Final win — its third tournament trophy — at Lusail Stadium in Lusail City, Qatar, on December 18, 2022. Photo by Chris Brunskill/UPI | License Photo
