World Cup Fans Face Steep Transit Fares to Reach Stadiums

Prices for train tickets to host stadiums in Boston and New Jersey are up to 8 times higher than normal, sparking criticism from officials.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 11:36am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the chaotic scene of a crowded soccer stadium, with the geometric shapes and overlapping planes conveying the sense of inaccessibility and exclusion faced by fans due to the exorbitant transit fares.The high cost of transit to World Cup stadiums threatens to price out local fans and undermine the inclusive spirit of the global event.Boston Today

Soccer fans attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States will have to pay significantly higher prices for transit to reach the host stadiums. In Boston, round-trip train tickets to Gillette Stadium are $80, four times the usual $20 special event price. Similarly, New Jersey Transit is planning $100 round-trip fares between Penn Station and MetLife Stadium, up from the regular $12.90 cost. The high transit costs have drawn criticism from officials like U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, who called on FIFA to cover transportation expenses for local residents.

Why it matters

The steep hikes in transit fares to World Cup stadiums could price out many local fans, especially those already facing high costs for match tickets. This goes against the spirit of the World Cup as an inclusive, global event. The issue also highlights tensions between FIFA's commercial interests and the needs of host communities.

The details

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) announced last week that round-trip train tickets from Boston's South Station to Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots and a World Cup venue, will cost $80. This is four times the usual $20 special event price, or eight times the regular $8.75 fare. Similarly, New Jersey Transit is planning to charge $100 for a round-trip rail ticket between Penn Station and MetLife Stadium, which is hosting eight World Cup matches including the final. That journey usually costs $12.90.

  • The MBTA said it sold 17,450 rail tickets to Gillette Stadium on the first day sales opened.
  • The Haiti vs. Scotland game on June 13 broke the record for the most special-event train tickets sold for an individual event at Gillette Stadium, with 6,200 tickets.

The players

Chuck Schumer

The New York senator and Senate minority leader, who criticized the high transit prices and called on FIFA to cover transportation costs for local residents.

Phillip Eng

The CEO and general manager of the MBTA, who said the "tremendous demand" for World Cup train tickets showed the need to "think outside the box to safely deliver unprecedented train service."

John Swinney

The Scottish First Minister, who said in a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino that the World Cup's "dynamic pricing model" has made the event "simply unaffordable for so many loyal supporters."

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What they’re saying

“FIFA is set to reap nearly $11 billion from this summer's World Cup, yet New York area commuters and residents are being handed the bill. The least FIFA can do is ensure New York residents can go to the stadium without being gouged at the turnstile.”

— Chuck Schumer, U.S. Senator

“Our historic return has been marred by FIFA's dynamic pricing model that has made the trip simply unaffordable for so many loyal supporters.”

— John Swinney, Scottish First Minister

What’s next

FIFA and NJ Transit have not finalized the transit pricing plans, and there are calls for the governing body to cover transportation costs for local residents.

The takeaway

The steep hikes in transit fares to World Cup stadiums risk pricing out local fans and going against the inclusive spirit of the global event. This issue highlights the tension between FIFA's commercial interests and the needs of host communities, and could lead to further criticism and demands for the governing body to ensure affordable access for residents.