NJ Transit Defends $150 Tickets for 9-Mile World Cup Ride

Officials say the steep fare is needed to cover $62 million in transportation costs for the tournament.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 10:37am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a crowded train platform with passengers and transit infrastructure broken down into angular, overlapping geometric shapes in a muted color palette, conveying the complexity and challenges of providing affordable transportation for a major sporting event.The steep $150 train ticket prices for World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium have sparked concerns about fan access and the economic impact on the host region.NYC Today

New Jersey Transit is facing criticism for charging $150 round-trip tickets for the 9-mile train ride from Manhattan to MetLife Stadium, where several 2026 World Cup matches will be held. NJ Transit says the high fares are necessary to cover the $62 million it expects to spend transporting fans to the stadium, with only $14 million offset by outside grants. However, some officials, including the New York governor, have called the prices 'awfully high' and are urging FIFA to cover the transportation costs.

Why it matters

The steep ticket prices for the short train ride highlight the high costs associated with hosting major sporting events like the World Cup. With limited parking and most fans expected to use public transit, NJ Transit is under pressure to provide adequate and affordable transportation options. The issue also raises questions about how much responsibility event organizers like FIFA should bear for covering host cities' infrastructure costs.

The details

NJ Transit plans to spend $62 million transporting fans to and from MetLife Stadium for the World Cup matches, with only $14 million covered by outside grants. To recoup the remaining costs, the agency is charging $150 for a round-trip train ticket from Manhattan's Penn Station to the stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey - nearly 12 times the regular $12.90 fare for the 15-minute, 9-mile ride. NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri says this 'isn't price gouging' but a necessary measure to cover their expenses. However, New Jersey's governor and other officials have criticized the high fares and called on FIFA to shoulder the transportation costs.

  • The 2026 World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium will begin on June 13 and run through the tournament final on July 19.
  • NJ Transit expects around 40,000 fans to use mass transit for each World Cup match at MetLife Stadium.

The players

Kris Kolluri

The president and CEO of NJ Transit, who defended the $150 train ticket prices as necessary to cover the agency's $62 million in expected transportation costs for the World Cup.

Mikie Sherrill

The Democratic governor of New Jersey, who called on FIFA to cover the transportation costs instead of 'subsidizing World Cup ticket holders on the backs of New Jerseyans who rely on NJ TRANSIT every day.'

FIFA

The international governing body for soccer, which has bristled at the suggestion that it should shoulder New Jersey's transit costs, pointing to other U.S. host cities keeping their rates unchanged.

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What’s next

New Jersey officials and FIFA are expected to continue negotiations over the transportation costs for the World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium. The state's governor has called on FIFA to cover the expenses, while the soccer governing body has argued that the high fares could have a 'chilling effect' on fan attendance.

The takeaway

The dispute over the steep train ticket prices for the World Cup highlights the financial challenges host cities face when accommodating major sporting events. While NJ Transit says the $150 fares are necessary to recoup its costs, the high prices risk pricing out fans and diminishing the economic benefits the region could gain from hosting the tournament. The outcome of the negotiations between New Jersey and FIFA could set an important precedent for how transportation is managed and funded for future World Cups in the United States.