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Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called on FIFA to cover the full cost of rail transportation for New Yorkers attending the World Cup because NJ Transit train ticket prices are set at $150 to get to MetLife Stadium for matches.
Schumer issued a statement Sunday, calling on FIFA to pay for the fair in full, which is astronomically higher than the regular cost of traveling from Penn Station to the Meadowlands, while understanding that “FIFA is poised to reap approximately $11 billion in revenue from the tournament while fans in New York receive $150 round-trip NJ Transit tickets to get to the game.”
MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will host eight matches during the World Cup, including the final on July 19. The usual price is $12.90 for the Meadowlands train from Penn Station, but it will increase to $150 from June 13 to July 19. Shuttles will also be available valued at $80.
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, during a news conference following the Senate Democrats’ weekly policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, U.S., Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
NJ Transit CEO Kirs Kolluri defended the fare hikes Friday, saying the final cost to the company should not burden New Jersey commuters.
“This is an exciting time for New Jersey to showcase New Jersey’s diversity as well as its economic position in the country and the world. Just as important, (Governor Mikie Sherrill) said New Jersey commuters cannot and will not subsidize the movement of fans to the game because that would not be fair,” Kolluri said, reiterating that the tournament will cost NJ Transit $48 million.
Penn Station is also expected to be partially closed for up to four hours before each World Cup match, which will obviously disrupt commuters and regular travelers eight times during the tournament.
NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR MIKIE SHERRILL RIPS FIFA AFTER REPORTS NJ TRANSIT TICKETS FOR WORLD CUP WILL BE OVER $100
Schumer argues it’s unfair for New Yorkers to have to deal with rising prices, especially since FIFA is eliminating parking at MetLife Stadium. Additionally, parking at the nearby American Dream Mall costs around $225, while access on foot is also prohibited.
In turn, public transportation is “effectively the only way to enter or exit the stadium on game days,” Schumer’s statement said. But Schumer isn’t lambasting NJ Transit — he understands the finances the company faces.
It is FIFA that he points the finger at for not having contributed to the costs.
“NJ Transit’s total operation to move fans to and from MetLife is expected to cost $62 million, with approximately $11 million dedicated to security alone. The federal government is contributing $10.6 million and the New York/NJ Host Committee is contributing just over $3 million, leaving NJ Transit footing a $48 million bill without any financial contribution from FIFA.
“Meanwhile, FIFA has told other host cities they can offer fans a mass train ride for just $2.50 round trip, a fraction of the price charged to fans in New York.”
A general view of MetLife Stadium and Meadowlands Station is seen from an NJ Transit train ahead of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup semifinal game between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 9, 2025. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Schumer added that “charging more than eleven times the normal fare for a train ride is a scam, pure and simple.”
FIFA’s budgeted revenue for the 2023 to 2026 cycle is approximately $11 billion, representing a 71% increase from the previous cycle. It is also the highest-grossing World Cup in the tournament’s history.
Schumer’s statement also points out that ticket prices for spectators are around $700 for the group stage, and the final at MetLife Stadium can reach $10,000 to fall under FIFA’s dynamic pricing model.
“We carry more fans, more runners and more disruptions than any other region in this tournament,” Schumer added. “FIFA must act accordingly. Past practices are not enough when eliminating parking, closing Penn Station and forcing all fans to use a single public transportation system. FIFA should cover the journey, not make New York fans foot the bill.”
FIFA may not have historically contributed to public transportation costs at past tournaments, but Schumer says New York and New Jersey aren’t all other host regions. It is the most densely populated area in the country and will host eight matches.
Kolluri also noted that, if the regular $12.90 fare were to remain in place, the $48 million bill for NJ Transit would be 92 percent subsidized for commuters.
“No one I’ve talked to thinks this is fair or reasonable. New Jersey commuters definitely shouldn’t bear the cost of a wonderful event in years to come. But the fans who go to the games should bear the cost. That’s all we’re trying to say,” Kolluri said.
Kris Kolluri, CEO of NJ Transit, and Alex Lasry, CEO of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Host Committee in New York, New Jersey, speak during a press briefing on the regional mobility plan for the World Cup in Newark, New Jersey, April 17, 2026. (Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images)
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With the plan now officially in place, FIFA World Cup Chief Operating Officer Heimo Schirgi released the following statement to PK Press Club Digital:
“Since signing host city agreements in 2018, FIFA has worked collaboratively with the organizing committees and their partners to develop a transportation plan that provides efficient and accessible public transportation options for ticketed fans attending all eight matches at NY NJ Stadium. The goal is to minimize traffic congestion, reduce the reliance on private vehicles and ensure the fan experience is positive and memorable, defined by the action on the field and not delays on the pitch. roads.
“NJ Transit’s current pricing model will have a disincentive effect. High fares inevitably push fans toward alternative transportation options. This increases concerns about congestion, late arrivals, and creates broader ripple effects that ultimately diminish the economic benefits and lasting legacy the entire region can derive from hosting the World Cup.”
