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MetLife Stadium will host its first World Cup match next Saturday, but it doesn’t look like many fans will be taking public transportation there just yet.
The host committee for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in New York, New Jersey, and New Jersey Transit initially announced that round-trip train tickets to and from the stadium would cost $150 – a normal ticket from Penn Station to MetLife Stadium costs $12.90. However, thanks to additional private funding, tickets have since been reduced to $98.
NJ Transit plans to transport 40,000 people to each of the eight games at MetLife Stadium, but according to The Athletic, as of Monday at 5 p.m. ET, only 17,739 total tickets have been purchased for all eight games.
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Transportation officials are preparing to welcome an unprecedented number of passengers during World Cup matches this summer. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
This represents less than 6% of the 320,000 tickets available.
Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET, train schedules are not yet available, but fans can purchase tickets in select departure time windows, ranging from one to five hours before kickoff.
Fans have been encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance, as they will not be available for purchase on match day.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill and FIFA have traded blows over ticket prices, with Sherrill imploring FIFA to pay for fans to attend games.
“Our administration inherited an agreement where 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 on May 20, 2025, after NJ Transit resumed operations following a tentative agreement to end a three-day strike by rail engineers. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
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“I won’t make New Jersey commuters foot that bill for years – it’s not fair. So here’s the bottom line: FIFA should pay for the rides, but if they don’t, I won’t let New Jersey commuters get screwed for one.”
FIFA said it was “quite surprised” by Sherrill’s unprecedented “approach”.
“The FIFA World Cup will attract millions of fans to North America, with the resulting 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 hosted at NYNJ Stadium, including other major sports, world concert tours, etc., where organizers would have had to pay for fan transportation.”
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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Numerous travel restrictions were also imposed on match days, including NJ Transit service to and from New York suspended four hours before the start of matches, except for World Cup participants. 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 will be between Brazil and Morocco, and MetLife Stadium will also host the championship on July 19.
