A top US lawmaker and the governor of New Jersey both called on FIFA to foot the World Cup transportation bill amid a surge in ticket prices.
Published on 16 April 2026
With public transportation costs to and from World Cup games frequently exceeding $100 or more each way, New Jersey Governor Mickey Sherrill is the latest United States official to speak out about the cost to the public of the 2026 tournament and asked FIFA to help with the expense.
Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Democrat in the US Senate, had already on Tuesday called on FIFA, soccer’s global governing body, to pay for World Cup public transportation costs.
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This comes after a report that local officials in New Jersey are planning significant price increases during the tournament.
According to US-based website The Athletic, a train ticket from Penn Station in New York to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey for the World Cup games will cost more than $100. The standard fare for that route is $12.90.
“I won’t be sticking NJ travelers with that tab for years to come, it’s not fair,” Sherrill posted on Twitter Thursday. “FIFA should pay for the rides, but if they don’t, I won’t let NJ commuters take a single ride.”
The official train ticket price has not yet been announced, but The Athletic reported that Sherrill, the local World Cup host committee and NJ Transit all denied it would be above $100.
Sherrill tweeted: “We inherited a deal in which FIFA does not contribute a single dollar to transportation for the World Cup. And while NJ Transit is left with a $48 million bill to safely transport 40,000 fans from the stadium to wherever they’re going, FIFA is making $11 billion from this World Cup.
“I’m not going to burden New Jersey taxpayers with that bill for years.”
A day earlier, New York Governor Kathy Hochul had tweeted: “The World Cup should be as cheap and accessible as possible. Charging over $100 for a short train trip seems excessive to me.”
Schumer, who represents New York in the Senate, commented: “FIFA is set to rake in nearly $11 billion from this summer’s World Cup, yet New York area travelers and residents are being handed the bill.
“The least FIFA could do is ensure that New York residents can get to the stadium without hitting the eyesore at the turnstiles. I am calling on FIFA to step up and cover transportation costs for host cities and states.
“New York’s commuters and residents should not be subsidizing an $11 billion windfall.”
The backlash about New York’s transportation pricing comes in the wake of news about similar costs in Massachusetts. Train tickets from Boston to Foxborough, Massachusetts, for World Cup games will cost $80, and bus travel will cost up to $95.
A FIFA spokesperson provided a statement on Thursday outlining “mobility plans” to support host cities.
“We are quite surprised by the NJ Governor’s stance today on fan transportation. The original FIFA World Cup 2026 Host City Agreement, signed in 2018, required free transportation for fans to all matches. Recognizing the financial pressure this will place on host cities in 2023, FIFA adjusted the host agreement requirements in all host cities as follows: All match ticket holders and accredited persons able to access transportation (public or additional planned transportation) On the cost of allowing travel to stadiums on match days.
“In addition, FIFA has worked for years with host cities on their transportation and mobility plans, including advocating for millions of dollars in federal funding to support host cities with transportation.
“The FIFA World Cup will bring millions of fans to North America with associated economic impact. Many of these fans will travel to NYNJ to enjoy the scheduled eight matches, including the FIFA World Cup Final. FIFA is not aware of any other major events previously held at NYNJ Stadium, including other major sports, global concerts, etc., where organizers had to pay for fan transportation.”
The United States is hosting the World Cup with Mexico and Canada from June to July.
