News Focus
- Train tickets to MetLife Stadium reduced from $150 (£111) to $98 (£73)
- Shuttle bus fares cut by 75% to $20 (£15) return
- England and Scotland supporters to benefit from price reductions
- Fan groups had labelled original prices “astronomical” and unfair
- Move contrasts with Boston, where transport costs have risen by 300%
Football supporters travelling to World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will pay less for transport than originally planned. Organisers have reduced ticket prices for trains and buses after strong complaints from fans.
The cost of a return train journey has fallen from $150 to $98. Shuttle bus tickets now cost $20 instead of $80. These changes come after Thomas Concannon, who leads the Football Supporters’ Association England group, attacked the earlier prices as “astronomical” and unlike normal rates.
MetLife Stadium, which FIFA will call New York/New Jersey Stadium during the tournament, sits about 18 miles from Manhattan. Normally, a return train ticket from Penn Station costs just $12.90. The World Cup prices had sparked anger because they were much higher than usual.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherril had previously attacked FIFA for refusing to pay for transport subsidies. She promised that local taxpayers would not pay for the event’s travel costs. In a post on social media, Sherril explained that commercial sponsors made the price cuts possible without using public money.
“Good news: Ahead of NJ Transit World Cup train tickets going on sale, NJ Transit is lowering ticket prices to $98 without New Jersey taxpayer money,” she wrote. “Thank you to our partners for helping make this possible.”
New York Governor Kathy Hochul also announced a 75% reduction in return bus fares. She stated that reaching the World Cup “should be as accessible as possible”. Hochul added that one-fifth of tickets would be kept for New York residents.
The price cuts will help England and Scotland fans attending group matches. England face Panama at the stadium on 27 June, while Scotland play both Haiti and Morocco at Foxborough near Boston. However, supporters heading to Foxborough face different conditions. Transport prices there have jumped by over 300%, with return tickets rising from $20 to $80.
Free transport was available at the last two World Cups in Russia and Qatar. The United States had promised similar benefits in its original 2018 hosting agreement, but changed this in 2023 so fans would pay cost price instead. FIFA defended the original New Jersey prices by stating there was no previous record of transport costs rising for major events at this venue.
Other host cities offer varying prices. Kansas City charges $15 for return bus tickets, while Philadelphia maintains its normal $2.90 fare for the tournament.