$100 Train Tickets To $11K Seats: What Fans Are Paying To Attend The World Cup

NJ Transit has discussed the possibility for a return train ticket close to or around $150, the website reported on Thursday. A regular ticket costs $12.90, the same amount that it cost fans to journey to the venue for the FIFA Club World Cup last summer.

There will be no parking at MetLife during the World Cup as FIFA will use its parking lot for security measures and logistical arrangements.

One parking option for fans is at the American Dream mall near the stadium. Parking spots will cost $225 per car and must be reserved prior to matches, according to NewJerseyNews12. Fans can use a dedicated walkway to get to the stadium.

MetLife Stadium will host eight games, including the July 19 final. Tickets for the championship have been mired in controversy for weeks as the top price for a tier one ticket cost nearly $11,000.

That has kicked off a political storm in New York and New Jersey, with politicians pointing fingers at FIFA, soccer's world governing body, and fans feeling that they are being fleeced by FIFA on the tickets, and by the local government on transportation.

MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 4: New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial candidate, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), arrives to cast her vote on November 4, 2025 in Montclair, New Jersey. Sherrill faces off against Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli, in a tightly contested race for New Jersey governor. (Photo by Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)

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The governor chimes in

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill claimed that FIFA needs to pump in some money to help cut down costs.

“When it comes to moving people into the game at the FIFA World Cup, and FIFA intends to make about $11 billion on this, they need to defray some of this cost,” she said on the debut episode of the “Ask Governor Sherrill” call-in show on WNYC on Wednesday, April 15, the Gothamist reported.

Sherrill said that she will approve the fare increase if FIFA doesn't step in.

“I will, if that’s what it takes, because I’m not putting this on the back of New Jerseyans,” she said, according to ESPN.com.

Sherill added on a video on X: “I won’t stick N.J. commuters with that tab for years to come, that’s not fair. FIFA should pay for the rides, but if they don’t, I’m not going to let N.J. commuters be taken for one.”

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 15: U.S. Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY), left, and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), speak at a press conference outside New York Penn Station calling for a greater funding and safety for U.S. railways on May 15, 2015 in New York City. The four point plan comes on the heels of an Amtrak train accident outside Philadelphia that killed 8 people and injured more than 200 others. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

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And so does a senator

New York Sen. Chuck Schumer said on Monday that FIFA should help pay for World Cup transit costs.

"FIFA is set to reap nearly $11 billion from this summer's World Cup, yet New York area commuters and residents are being handed the bill," he wrote on X. "The least FIFA can do is ensure New York residents can go to the stadium without being gouged at the turnstile. I am demanding FIFA step up."

UKRAINE - 2024/02/21: In this photo illustration, 2026 FIFA World Cup (FIFA World Cup 26) logo is seen on a smartphone screen. (Photo Illustration by Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

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FIFA’s response

FIFA responded to Sherrill’s video by issuing a statement of its own, according to Adam Crafton of The Athletic. The organization claimed the host city had agreed to provide free or at-cost transportation to fans at all matches.

“We are quite surprised by the NJ Governor’s approach today on fan transportation. The original FIFA World Cup 2026 Host City Agreements signed in 2018 required free transportation for fans to all matches. Recognizing the financial strain this placed on the host cities, back in 2023 FIFA adjusted the Host Agreement requirements across all host cities as follows: All Match Ticket holders and accredited individuals shall be able to access transport [public or additionally planned transport] at cost to allow travel to Stadiums on match days.

“FIFA worked for years with host cities on transportation and mobility plans, including advocating for millions of dollars in federal funding to support host cities for transportation.

“FIFA World Cup will bring millions of fans to North America along with related economic impact. Many fans will travel to NYNJ to enjoy the eight matches scheduled. FIFA is not aware of any other major event previously held at NYNJ Stadium, including other major sports, global concert tours, etc., where organizers were required to pay for fan transportation.”

A final decision on the rail fare is expected to be made on Friday, April 17.

It should be noted that NJ Transit did not make many friends in New York or New Jersey on April 6, when it announced that parts of Penn Station will be closed to its commuters for four hours before the kickoff of the eight matches at MetLife, so that World Cup ticketholders can be transported to the venue. Penn Station is the busiest transportation center in North America.

Commuters using other train services such as Amtrak and the Long Island Rail Road will be allowed into the facility.

This report doesn’t include the cost of souvenirs and food at the stadiums. If it follows recent history, they are expected to be sky high.

Michael Lewis, the sixth recipient of the Clay Berling Media Career of Excellence Award in 2025, can be followed on X (formerly Twitter) and Bluesky at @Soccerwriter. His 10th soccer book, Around the World Cup in 40 Years: An American sportswriter's perspective, will be published this spring.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com