FIFA has faced backlash from prominent US politicians who believe soccer’s governing body should subsidize domestic transport.
Published April 16, 2026
Soccer fans have expressed outrage at the exorbitant cost of transport to 2026 World Cup matches, after reports that US transportation authorities have increased fares just for this summer’s tournament.
New Jersey Transit plans to charge fans more than $100 for tickets from Penn Station in Manhattan to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, during the World Cup, the US-based website The Athletic reports.
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Round-trip tickets typically cost $12.90.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority confirmed this month that round-trip tickets from Boston to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., will now cost $80, up from $20 on the day of the event.
“This is shameful. At recent tournaments, transport costs have either been included in the ticket price or given to ticket holders at a significant discount,” Guillaume Opletre, a spokesman for France’s main supporters group, told AFP.
“They keep accumulating extra costs without any consideration for the fans,” he said, accusing world soccer governing body FIFA of locking out “the most loyal supporters of the wealthy”.
France will play all three Group I games in Boston and New Jersey.
“Another day, another rip-off at this World Cup. What the heck is going on?” Free Lions, an organization for England’s traveling fans, posted on social media.
England also have group games scheduled at stadiums in Boston and New Jersey.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill blamed FIFA for the price increases, noting the state is billing $48 million to ensure the safety of fans attending the eight games at MetLife Stadium.
“We’re not going to hold New Jersey commuters to that tab for years to come. It’s not fair,” Sherrill wrote on social media, adding that FIFA is expected to make $11 billion from the World Cup.
“The bottom line is this: FIFA should pay for the rides, but if they don’t, they’re not going to give them to New Jersey commuters.”
This sentiment was echoed by U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who wrote on social media on Tuesday that FIFA should pay for transportation to World Cup venues.
FIFA, which has already come under heavy criticism for soaring ticket prices for many of its matches, issued a strongly worded statement criticizing the rise in transport costs.
FIFA said the original host city agreement “required that fans be able to travel free of charge to all matches.”
FIFA added that the renegotiation stipulates that match-day transportation will be provided at “actual cost”.
FIFA said it was “very surprised by the New Jersey Governor’s approach regarding fan transportation.”
“The FIFA World Cup will bring millions of fans to North America with associated economic benefits.”
“FIFA is not aware of any other major events held at NYNJ Stadium in the past that have required organizers to cover fan travel costs, such as other major sports or global concert tours.”
New York Governor Cathy Hochul was among those to criticize the reported price hikes.
“Charging over $100 for a short train ride seems extremely expensive to me,” Hochul wrote to X.
The New Jersey Department of Transportation did not respond to AFP’s request for comment.
The Athletic quoted a spokesperson for the organization as saying that no firm decision had been made regarding World Cup ticket prices and that the reports were “unconfirmed speculation.”
About $100 million in U.S. federal funds has been allocated to host cities for transportation network costs, including $8.7 million for Boston and Massachusetts and $10.4 million for New York and New Jersey, according to local media reports.
Los Angeles transit agencies received $9.6 million. The company last month pledged not to raise standard fares for trips to SoFi Stadium, which typically cost $3.50 round-trip from downtown Los Angeles, during World Cup games.
