Fans Face $150 Train Fare to MetLife Stadium for World Cup Games
Supporters attending World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium will be required to pay $150 (£111) for a train ticket from Penn Station in Manhattan to the venue in New Jersey. This 18-mile, 30-minute journey represents more than an elevenfold increase from the usual $12.90 (£9.50) return fare.
The Football Supporters' Association (FSA) has expressed strong dissatisfaction, describing the pricing as "fleecing" and "gouging" fans. Notably, there are no concession prices available, meaning children and seniors must also pay the full $150 fare. Shuttle bus tickets are priced at $80 (£59). Both train and bus tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable.
Earlier reports suggested a $100 (£74) fare, but NJ Transit confirmed the higher price on Friday. MetLife Stadium, temporarily renamed New York/New Jersey Stadium during the World Cup due to FIFA's policy on corporate sponsorship, will host eight matches, including an England group game and the final on 19 July.
This follows similar fare increases at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, near Boston, where train fares have risen to $80 (£59) and coach tickets to $95 (£70).
FSA Voices Disappointment Over High Transport Costs
Thomas Concannon, leader of the FSA's England fans' group, conveyed his disappointment to , emphasizing the financial burden on fans in addition to already high match ticket prices.
"The price is obviously astronomical in terms of what you would expect to pay going to a match, going to a tournament," Concannon said. "This is completely out of the norm from previous tournaments.
"You're supposed to be welcoming fans from around the world. And I think at this stage, fans couldn't feel less welcome.
"I don't think anyone this time was expecting transport to be free. But we weren't expecting to be gouged, either.
"That's ultimately what's happened here, and that's just extremely disappointing. We don't understand why."
Transport at the previous World Cups in Russia and Qatar was free, and the United States had committed to providing the same benefit in its host agreement with FIFA.
On Wednesday, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill criticized FIFA for not providing funding for transport, stating she would not "stick New Jersey commuters with that tab for years to come" and that "FIFA should pay for the rides." FIFA responded by acknowledging the financial strain on host cities and stated that travel could and should be offered "at cost."
Transport Costs Vary Across Host Cities
While host cities may have agreed to provide transport at usual costs, the prices in New Jersey and Foxborough exceed those expectations significantly.
However, not all cities have adopted such high fares. Arlington offers free shuttles from Centerport Station, and Kansas charges $15 (£11) for a return bus from four pick-up points. Philadelphia maintains its usual fare of $2.90 (£2) for the six games hosted there.
Concannon noted that as more high prices are announced, fans are becoming less surprised.
"Every single thing coming out of this tournament so far is just fans getting fleeced," he said.
"With there being no concessionary prices that's obviously going to impact families, senior concessions as well.
"Who knows what even a pint of beer is going to cost in the normal bars? What's food going to be like? And then there's obviously the tipping culture.
"Costs are just getting higher and higher and higher."
Impact on England and Scotland Fans
The elevated prices in New Jersey and Foxborough will affect both England and Scotland supporters. England will play Ghana in Foxborough on 23 June and Panama at MetLife Stadium on 27 June. Scotland’s matches include games against Haiti on 13 June and Morocco on 19 June in Foxborough. Their third match, against Brazil, is in Miami, where transport details to Hard Rock Stadium remain unavailable.
Parking costs are also high, with a space at MetLife Stadium priced at $225 (£166) and $175 (£129) at Foxborough.
Concannon highlighted fans’ efforts to manage travel costs.
"We've already seen England fans putting buses on independently run to get to the game in Foxborough from Boston and Providence," he said.
"England fans are very, very good at looking after each other and working a way to get there as cheaply as they possibly can.
"But this just hasn't been made easy - again. All this shouldn't be something that England fans are having to worry about.
"It just goes to show that the organisation hasn't been great."
FIFA Ticket Sales and Pricing Concerns
Last week, FIFA released a new batch of tickets under 'Front Category 1' and 'Front Category 2', featuring seats in the first rows of lower sections and priced up to three times higher than regular Category 1 tickets. There was no prior notice regarding the existence or sale timing of these tickets, and FIFA declined to comment on its ticket sales policy.
Concannon remarked on the pricing strategy.
"It's not a surprise that these things are getting rolled out and ultimately trying to make as much money as possible," he said.
"And again, it's just a shame. It's a real shame to see."
