NJ Transit to charge more than $100 for short train ride from New York’s Penn Station to MetLife for World Cup games: report | OneFootball

Soccer fans looking to take the train from New York City to New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup games this summer could be hit with a triple-digit price tag.

NJ Transit plans to charge more than $100 for return train tickets from Manhattan’s Penn Station to the stadium during the World Cup matches, The Athletic reported Tuesday. Tickets for the 18-mile trip typically only cost $12.90.

Senator Chuck Schumer of New York shared The Athletic’s report on social media and said he’s calling on FIFA to help cover transportation costs.

“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 and cover transportation costs for host cities and states,” he wrote on X.

Several fans also shared their reactions to the report online.

Return tickets from Penn Station to MetLife Stadium could cost travelers more than $100 during the World Cup games, a new report revealed (Getty Images)

“I really like soccer but at this point you're more or less a sucker for going to this thing. Sucks,” sports commentator Kevin Clark wrote on X.

“Can the last person who is looking forward to this World Cup please turn the lights off on the way out,” sports writer Amos Murphy posted.

NJ Transit has not yet finalized ticket prices for match day travel, an agency spokesperson told The Independent.

“However, as the Governor has clearly stated, the cost for the eight matches will not be borne by our regular commuters. We can confirm that the overall cost to the agency is approximately $48 million for the eight matches,” the spokesperson said.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill also addressed concerns about World Cup transportation costs during a press conference.

“One of the key things I wanted to make sure of is that we are not going to be paying for moving the … people who are viewing the World Cup on the back of New Jersey taxpayers and New Jersey commuters,” Sherrill said Monday. “We worked together closely to make sure that that cost will not be borne by New Jerseyans.”

MetLife Stadium is slated to host eight World Cup matches across June and July — which means tens of thousands of spectators are expected to rely on trains for travel, according to The Athletic.

This comes just days after Massachusetts transportation officials announced plans to charge $80 for train tickets between Boston’s South Station and Gillette Stadium on World Cup match days. The move prompted outrage from some fans, who expressed disappointment and frustration with the high cost.

“Compared to driving, parking, and event-day traffic delays, Commuter Rail provides a predictable and more affordable way to travel to and from matches,” the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority said in a statement.