NJ Transit cuts World Cup train fare to MetLife by 30%

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After fierce backlash over its controversial $150 round-trip fare for service to FIFA World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium, NJ Transit has lowered the train tickets to $105. As first reported by The Athletic, the agency reduced fares for the 18-mile trip by 30 percent after securing new sponsorships, CEO Kris Kolluri confirmed Thursday. After NJ Transit unveiled the original $150 price tag last month, Mikie Sherrill directed the agency to find alternative funding sources to ease costs for soccer fans and ensure New Jersey residents do not bear the cost of the tournament.

The journey from Penn Station to MetLife Stadium typically costs $12.90 for a round-trip ticket, but fares for the soccer tournament were initially increased more than elevenfold. The stadium is set to host eight World Cup matches this summer.

The lineup includes five group-stage matches on June 13, 16, 22, 26, and 27, a round of 32 match on June 30, a round of 16 match on July 5, and the final on July 19, as 6sqft previously reported. Only 40,000 tickets will be available for each match, with no additional tickets to be released once the initial batch sells out.

In April, Mikie Sherrill said FIFA should pay for fan transportation, arguing that the organization is expected to generate $11 billion from the tournament while NJ faces a $48 million transit bill. At the time, NJ Transit said it would have to pass those costs on to either taxpayers or event attendees.

FIFA reacted with “surprise,” citing a 2018 agreement with host cities that required free transportation for fans to matches. However, that agreement was revised in 2023, according to Yahoo Sports, as the governing body acknowledged the “financial strain” on host cities.

A FIFA spokesperson told Yahoo Sports that it was “not aware of any other major event previously held at MetLife Stadium, including other major sports and global concert tours, where organizers were required to pay for fan transportation,” they added.

The spokesperson also said NJ Transit’s pricing model could have a “chilling effect” on the tournament, warning of “increased congestion, late arrivals,” and broader ripple effects that could ultimately diminish the economic benefit and long-term legacy of hosting the FIFA World Cup, according to The Athletic.

Now, the transit agency says that, in collaboration with Mikie Sherrill’s administration, it has secured “sponsorship support” that will allow it to lower ticket costs without affecting fares for local commuters. The agency also continues to seek additional private funding sources to reduce prices further.

An official shuttle bus service will also be available, providing fans with a direct ride from the Port Authority Bus Terminal or the Midtown East Shuttle to MetLife Stadium. In NJ, a park-and-ride shuttle will operate from the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, allowing fans to travel directly to the stadium. Bus tickets cost $80 and are available for purchase here.

While train tickets may now be slightly cheaper, the overall cost of attending a World Cup match this summer is still sky-high. The most expensive “Category 1” ticket to the final now costs $10,990, significantly higher than the $6,730 price when sales first launched last year, according to NPR.

NJ Transit riders should also expect changes to Penn Station access on match days. Last month, it was revealed that commuters would not be able to board NJ-bound trains from the station for four hours before the start of the eight matches.

World Cup attendees will have their tickets checked at entrances on 32nd and 33rd Streets, while Amtrak and Long Island Rail Road riders will be directed to alternate entrances, as 6sqft previously reported.

Train ticket sales go live on Wednesday, May 13, and need to be booked in advance.

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The post NJ Transit cuts World Cup train fare to MetLife by 30% first appeared on 6sqft.

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