New Jersey officials have rallied sponsors and outside “non-taxpayer” funding sources to help lower transportation costs for fans attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) publicly clashed with FIFA over who should pay for the tournament’s mounting transit and security expenses.
New Jersey Transit announced Thursday that it had found support from “sponsors and other sources” to cut rail prices by at least 30%, from $150 to $105 for fares from New York’s Pennsylvania Station to MetLife Stadium for the games.
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MetLife Stadium is set to host eight games as part of the 2026 games that will take place across North America.
The price reduction comes after Sherrill had a public feud with FIFA over who would pay for the rides, with cost estimates reaching into the millions to carry some 40,000 fans to and from matches at the Garden State’s stadium.
New Jersey Transit planned to raise prices to pay for security, labor, and train upgrades, such as new air conditioning. A ticket from Penn Station to MetLife Stadium, roughly 18 miles apart, typically costs $12.90.
Kris Kolluri, NJ Transit CEO, said Sherrill has directed him to “find a way to reduce it through private sponsors and other sources.” The state is still expected to pay for other security-related costs, with Sherrill working provisions into the state budget to handle World Cup-related costs.
Sherrill had repeatedly argued that FIFA should absorb more of the costs rather than shifting the burden onto commuters and taxpayers.
In April, she said New Jersey inherited an agreement in which FIFA contributed “zero” dollars toward transportation costs despite the organization expecting billions in revenue from the tournament.
Kolluri previously estimated the agency would face about $48 million in expenses to safely move the thousands of fans per match because public parking around MetLife Stadium will largely be closed during the games.
FIFA pushed back against Sherrill’s criticism, noting that the 2018 host city agreement required free public transportation for ticket holders before the organization later loosened those requirements.
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Despite the controversy, New Jersey officials have continued promoting the World Cup as a major economic opportunity expected to generate billions in tourism across the region.
Sherrill and several other organizations announced $5 million in grants awarded to 34 New Jersey-based organizations hosting community events.
