After the tickets, the controversy is growing around transport prices linked to the 2026 World Cup in the United States. In New Jersey, spectators going to MetLife Stadium will have to pay up to 150 dollars (127 euros) for a round trip by train, compared to around 12.90 dollars in normal times, sparking strong protest from supporters and Fifa.
During a press conference, Kris Kolluri, head of the local transport authority, assured that he was not trying to make a “profit”. According to him, this price aims to compensate for the 48 million dollars necessary for the operation of trains to this 78,000-seat stadium, which will notably host the final on July 19. He also justifies this choice by explaining that, without this system, daily users would “subsidize up to 92%” of supporters’ travel.
Who said accessible tournament?
This increase is considered excessive by many football players. “It’s completely out of the norm compared to previous tournaments,” laments Thomas Concannon, representative of the English and Welsh Supporters’ Federation. Guillaume Auprêtre, spokesperson for the Irrésistibles Français, for his part regrets a decision far removed from the initial promises of an accessible tournament.
Fifa itself is worried about the consequences. Heimo Schirgi, director of operations, believes that this “arbitrarily” set price “will have a deterrent effect” on supporters. The body recalls that the agreements initially provided for free transport, before being adjusted to take into account the “financial difficulties” of the host cities, with the current objective of access “at cost”.
Shuttles and parking also overpriced
On the ground, alternatives remain limited. Shuttles will be offered at $80 per round trip for 10,000 people, while the rare parking spaces available cost around $225. This situation could also disrupt daily travel, with authorities recommending teleworking to regular users, in exchange for fare reductions.
Our file on the 2026 World Cup
The phenomenon is not limited to New Jersey. In Boston, a trip to Foxborough Stadium costs $80, ten times the usual price, while in Philadelphia, standard fares continue to apply. In the New York region, which expects one million visitors and three billion in economic benefits, the question of the financial accessibility of the World Cup remains more than ever raised.
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