The World Cup is coming to New Jersey this summer. And Governor Mikie Sherrill wants to make one thing very clear: New Jersey residents will not foot the bill.
In a sharp statement released Friday, Sherrill took direct aim at FIFA over the financial burden being placed on NJ Transit—and by extension, on the everyday commuters who depend on it. “FIFA should cover the cost of transporting its fans,” she said. “If it won’t, we will not be subsidizing World Cup ticket holders on the backs of New Jerseyans who rely on NJ Transit every day.”
The Numbers Tell the Story
The agreement New Jersey inherited—negotiated before Sherrill took office—put zero FIFA dollars toward transportation to MetLife Stadium, which will be temporarily renamed for the tournament.
It also eliminated all parking at the stadium, forcing NJ Transit to absorb the cost of moving four times the typical matchday ridership. It will cost the agency a staggering $48 million. Meanwhile, FIFA is projected to generate $11 billion from the tournament.
NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri confirmed Friday that round-trip rail fare from Penn Station will cost $150 per fan—that’s $50 higher than the rumored $100 that was reported earlier this week.
A Bus Rapid Transit line from Secaucus will also run at $150. Shuttle buses from Port Authority and Grand Central will cost $80 round-trip. Drivers will find a single park-and-ride lot in Clifton—2,500 spaces—with an $80 shuttle to the stadium. Parking at American Dream starts at $225, subject to demand.
The math is stark: a fan driving in could spend more getting to the game than some people spend on groceries in a month.
What Happens to Regular Commuters
Four of the eight World Cup matches fall on weekdays. Two of them—June 22 and June 30—overlap with peak commuting hours, triggering a four-hour ban on non-World Cup passengers on the west side of Penn Station before those games.
Sherrill’s administration is pushing back on the impact.
Regular NJ Transit riders will receive a 20% fare discount on single-ride tickets during affected days, with sliding scale discounts for pass holders. PATH is being coordinated to cross-honor tickets and run extra service on the 33rd Street line. Employers are being asked to allow remote work on those days.
A Bigger Fight
Sherrill is drawing a red line. New Jersey wants the world stage. It wants the economic upside. But it isn’t willing to let an organization poised to make $11 billion walk away clean while the state’s transit system—and taxpayers—absorbs the hit.
Whether FIFA moves remains to be seen. Tickets for the special NJ Transit World Cup service go on sale May 13. If you’re planning to be on the rails this summer, here’s what NJ Transit has planned for Penn Station.
One thing is certain: the match between Governor Sherrill and FIFA has already started. New Jersey hasn’t blinked.