The fan backlash is working. World Cup train tickets are dropping again.
After months of outrage over the cost of getting to World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium this summer, the governors of New Jersey and New York announced Tuesday that train and shuttle bus fares are being cut again—the second price reduction since the original figure was unveiled earlier this spring.
NJ Transit round-trip rail tickets from Penn Station to MetLife Stadium will now cost $98, down from $105 most recently and $150 when prices were first reported. For context, on a typical day, that same 18-mile trip costs just $12.90.
Governor Mikie Sherrill said the latest reduction once again came “without New Jersey taxpayer money,” crediting a growing list of corporate sponsors, including DoorDash, Audible, FanDuel, DraftKings, PSE&G, South Jersey Industries, and American Water. Tickets went on sale Wednesday, May 13, and must be booked in advance.
However, Sherrill isn’t done firing back at FIFA. After lowering the fares the first time last week, she publicly criticized the organization for refusing to contribute transportation funds for the tournament. “FIFA should contribute to transport its fans to World Cup games,” Sherrill’s team said in a statement. “Since it hasn’t, she directed NJ Transit to seek private and non-taxpayer dollars to significantly reduce the fare.”
Shuttle Bus Fares Cut by 75%
The shuttle bus fare saw an even sharper cut. New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that round-trip bus fares are dropping to $20—down from $80 originally, a 75% reduction. Hochul said she is investing $6 million in state funds toward the price cuts, and that yellow school buses will be used on games that land outside of school days to increase shuttle capacity to 18,000 seats. Those who already purchased $80 tickets will receive $60 refunds.
Buses will depart from three locations in Midtown Manhattan—including the Port Authority Bus Terminal—and one in Hackensack.
Hochul has reserved a fifth of shuttle tickets for New Yorkers.
The Price Keeps Dropping
The price reductions come after sustained criticism from fans and advocacy groups.
Thomas Concannon, leader of the Football Supporters’ Association England fan group, previously called the original fares “astronomical” and “completely out of the norm,” according to BBC. Travel to World Cup matches in Russia and Qatar was free, and the U.S. had originally committed to the same—a promise that was quietly revised in 2023.
MetLife Stadium, temporarily renamed New York New Jersey Stadium for the tournament, will host eight matches this summer, including the final on July 19. With no general parking available to fans on match days, public transportation remains the primary option for most. Event organizers have been strongly encouraging it.
For those planning to attend, NJ Transit World Cup train tickets are now on sale at $98 round-trip. Whether the price drops further before the first match on June 11 remains to be seen.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.