2026 World Cup Fans Slam 'Disgraceful' Transit Price Hikes

World Cup transit costs surge as FIFA denies free travel deal

Fans blast ‘disgraceful’ 2026 World Cup transit hikes as NJ, Boston raise fares to $100 and $80. FIFA blames hosts, while LA pledges no price rise.

2026 World Cup transport price hikes spark outrage, “it’s a disgrace...”

Football fans have voiced outrage at the steep cost of transit fares to World Cup matches, after reports that US transport authorities have raised prices specifically for this summer’s tournament.

New Jersey Transit plans to charge fans more than $100 (£74) for tickets from Penn Station in Manhattan to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey during the World Cup, according to a report in The Athletic. A return ticket for the journey usually costs $12.90 (£9.52).

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority confirmed this month that return tickets from Boston to Gillette Stadium will cost $80 (£59) - up from the standard event-day price of $20 (£14.77).

“It's a disgrace. In recent tournaments, transportation was either included in the ticket price or offered at a heavily discounted rate for ticket holders,” Guillaume Aupretre, a spokesman for France's main supporters' group.

“They keep piling on the extra costs without giving any thought to the fans,” he said, accusing world football's governing body FIFA of shutting out “the most loyal supporters in favor of the wealthy.”

We were initially told the prices would remain as standard, however this potential news comes as little surprise.

Another day, another rip off at this World Cup. What on earth is going on? https://t.co/LAnnaELxJD

— Free Lions (@WeAreFreeLions) April 14, 2026

'Fares far too steep'

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill blamed FIFA for the price rises, citing a $48 million (£35.5m) bill the state must cover to ensure fan safety for the eight games at MetLife Stadium.

“I won't stick New Jersey commuters for that tab for years to come, that's not fair,“ Sherrill wrote on social media, adding that FIFA stood to make $11 billion (£8.125bn) at the World Cup.

“So here's the bottom line: Fifa should pay for the rides, but if they don't I'm not going to let New Jersey commuters get taken for one.”

That view was echoed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who wrote on social media Tuesday that FIFA should cover transport costs to World Cup venues.

FIFA, already facing heavy criticism over the high cost of many match tickets, released a strongly-worded statement condemning the transport price hike.

FIFA said the original host city agreements “required free transportation for fans to all matches.”

A renegotiation later stipulated that transport would be offered “at cost” on match days, FIFA added.

“We are quite surprised by the NJ Governor's approach on fan transportation,“ FIFA said.

We inherited an agreement where FIFA is providing $0 for transportation to the World Cup.

And while NJ TRANSIT is stuck with a $48 million bill to safely get fans to and from games, FIFA is making $11 billion.

I’m not going to stick New Jersey commuters with that tab for years… pic.twitter.com/pugU8davkW

— Governor Mikie Sherrill (@GovSherrillNJ) April 15, 2026

“The FIFA World Cup will bring millions of fans to North America along with the related economic impact.”

It added: “FIFA is not aware of any other major event previously held at NYNJ Stadium, including other major sports, global concert tours, etc., where organizers were required to pay for fan transportation.”

New York Governor Kathy Hochul also criticized the reported price hike.

"Charging over $100 for a short train ride sounds awfully high to me,” Hochul wrote on X.

The World Cup should be as affordable and accessible as possible.

Charging over $100 for a short train ride sounds awfully high to me.

That’s not happening on the MTA. https://t.co/CQDuxT3Bdw

— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) April 14, 2026

The Athletic quoted an agency spokesperson saying no final decision had been made on World Cup ticket pricing, calling the reports “unconfirmed speculation.”

Some $100 million (£74m) in US federal funding has been allocated to host cities for transit network costs, including $8.7 million (£6.4m) for Boston and Massachusetts, and $10.4 million (£7.7m) for the New York-New Jersey area, according to local media reports.

Los Angeles's transit agency has received $9.6 million (£7m). Last month, it pledged not to raise standard fares for trips to SoFi Stadium - usually $3.50 (£2.58) for a round-trip from downtown Los Angeles - during World Cup match days.