By Lilian Mutua
FIFA has hit back at criticism from New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, saying vastly inflated train fares at the 2026 World Cup will create problems for fans far beyond the direct impact of the high price.
Sherrill said the world football governing body is to blame for supporters having to pay $150 (£111) for a 30-minute train journey from New York to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to attend World Cup games this summer.
There are no concession prices, so children and seniors must also pay the full $150, while shuttle bus tickets are priced at $80 (£59).
In criticising Sherill, Heimo Schirgi, chief operating officer for the 2026 World Cup, said Fifa’s goal is “to minimise congestion, reduce reliance on private vehicles, and ensure the fan experience is positive and memorable, defined by the action on the pitch, not delays on the roads”.
He added, “The NJ Transit current pricing model will have a chilling effect.
“Elevated fares inevitably push fans towards alternative transportation options. This increases concerns of congestion, late arrivals, and creates broader ripple effects that ultimately diminish the economic benefit and lasting legacy the entire region stands to gain from hosting the World Cup.”
Governor’s Fifa demand ‘unprecedented’
MetLife Stadium – which will be named New York/New Jersey Stadium during the World Cup as part of FIFA’s policy on corporate-sponsored names – will host eight matches, including an England group game, and the final on 19 July.
Train fares for matches at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, outside Boston, have also been vastly increased to $80 (£59), with coach tickets costing $95 (£70).
Sherrill said that FIFA should subsidise the cost of public transport for World Cup games this summer.
The governor posted on X, external that her administration “inherited an agreement where Fifa is providing $0 for transportation” while NJ Transit has a bill of $48m (£35m), and claimed the tournament organisers will make $11bn (£8.1bn).
“To arbitrarily set elevated prices and demand Fifa absorb these costs is unprecedented,” Fifa’s Schirgi added.
“No other global event, concert or major sporting promoter has faced such a demand.
“While Fifa is projected to generate approximately $11bn in revenue, not profit, as the governor incorrectly claims, Fifa has always been a not-for-profit organisation as per our statutes.
“Revenues from the FIFA World Cup are reinvested into developing the game of football, particularly for youth and women, worldwide.”
He added that host city agreements were signed in 2018 and that FIFA had already worked with the host committee to develop a transportation plan that “provides efficient and accessible mass transit options” for fans attending the eight matches in New Jersey.
