Outrage erupts over 2026 World Cup transport fare increases: 'A total disgrace'

According to a piece in The Athletic, New Jersey Transit intends to levy charges exceeding $100 (£74) on supporters for journeys from Penn Station in Manhattan to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey amid the World Cup. Typically, a round-trip fare stands at $12.90 (£9.52).

This month, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority verified that round-trip fares from Boston to Gillette Stadium will run to $80 (£59), a jump from the standard event-day rate of $20 (£14.77).

"A total disgrace. During past tournaments, transport was either bundled into the ticket fee or provided at a sharp discount to those holding tickets," stated Guillaume Aupretre, representative for France's primary fan collective, in an AFP interview.

"They continue adding these extra expenses with no regard for the supporters," he remarked, criticising FIFA, the body overseeing global football, for excluding "the most dedicated fans to benefit the affluent."

France is set to contest its entire Group I fixtures in Boston and New Jersey.

"Yet another day, yet another exploitation at this World Cup. What in the world is happening?" shared Free Lions, an organisation supporting England fans on the road, via social media.

England's group stage games are also lined up at the Boston and New Jersey venues.

'Excessively steep'

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill held FIFA accountable for the fare surges, citing a $48 million (£35.5m) expense the state must cover to secure fan travel to the eight fixtures at MetLife Stadium.

"I refuse to burden New Jersey's daily travellers with that expense for years ahead, it's unjust," Sherrill posted on social media, noting FIFA's projected $11 billion (£8.125bn) earnings from the tournament.

"The key point: FIFA ought to cover the transport, but should they decline, I won't allow New Jersey commuters to foot the bill."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer mirrored this view, posting on social media Tuesday that FIFA must cover transport expenses to World Cup sites.

FIFA, already under fire for exorbitant match ticket fees, released a firm declaration condemning the transport fare escalation.

FIFA noted that initial host city pacts "demanded complimentary transport for fans to every match".

A subsequent renegotiation agreed that transport would be available "at cost" during match days, FIFA explained.

"We find the New Jersey Governor's stance on fan transport rather unexpected," FIFA commented.

"The FIFA World Cup will draw millions of fans to North America, boosting the economy significantly."

It continued: "FIFA knows of no prior major event at the NYNJ Stadium, be it other top sports, worldwide concert series, or similar, where organisers had to fund fan transport."

New York Governor Kathy Hochul likewise targeted the alleged fare rise.

"Demanding more than $100 for a brief train journey strikes me as excessively steep," Hochul posted on X.

NJ Transit offered no reply to an AFP inquiry for comment.

The Athletic cited an agency spokesperson asserting that World Cup fare decisions remain undecided, dismissing reports as "unverified conjecture."

Local news indicates that $100 million (£74m) in federal US funds has been earmarked for host cities' transit expenses, with $8.7 million (£6.4m) designated for Boston and Massachusetts, plus $10.4 million (£7.7m) for the New York-New Jersey region.

Los Angeles's transit body has secured $9.6 million (£7m). Just last month, it committed to maintaining regular fares for SoFi Stadium trips, which normally cost $3.50 (£2.58) round-trip from central Los Angeles, on World Cup match days.