The FIFA World Cup, held in North America in 2026, is the greatest event in the noble sport of football. But it is also a superb business for organizers and sponsors. The fans pay the bill. Attendees have to cover the trip, the lodging, and the ticket itself that FIFA has priced sky-high: final tickets can exceed $10,000.
But what already reaches the limit is that the transportation to the stadium will add even more astronomical costs. This is exactly what will happen at the MetLife Stadium, the venue for the final and several matches. By explicit order of FIFA parking will not be allowed in its vast 28,000-space parking area. The public transit option is not exactly cheap; the urban rail ticket will be $150: twelve times higher than the usual price.
A stadium that can only be reached by car, with parking banned
FIFA has been heavily criticized for inflating the final’s ticket prices, set for July 19 at MetLife Stadium. They can cost almost as much as a used car: up to $10,990. Category 2 tickets are $7,380 and category 3 tickets, $5,785. At the 2022 World Cup, held in Qatar, prices hovered around $1,600.
It’s only the beginning of an exorbitant combo of expenses for attendees: airfare (which airlines tend to raise for such events) and lodging (hotels or Airbnb rentals also cash in). It’s the market, friend. And it adds the travel from the hotel or rented home to MetLife Stadium.
A gigantic parking lot that very few will be able to use. MetLife Stadium has one of the largest parking facilities on the planet: 28,000 spaces, a Guinness World Record. It covers the entire Meadowlands Sports Complex, including a mall. But fans will not be allowed to use them: FIFA has demanded a colossal security perimeter that takes up almost all the parking.
Although there will be an “extremely limited” number of parking spaces (warns FIFA itself), they will be reserved for those who hold a ticket or FIFA invitation. They are a few in the American Dream Mall area and the price set by the organizers starts at $225.
Conclusion: the vast majority of attendees will have to use public transport, train or bus. Because walking from New York or from New Jersey itself is not an option: this stadium and the Meadowlands Sports Complex were designed to be accessed by car.
From $12.50 for the subway ticket to $150
The problem is that public transport on match days will be equally pricey. To reach MetLife Stadium, there is a direct and specific train line from Penn Station (New York): the NJ Transit Meadowlands Rail Line. It activates exclusively when events take place. The other option is buses, but the usual thing is for people to go by car to both the stadium and the shopping center.
The NJ Transit Meadowlands Rail Line ticket (round trip) normally costs $12.90, but on World Cup match days (eight in total including the final) it will rise to $150. Almost 12 times more expensive, given that it was not very affordable to begin with.
Regarding the shuttle buses, the round-trip fare will be $80. “It’s absolutely crazy. It’s ridiculous,” complaints one attendee who already has his ticket, speaking to DW News. The third option is to opt for carpooling, taxis and ride-hailing services: a dedicated parking for about 2,500 cars in rotation will be provided. But it is quite far from the stadium: 1.6 km walking. In full sun, in July.
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Nolan Kessler
I focus on performance-driven cars, emerging technologies, and the business forces shaping the automotive industry. My work aims to deliver clear, relevant insights without unnecessary noise, with a strong attention to detail and accuracy. I follow the evolution of mobility daily, with a particular interest in what defines the next generation of driving.
