Fifa has pushed back against criticism from New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill over steep train fares for World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium, saying the pricing could cause wider operational issues beyond the financial burden on fans.
Sherrill said supporters face $150 fares for the roughly 30-minute NJ Transit ride from New York to the stadium and argued Fifa should help subsidise public transport. There are no concession fares for children or seniors, and shuttle bus tickets are being offered at $80. Tickets to Gillette Stadium near Boston have also risen, with some train fares at $80 and coach tickets priced around $95.
Heimo Schirgi, Fifa’s chief operating officer for the tournament, warned that the current pricing approach could have a chilling effect, pushing fans away from public transit and toward private cars or other options. That shift, he said, would increase congestion, cause late arrivals, and produce ripple effects that could reduce the tournament’s economic benefits and long-term legacy for the region. Fifa says its goals include minimising congestion, encouraging mass transit use and ensuring fans’ experiences are defined by what happens on the pitch rather tha
