Going to North America '26: tickets, accommodations, etc. (non-politics)

My assumption has been that this is a negotiating tactic by the folks in NJ and MA. Will it really end up being $100 to ride to/from the stadium? Let's sure hope not, but one way to try to find funds to help pay for the extra ridership (and related security, etc.) is to 'leak' your intentions to the press, and then comment on them once the press ask about them. Is this a smart or ethical way to operate? I don't know, sausages get made in all sorts of ways.

Whatever the case and however this plays out: In past World Cups, this never would have happened, because you had a strong and competent central local organizing committee, well connected with officials in all the venue cities, and they were pretty well aligned. At least in the U.S., the 2026 equivalent is weak and comparatively not all that competent, and FIFA has taken over many of the responsibilities itself (and FIFA has different priorities, and represents different constituencies, than local organizing committees). What was outlined in the initial bid books may in part have been wishful thinking, in part based on assumptions that no longer hold, and in part simply no longer practical. I assume that there are no 'good guys' here. Is the current administration likely to jump in provide support to venues/cities seen as supporters of a different political party? That's another issue behind the scenes here (or maybe it's no longer behind the scenes). The folks in tiny Foxboro played hardball in one way (and won, in part), state governments are playing the game in a different way here.

To be clear: I'm not defending NJ (or MA) here. (As the old joke goes: How does you tell when politicians are lying? Their lips are moving). I'm just saying that I don't think this is simple, straightforward price gouging as it is with tickets. At least: Not yet. Nothing is final yet, these are all essentially proposals. But until something is final, we (fans) should be railing about it publicly, complaining to the press, online, etc. We have very little agency as fans. FIFA isn't going to budge, they don't care and are pretty immune from pressure. But most other groups are not. While we can't do anything about ticket prices, we might be able to help do something about transit prices. Maybe. Is there money around (state money, regional money, municipal money, federal money) that could be reallocated so that we don't have to pay $100 to take a train to the stadium? Absolutely. Let's hope that happens. And until it does: We should all be yelling.

 

2025 CWC was a dry run in many aspects: restricted parking, tiered parking fees, temporary grass carpets over NFL turf, etc.

2025 CWC had additional MetLife buses: https://www.fox5ny.com/sports/no-general-parking-metlife-stadium-2026-fifa-world-cup-fans-warned

FIFA charged for 2025 CWC MetLife parking, increasing as tournament rounds progressed:
https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments...ms/new-york-new-jersey-metlife/transportation

Event Day Parking Fees
June 21, 23 & July 5 is $60; July 8 & 9 is $65; July 13 is $70​

Edit: FIFA will charge $225 for 2026 WC MetLife parking:
https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/world-cup-metlife-stadium-no-parking/

 

Yeah it's a big she said/he said. I think what FIFA is doing is wrong (I was shocked to learn they take ALL the revenue, even from stuff like concessions). But there are receipts somewhere, with signatures. If NJ didn't like it, they could have said no.

I get where the NJ Governor is coming from, but announcing sixty days before the tournament that people attending the games will pay for the whole costs of the transportation is a crazy move. Besides, how do we even know that's true? NJ Transit could be, for all we know, be trying to fund multiple years of operations.

If they'd said way in advance that fans would be footing the transportation bill, people would have gotten fewer NJ tickets (myself included).

Given the situation we're in, though, I could see see shifting some of the cost to fans being justifiable. Maybe go from $12.90 to $30. But more than $100!? Crazy stuff.

Also, one last thing, and at the risk of veering off topic, this seems like a bit of a move to gain political points ("I inherited this agreement, and I don't agree with it")

 

Yes

 

C-Span for politics.

Bigsoccer for tickets/logistics.

We are where we are.

 

I knew this was coming will try to remain strictly on topic

 

The NJ governor took over on January 20th 2026.

On March 23, she signed an executive order asking NJTransit to present transportation improvement plan within 45 days.

As a result, its WC transportation plan was reviewed: $48M budget hole was identified. Nobody is helping NJ State pay for it.

I am open for an NY/NJ/FIFA agreement disclosure, but someone has to pay the bills now. You do not want a NJTransit worker strike like last year.

FIFA is not contractually bound to pay anything, while paying zero taxes across our country.

 

What am i not getting here?

I appreciate there is more demand with reduced parking.

NJ transit has plenty of trains that go via Secaucus from Newark, New York and other places

Matchday trains and buses run from there. The approx fare is $13 return for NFL games, concerts etc.
They ran last year for full houses at both semis and the CWC final.

How does it cost $48 million more to run the same stuff for the World Cup?

 

Why is this? It makes no sense. Fully understand the need for a larger perimeter for extra security, sponsor stands, big screens and extra merchandise vendors. The car parks at Met Life are vast. Once inside the perimeter there is no way anyone would walk to the outer car parks. There is no need for all that space. There also won't be a fraction of that space in four years time at the Bernabeu or Camp Nou. It just seems like a huge waste, foregoing a revenue stream and making it a less attractive event for customers.

Can anyone explain it? Unless 10-15,000 spaces are being made available but only to sponsors, VIPs and broadcasters.

 

It doesn’t. They’re just trying to cash in. Either from fifa or us. I’m paying with a CC and charging it back!

 

Majority of FIFA World Cup 2026 Host Cities See Double-Digit Increases in Flight Bookings Two Months Ahead of Tournament

https://www.hospitalitynet.org/news...light-bookings-two-months-ahead-of-tournament

 

Seems the NJT price from NYC to MetLife is gonna be >$100. Seems it might even be $150 or not far from it.

 

Sorry brother (or sister), my bad. Duly heard and duly noted.
If these prices stay high, maybe some of us on the board can get together and explore other options. Closer to kickoff, that might worth be exploring here for a few venues. Through BigSoccer I got a seat on transport that some guys chartered in South Africa in 2010 to go between cities.

 

Friends
It looks like Spirit Airlines is possibly moving into liquidation.
If your plans were based on their routes, do a rethink now.
Competitors may reprice.

Spirit Airlines could begin liquidating as early as this week, according to a report from Bloomberg.

Matt Rivers has more on the ultra-low-cost airline's financial difficulties. https://t.co/e2qX6KvfAL pic.twitter.com/lmpKc3Tl4t

— ABC News (@ABC) April 16, 2026

 

N.J. governor: FIFA should pay extra train costs to MetLife for World Cup - ESPN

 

Short answer: please thank 2024 Copa America Conmebol fans for reduced MetLife parking in 2026.

Back in March 2025, an NJ Congressman asked the Department of Homeland Security to upgrade MetLife's WC matches to "Level 1 SEAR".
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/62...p-metlife-stadium-homeland-security-fbi-fifa/

NJ officials did not want MetLife overrun like Miami's Hard Rock was during 2024 Copa America: we all remember images of ticketless ARG+COL fans pushing down stadium gates and getting into air conditioning ducts during that tournament's final match.

Level 1 SEAR events get additional federal funding for security plus an exclusion zone around the event venue. That is why drones are now forbidden over that zone. FIFA charges $225 for parking space within that exclusion zone.

MetLife parking for both regular NFL games and 2025 CWC matches was different because they were not Level 1 SEAR events.

NJ congressman explains why future 2026 WC matches at MetLife require a higher security designation (open) NJ congressman explains why future 2026 WC matches at MetLife require a higher security designation (close)

Gottheimer referenced the difficulties the authorities faced when hosting the Copa América final in Miami last summer. “With large crowds, larger than those at COPA in Miami, high-profile attendees, and global media attention increasing visibility, this can also increase vulnerability. And, since every single World Cup game played here at MetLife will be a national event, every single one of them needs the SEAR 1 designation.

“This will be critical to securing not only this stadium, including the area we are currently standing in, but also to protecting the tens of thousands of people who live here in the greater East Rutherford area. They will be impacted by traffic, public transportation changes, and the massive amount of visitors coming here. Keep in mind, you will have a million fans coming and going, either to the stadium itself, or watching and staying nearby.”

He added: “As a Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I’m keenly focused on the threats facing our nation, whether that’s terrorists from abroad, local cells, or lone wolf extremists at home. Between 1970 and 2019, there were seventy-four terrorist attacks on sports venues around the world.”​

 

blah blah blah! I don't believe anything any politician says. Go sue the federal government and get your money back. we're a family of 4... i'm not paying $400 for a crap metro ride to NEW JERSEY!!!! Final shouldn't have been there to begin with. There's plenty of ways to skin this cat

 

Haven’t heard all the details from some of the other US host cities but based on what I’ve heard, I think the final should have been in Kansas City or Philly!

 

Americans aren't stupid. But we're really good at playing stupid after the fact. Chicago heard FIFA's pitch and walked away. After the fact; all these politicians are playing political mind games. New Jersey specially. There is absolutely NO REASON in the world to EVER set foot in NJ.. other than an event at MetLife. I'll gladly pay $400 for a tour of Chernobyl before I pay for a $400 metro ride into NEW JERSEY!!!!

 

Capitalism + computer models predict they can charge that. As long as someone is willing to pay it will be sold. Prices won't go down until we hit the breaking point and people stop paying. That hasn't fully happened yet so... You will see the breaking point when it manifests... That's the time to buy.

A lot of people don't read the news or forums... imagine what will happen when they find out on the day of the game their public transport is $100 lol. The people with the tickets to the first games will unfortunately be the guinea pigs of this economic experiment. I agree though the announcement is probably a ploy to induce extra funding for public transport from the main profiteer of this event.

 

I understand they have to provide extra transportation because of the closure of the parking lot, be it buses or trains, but I dont' understand why this means that cost per ride is 8x's higher. That doesn't make any sense to me at all.

 

As stated by the other poster, you gotta keep checking those hotel sites for the prices dropping. I have already booked and re-booked three or four times in downtown Atlanta now. I think I have the hotel I want now, but will keep checking for at least another month.

Also, no one should fly on Spirit ever unless your only other choice is walking. Don't want anyone to lose their jobs, but that airline sucks.

 

Hi all. Forum regular every 4yrs lol…only been to France 98. I’m in NJ for a wedding & trying to see M17 (France v Senegal) I’m on one alert & been unsuccessful via FIFA. Should I just wait for resale closer to game day?

 

13 matches with Cat 1 below face (highest I have seen) and 15 for Cat 2.
The Cat 2 price for the match in Atlanta I am after has come down to a pretty attractive price as well.
I am tempted to pull the trigger.

For the 'dregs' what is going to lead to an uptick in demand?

 

I remember doing one of those sightseeing cruises on the river in NYC years ago - When setting off, the tour guide said 'across the river, you can see New Jersey....and that's all I have to say about that!' before turning his attention back to NYC.