Fans travelling to the United States for the 2026 World Cup are facing a transport cost crisis, with some train fares to stadiums set at nearly ten times the price paid by NFL fans. Unlike previous hosts who offered free public transport on match days, US officials are charging high fares, sparking anger among supporters.
Round-trip train fares to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey are priced at $98, while trips to Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts cost $80. By contrast, NFL fans pay $12.90 and $20 respectively for the same journeys. Officials say the charges cover enhanced security and expanded services without burdening taxpayers, but fans see them as a cash grab.
Rory Phillips-Hunter, a 37-year-old hospitality worker from northern England, described planning for the tournament as “a nightmare”. He and fellow Scotland fans have booked around 20 school buses to transport nearly 1,000 supporters to matches in Foxborough, Massachusetts, at about $50 per person—less than half the $95 bus fare offered by local authorities. The group will even receive a police escort, saving over $85,000 in total.
Transport costs vary by host city. Atlanta, Houston, and Seattle have stadiums connected to rail systems with regular fares. Miami-Dade County will offer free shuttles to Hard Rock Stadium, while Philadelphia provides free rides back from the stadium. Kansas City is charging $15 for shuttles. However, suburban venues like MetLife and Gillette lack good public transport, and World Cup security will severely limit parking, forcing fans onto expensive trains.
David Gogishvili, a senior researcher at the University of Lausanne, said FIFA typically offloads costs onto host countries, but US state and local officials are more independent and less willing to absorb them. “These costs should be borne by the organisation that is earning money out of these events, which is FIFA,” he said, noting the body’s projected $13 billion revenue from 2023-26. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has urged FIFA to cover transport expenses, but FIFA argues that no other global event has been asked to absorb such costs.
