New Jersey World Cup train ticket dispute: Why Governor Mikie Sherrill, FIFA are beefing over $100 travel prices
· Yahoo Sports
New Jersey World Cup train ticket dispute: Why Governor Mikie Sherrill, FIFA are beefing over $100 travel prices originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Visit sport-tr.bet for more information.
The lead-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been met with excitement from fans around the world, but also fraught with governmental, legal and economic squabbles as the massive undertaking nears its beginning.
Set to kick off this summer on June 11 in Mexico City, the World Cup will reach a thrilling conclusion with the final five weeks later on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
While the stadium sits only a short distance from New York City, it officially resides in New Jersey, leaving the logistical burden of holding eight total World Cup matches at the feet of the New Jersey government. The real-world impact that will have on the state's transportation, law enforcement and economic sectors has been felt as the games draw closer, and this strain has culminated in a dispute.
The Sporting News explains why New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill has said prices for travel to the venue will be increased significantly, why she places the fault at the feet of FIFA, and how the world football governing body has responded.
MORE WORLD CUP:Full 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule | Why the MetLife Stadium playing surface has taken criticism
What did the New Jersey governor say about World Cup train tickets?
Amidst reports that matchday travel costs would skyrocket during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, New Jersey governor Mikie Sherrill has claimed that they had no choice but to significantly raise transportation costs to and from MetLife Stadium on game days.
"You may have seen some recent headlines about transportation costs for World Cup games in New Jersey," Sherrill, who took over as governor of New Jersey in January of 2026, said in a post on social media. "So let me tell you exactly where things stand.
"Our administration inherited an agreement where FIFA is providing $0 for transportation to the World Cup. Zero. That leaves New Jersey Transit with a $48 million [responsibility] to safely get 40,000 fans to and from every game. At the same time, FIFA is making $11 billion off of this World Cup, and charging fans up to $10,000 for a single ticket for the final. I won’t stick New Jersey commuters for that tab for years to come, that’s not fair. So here’s the bottom line: Fifa should pay for the rides, but if they don’t I’m not going to let New Jersey commuters get taken for one."
Essentially, Sherrill has said that because they have given up hope that FIFA will contribute to the hefty cost of subsidizing the cost of a massive increase in travel burden during the tournament, that cost will be passed on to matchday fans instead of the New Jersey taxpayers.
How did FIFA respond?
In response to the New Jersey governor's accusations, FIFA went on the defensive.
In an official statement provided to The Sporting News and other outlets, FIFA claimed that they had initially agreed with all host sites for free transportation to be provided to all matchgoing fans. However, as the process played out, realizing that was not a realistic outcome, they had agreed for matchday transportation to be provided at base cost.
Essentially, FIFA claimed this had already been worked out years prior, and the sudden revelations by the New Jersey governor are nothing new to them.
"We are quite surprised by the NJ Governor’s approach today on fan transportation. The original FIFA World Cup 2026 Host City Agreements signed in 2018 required free transportation for fans to all matches. Recognizing the financial strain this placed on the host cities, back in 2023 FIFA adjusted the Host Agreement requirements across all host cities as follows: All Match Ticket holders and accredited individuals shall be able to access transport (public or additionally planned transport) at cost to allow travel to Stadiums on match days.
"Moreover, FIFA has worked for years with host cities on their transportation and mobility plans, including advocating for millions of dollars in federal funding to support host cities for transportation.
"The FIFA World Cup will bring millions of fans to North America along with the related economic impact. Many of these fans will travel to NYNJ to enjoy the eight matches scheduled, including the FIFA World Cup Final. FIFA is not aware of any other major event previously held at NYNJ Stadium, including other major sports, global concert tours, etc., where organizers were required to pay for fan transportation."
When asked by The Sporting News for further clarification on whether FIFA will ask the New Jersey government to reduce costs to regular everyday prices, no immediate comment was provided.
On Friday, FIFA World Cup 2026 Chief Operating Officer Heimo Schirigi shared the following statement with Sporting News, criticizing Gov. Sherrill for demanding FIFA absorb the additional costs associated with World Cup games:
"The NJ Transit current pricing model will have a chilling effect. Elevated fares inevitably push fans toward alternative transportation options. This increases concerns of congestion, late arrivals, and creates broader ripple effects that ultimately diminish the economic benefit and lasting legacy the entire region stands to gain from hosting the World Cup.
"Furthermore, to arbitrarily set elevated prices and demand FIFA absorb these costs is unprecedented. No other global event, concert or major sporting promoter has faced such a demand. While FIFA is projected to generate approximately $11 billion in revenue, not profit, as the Governor incorrectly claims, FIFA has always been a not-for-profit organization as per our statutes. Revenues from the FIFA World Cup are reinvested into developing the game of football, particularly for youth and women, worldwide."
MORE: See available tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Why are train tickets set to be so expensive during the World Cup?
A report by Adam Crafton of The Athletic first revealed that New Jersey Transit (NJT) has planned to increase the price of a ticket for matchday train travel to and from the venue to “over $100” and possibly as high as $150 from its regular price of $12.90.
According to Mikie Sherrill, FIFA has refused to provide cover for what she claims to be $48 million in increased security, construction, staffing, and general load required during FIFA World Cup match days.
Thus, instead of that money coming out of the New Jersey state budget, the cost will be passed on to fans utilizing the travel services to and from MetLife Stadium on matchdays.
Sherrill's excuse for this predicament is that her administration inherited this lopsided deal, which was agreed upon — according to FIFA — back in 2018 when the host bid was officially selected. At that time, Phil Murphy was the sitting New Jersey governor.
FIFA's counter claims that the cost of putting on the World Cup would be recouped in the event's significant economic impact, a claim which has been consistently repeated by FIFA and other major sporting organizations whenever they pitch a high-cost event or project. The actual real-world economic windfall of such an event is hard to pin down and difficult to approximate.