NJ Transit World Cup fares cut to $98

New Jersey Transit cut the price of its World Cup rail ticket to $98 on May 13, down from the $105 fare it set a week earlier and the original $150 plan that drew criticism from elected officials and fans. New York also reduced shuttle bus fares to MetLife Stadium to $20 from $80, with Governor Kathy Hochul saying the state would put in $6 million to support the change. The fare cuts apply to the eight 2026 FIFA World Cup matches at the East Rutherford venue, officially called New York New Jersey Stadium during the tournament. The moves came about a month before the first match there on June 13. ### How much did NJ Transit cut the rail fare? NJ Transit said the new round-trip fare is $98 for service to and from the eight World Cup matches at the stadium in East Rutherford. The agency said the latest reduction was funded by added advertising revenue and did not use New Jersey taxpayer money. The May 13 announcement marked the second reduction in the fare. The ticket had first been set at $150, then lowered to $105 before being cut again to $98, according to NJ Transit and officials cited by local outlets. Governor Mikie Sherrill said in NJ Transit’s release that FIFA “still will not cover the cost of transporting its fans” despite the tournament’s revenue, and said the state was seeking a solution that would not shift costs to residents. (njtransit.com) NJ Transit Chair Priya Jain said the agency was trying to protect regular riders and commuters from bearing the expense. ### Who is paying for the lower ticket price? NJ Transit said advertisers including DoorDash, Audible, FanDuel, DraftKings, PSE&G, South Jersey Industries and New Jersey American Water helped offset ticket costs by 35%. NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri said the sponsors were aligning with the event while helping make rides more accessible. (njtransit.com) Sherrill said separately that the lower rail fare was achieved “without New Jersey taxpayer money.” Gothamist reported that the rail discount was supported by corporate partners after the earlier backlash over pricing. ### What changed on the bus side? Kathy Hochul said New York’s round-trip shuttle bus fare to the stadium would fall to $20 from $80. (njtransit.com) Gothamist reported that Hochul told The Athletic she was investing $6 million in state funds toward the cuts and that riders who already bought $80 shuttle tickets would receive $60 refunds. (gothamist.com) The same report said shuttle capacity would rise to 18,000 seats for five games outside school days through the use of yellow school buses. Hochul’s office also said 20% of shuttle tickets would be reserved for New Yorkers. Three Midtown pickup points and one North Jersey site are part of the bus plan. (gothamist.com) Gothamist said buses will leave from the Port Authority Bus Terminal, a park-and-ride at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, and two additional Midtown locations to be announced later. ### How are fans supposed to buy these tickets? NJ Transit said World Cup rail tickets must be bought in advance through its new mobile app. The agency said the tickets will not be sold at station offices or vending machines, and that customers may need to update the app to see the World Cup option. (gothamist.com) The agency said tickets are nonstandard event tickets tied to matchday operations, with 40,000 available for each matchday. NJ Transit also said tickets will be checked before boarding and riders should arrive during the boarding window listed on the ticket. (njtransit.com) ### Why is transportation such a focus for the MetLife matches? FIFA and the New York New Jersey host committee list eight matches for the stadium, including the final on July 19. The schedule begins on June 13 and includes five group-stage games, a Round of 32 match and a Round of 16 match before the final. (njtransit.com) The June 13 opener at the stadium is Brazil against Morocco, according to the official match schedule pages. With eight matches concentrated at one venue and the final assigned there, transit planning has become a central part of the region’s tournament preparations. July 19 is the next major milestone for the site, when New York New Jersey Stadium hosts the World Cup final. (metlifestadium.com) Before that, NJ Transit said matchday rail tickets are already on sale through its app, while New York officials said additional Midtown bus pickup details will be announced in the coming weeks. (njtransit.com)