The 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to bring massive crowds, global attention, and a tourism boost, especially to New Jersey and New York.
But for regular New Jersey Transit riders, the biggest question is far more practical: Will I still be able to get to New York City on World Cup match days?
The answer is yes, but not always in the usual way.
NJ Transit and the New York-New Jersey host committee have released a transportation plan for the eight World Cup matches to be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, temporarily renamed New York-New Jersey Stadium for the tournament.
The plan is designed to move more than 78,000 spectators per match using trains, stadium shuttle buses, rideshare, permitted vehicles, and limited premium parking at American Dream (a large mall).
But it will also bring temporary changes for regular commuters who rely on NJ Transit to travel between New Jersey and New York City.
The most important distinction is this: regular NJ Transit commuters are not charged the $150 World Cup train fare unless they buy the special round-trip stadium ticket for a match.
But regular riders will still face alternate routes, schedule changes, and longer trips during certain match windows.
New Jersey will host eight matches
The World Cup matches in East Rutherford are scheduled for:
- Saturday, June 13, at 6 pm
- Tuesday, June 16, at 3 pm
- Monday, June 22, at 8 pm
- Thursday, June 25, at 4 pm
- Saturday, June 27, at 5 pm
- Tuesday, June 30, at 5 pm
- Sunday, July 5, at 4 pm
- Sunday, July 19, at 3 pm (FIFA World Cup 2026 Final)
(All the timings are in EST)
These are important dates not only for football fans around the world but also for the thousands of people who regularly commute between the two neighboring states on NJ Transit.
What changes for regular commuters?
The biggest commuter impact will occur 4 hours before kickoff and 3 hours after each match.
Starting 4 hours before kickoff, there will be no outbound NJ Transit rail service from New York Penn Station available for regular commuter travel, according to NJ Transit.
That means riders who are not going to the World Cup will not be able to use the regular Penn Station-to-New Jersey rail service during the pre-match window.
Instead, people with existing rail tickets or passes with New York as an origin or destination will have to use alternative options at no extra cost, including PATH from 33rd Street and NJ Transit buses from the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
Your regular NJ train passes and tickets will be valid on PATH and BUS.
The good news is that for people commuting into New York, trains will continue to operate normally during this pre-match period.
But the bigger issue comes after the matches end.
For three hours after each match, NJ Transit trains on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast Line, and Raritan Valley Line that normally go to New York Penn Station will terminate at Newark Penn Station.
Riders with a New York ticket or pass can then use PATH operating from Newark at no additional cost to reach New York City.
For the Morris & Essex and Montclair-Boonton Midtown direct rail, they will terminate at Newark Broad Street, and riders can then transfer to Newark Light Rail to reach Newark Penn Station and continue to New York by PATH.
They can also use Hoboken-bound trains and transfer to PATH there.
Outside the peak match travel windows, the trains will run on regular weekday and weekend schedules.
What does this mean for NJ Transit riders?
The World Cup does not mean New York City will become unreachable, but it will mean a longer, slightly more complicated journey.
For the eight match days, commuters are advised to:
- Avoid non-essential NJ Transit rail travel during the four hours before kickoff.
- Expect changes for three hours after each match.
- Use PATH as a backup.
- Build in extra time if commuting from/to Secaucus, Newark Penn Station, Newark Broad Street, and New York Penn Station.
- Expect surge pricing in rideshare.
NJ Transit is also encouraging you to avoid traveling during match windows if you have the flexibility to do so.
Even at regular prices, commuters have to consider the extra time, multiple ride changes, and the hassle of navigating extremely crowded train stations.
And the confusion and discontent are already showing up online with several social media forums criticizing the fare as “price gouging”, while others are asking if regular commuters should simply avoid traveling into New York City during the tournament.
World Cup travel affects more than New Jersey
This is a part of a wider World Cup travel challenge, but NJ, with its $150 fare and NYC with commuter disruption, has become a clearer example of the transport challenges.
The 2026 tournament will be spread across cities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, meaning millions of fans will be moving through airports, hotels, train stations, bus systems, and rideshare networks during the summer travel season.
That could make commuting more complicated in several host regions, especially around stadiums in major metro areas.
Boston is closer to the New Jersey model, with World Cup transportation to Gillette Stadium priced at $95, four times the $20 normally charged for the round trip.
However, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Houston have locked in regular fares, and Kansas City will run $15 round-trip shuttles to Arrowhead Stadium from various locations around the city, ESPN reported.
And while New Jersey is drawing flak for the high prices, officials in Pennsylvania are offering a much cheaper contrast.
Philadelphia, PA, will host six World Cup matches at Lincoln Financial Field, and Airbnb has partnered with Philadelphia Soccer 2026 to provide free rides home on SEPTA’s Broad Street Line after all six matches.
The free rides will apply from the NRG Station, which serves the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. The services will begin at halftime and continue for 2 hours after each match.
And going to the matches will also be cheaper as regular fares will apply.
World Cup expenses keep on mounting
Football fans have already been wary of skyrocketing match ticket and hotel prices, and the commute to the stadium, especially for NJNY matches, adds to the burden.
NJ Transit has now officially announced that round-trip train tickets to the stadium will cost $150 and will be sold only to World Cup match ticket holders.
The tickets will go on sale May 13, 2026, through the NJ Transit mobile app and will be nonrefundable and nontransferable, available for purchase only on May 13.
So get the apps in place and secure your logins now.
The rail tickets will also be limited to 40,000 per match day and will not be available for same-day purchase at the station or vending machines.
For those who do not want to use NJ Transit, the official stadium shuttle will offer round-trip bus service from:
- Port Authority Bus Terminal
- Midtown East pickup point near Grand Central Station
- New Jersey park-and-ride at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.
Those shuttle tickets will cost $80 round trip.
Rideshare is also an option, but it will not drop fans directly on stadium property. There will be designated drop-off areas at Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment, and premium pricing is expected.
Driving is also limited for those considering carpooling or bringing their own cars to the venue.
There will be no general spectator parking on stadium property during the match days, and fans will need to use official transportation options.
Parking at the connecting American Dream Mall is also limited and can cost up to $225 per game day, and will be dynamic depending on the demand, available through advance reservation.
NJ Transit Authority notes that it intends to “deliver a seamless travel experience for those riding with us on match days,” while also working to provide regular commuters with multiple travel options.
Additionally, NJ Transit will offer a special discount to regular commuters who must travel on June 22 and June 30, and most of the discounts will be applied automatically.
While the event is being marketed as once-in-a-generation, it has also left commuters worried about everyday travel disruptions. And the fans are worried about high ticket prices, hotel prices, Airbnb prices, and transportation costs.
And yet more than five million tickets have already been sold, with new inventory available for purchase.
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