Millions of visitors who arrive in the United States for the 39-day tournament, hoping to travel freely across the country, will encounter the full gamut of public transit options.
Round-Trip NJ TRANSIT rail tickets from any NJ TRANSIT rail station to NYNJ Stadium for matchday travel will be available starting May 13 for a flat rate of $105 per person. Customers MUST purchase tickets in advance, as availability is limited and tickets may sell out.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said round-trip NJ Transit tickets will now cost $98, well below the original $150 price. The pricing plan sparked outrage among local leaders, as the same 18-mile trip typically costs $12.90.
The governor said on Tuesday that the price cut happened “without New Jersey taxpayer money.” She thanked partners such as DoorDash, Audible, FanDuel, DraftKings, PSE&G, South Jersey Industries, and American Water for helping.
The reductions have been made possible thanks to private sponsorships from companies such as
DoorDash, Audible, and FanDuel have helped offset the costs without putting the burden
on New Jersey taxpayers.
“For the first time in World Cup history, no consistent price will be offered across all group-stage games,” Football Supporters Europe said in a statement. “Instead, FIFA is introducing a variable pricing policy dependent on vague criteria such as the perceived attractiveness of the fixture.”
Before You Purchase
- You must have a valid FIFA World Cup 26™ match ticket to purchase an NJ TRANSIT rail ticket to NYNJ Stadium.
- You can only purchase up to four (4) tickets per transaction.
- You can only purchase up to eight (8) tickets altogether per match, per account.
Steps to Purchase Your Ticket in the NJ TRANSIT Mobile App
- Download and open the NJ TRANSIT Mobile App
- Select Buy Tickets -> Special Events
- Select a specific matchday
- Must confirm you have valid FIFA World Cup 26™ match ticket(s) equal to the number of NJ TRANSIT rail tickets to NYNJ Stadium you purchase, which does not exceed your match tickets (e.g., 2 match tickets = up to 2 NJ TRANSIT tickets).
- NJ TRANSIT matchday ticket to NYNJ Stadium cannot be purchased without a valid FIFA World Cup 26™ match ticket.
- Select your Origin Station
- Select an available Time Slot
- To help manage crowds and provide a smoother trip to the match, NJ TRANSIT tickets to NYNJ Stadium will be sold in specific departure windows. Each time slot (listed below) shows your departure time window at one of these designated stations for travel to NYNJ Stadium: Penn Station New York (PSNY), Secaucus Junction, or Hoboken Terminal. Time slots are selected on a first-come, first-served basis. If your preferred departure time window is not available, it is sold out, and you must select another time slot:
- Departing 4-5 hours before kickoff
- 3-4 hours before kickoff
- 2-3 hours before kickoff
- 1-2 hours before kickoff
- Please note: Tickets are not available for the final hour before kickoff, so please plan ahead and select the time window that works best for you.
- Additional Reminder: If traveling from PSNY, you will board a train to Secaucus Junction and transfer to a direct train to NYNJ Stadium. If traveling from any other NJ TRANSIT station, you must transfer through Secaucus Junction or Hoboken Terminal to connect with a train to NYNJ Stadium.
- To help manage crowds and provide a smoother trip to the match, NJ TRANSIT tickets to NYNJ Stadium will be sold in specific departure windows. Each time slot (listed below) shows your departure time window at one of these designated stations for travel to NYNJ Stadium: Penn Station New York (PSNY), Secaucus Junction, or Hoboken Terminal. Time slots are selected on a first-come, first-served basis. If your preferred departure time window is not available, it is sold out, and you must select another time slot:
- Select Tickets
- Tap the “+” sign to add up to 4 tickets.
- Tap the “-” sign to reduce the number of selected tickets.
- All tickets purchased will be stored under the same purchaser’s account.
- For example, if you select 4 tickets, all 4 will appear under your account, but each ticket must be presented individually for inspection.
- Reminder: You can only purchase up to four (4) tickets per transaction, and up to eight (8) tickets per matchday, per account.
- Confirm & Pay
- Multiple payment options are available.
- Each ticket includes round-trip travel to and from NYNJ Stadium.
- Tickets are sold at a flat rate per person, regardless of origin station.
- A confirmation email will be sent once the purchase is complete.
- On the day of the match, your tickets will be automatically activated in the NJ TRANSIT Mobile App under My Tickets. No manual activation is required.
- Important Reminder: Download the latest NJ TRANSIT Mobile App and ensure your device is set to Eastern Time (ET) upon arrival in New York/New Jersey. If your device doesn’t automatically adjust to the local time zone, manually update the time zone in your phone’s settings so you can display your NJ TRANSIT ticket on matchday.
After You Purchase
Once your purchase is complete and confirmed:
- A Boarding Zone will be randomly pre-assigned to you and the information will appear on your ticket on the day of the match.
- The Boarding Zone identifies where you must go to enter the queue for the ticket inspection process and to obtain an official NJ TRANSIT Matchday Wristband before you can access NJ TRANSIT service to and from NYNJ Stadium. No Wristband, No Ride.
- Regardless of origin station, all customers must enter a ticket inspection queue at three designated locations: Penn Station New York (PSNY), Hoboken Terminal, or Secaucus Junction, either by starting their trip there or transferring through one of these stations. After inspection, customers may continue on NJ TRANSIT service to NYNJ Stadium.
- For traveling from PSNY, ticketholders are pre-assigned to one of the two on-street Boarding Zones that are in two separate areas within the vicinity of PSNY:
- Boarding Zone A (Red): 32nd Street & 6th Avenue
- Boarding Zone B (Blue): 33rd Street & 7th Avenue
- For traveling from PSNY, if you wish to remain with your party in the same Boarding Zone, one person must purchase all tickets for the group in a single transaction via the same account. Purchasing tickets separately may result in members of your party being assigned to a different Boarding Zone.
- For travel via Hoboken Terminal, ticket holders must enter the designated queue at Boarding Zone HOB (Purple), as shown on their NJ TRANSIT rail ticket, for ticket inspection before boarding.
- For travel via Secaucus Junction, ticket holders must enter the designated queue at Boarding Zone SEC (Green), as shown on their NJ TRANSIT rail ticket, for ticket inspection before boarding.
- Customers not traveling from PSNY or transferring via Hoboken Terminal, including those arriving from other stations or by drop-off, must transfer at Secaucus Junction and enter Boarding Zone SEC (Green) for the ticket inspection process before boarding.
- Each Boarding Zone is color-coded and staffed with NJ TRANSIT personnel wearing matching-color vests, making it easy to locate assistance and complete the ticket inspection process.
- For traveling from PSNY, ticketholders are pre-assigned to one of the two on-street Boarding Zones that are in two separate areas within the vicinity of PSNY:
Ticket Verification & Wristband Issuance
- There are three stages in the ticket check process while in the queue:
- First, your FIFA World Cup 26™ match ticket will be inspected.
- Next, you will be asked to show your pre-purchased NJ TRANSIT rail ticket to NYNJ Stadium.
- And then, you will receive your NJ TRANSIT-branded wristband, which is valid only for that specific matchday and required for travel to and from NYNJ Stadium. No Wristband, No Ride.
- Customers without a valid FIFA World Cup 26™ match ticket and a valid NJ TRANSIT rail ticket to NYNJ Stadium will be asked to exit the queue and will not be permitted to board.
- The NJ TRANSIT Matchday Wristband is required for boarding and is valid for round-trip travel to and from NYNJ Stadium. No Wristband, No Ride.
- Wristbands are matchday specific and must be worn at all times, including to board return service for travel after the match. The “No Wristband, No Ride” policy will be strictly enforced, and service will be denied to anyone not wearing the official NJ TRANSIT Matchday Wristband.
Ticket Conditions
NJ TRANSIT tickets to and from NYNJ Stadium are:
- Non-refundable
- Non-exchangeable
- Non-transferable
- Valid only for the specific matchday
- Not eligible for senior/disabled reduced fare, child*, promotional, or any other discounted fares
- * Baby in Arms exception: A child who is two years old or younger on the day of the match, and no taller than 34 inches (86 cm), may board the NJ TRANSIT train without a separate ticket, provided they sit on the lap of a passenger with a valid NJ TRANSIT matchday rail ticket. A “Baby in Arms” may not occupy a seat, and only one (1) “Baby in Arms” is permitted per ticketed adult.
Meadowlands Racetrack is designated Ride Share location for New York/New Jersey Soccer Matches
The Meadowlands Racetrack is designated a ride-share drop-off/pick-up location for all eight New York/New Jersey Soccer matches:
• Saturday, June 13, 2026 – 6:00 p.m. ET
• Tuesday, June 16, 2026 – 3:00 p.m. ET
• Monday, June 22, 2026 – 8:00 p.m. ET
• Thursday, June 25, 2026 – 4:00 p.m. ET
• Saturday, June 27, 2026 – 5:00 p.m. ET
• Tuesday, June 30, 2026 – 5:00 p.m. ET
• Sunday, July 5, 2026 – 4:00 p.m. ET
• Sunday, July 19, 2026 – 3:00 p.m. ET
Match spectators and ticket holders are encouraged to allow plenty of time for travel to the games. Fans can arrive early and enjoy the track’s World Watch Zone before walking over to the Stadium.
The World Watch Zone will feature plenty of soccer activations, games, prizes, giveaways, and an overload of game-day regional food and beverage specials. The World Watch Zone is also the best place to watch and wager on all the soccer matches.
The track is also available for private events and watch parties with great food and bar packages. To book, media@playmeadowlands.com
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled a plan for $20 school-bus shuttle rides to MetLife Stadium on match days, The Athletic first reported. New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced she had located sponsors to help cut the cost of riding New Jersey Transit trains and buses by one-third from an original $150 ticket price.
Several new plans were announced to help fans get to the FIFA World Cup matches cheaper and faster.
FIFA’s ticket pricing plan has drawn international outrage as fans worry they are being priced out of the sport’s marquee event. The governing body has faced particular criticism for its use of dynamic pricing, which allows ticket prices to fluctuate based on demand.
What Else to Know About Travel Logistics
Planning your trip to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA? There are some important changes
you’ll need to know about, especially when it comes to getting to New York New Jersey Stadium
for your match.
Parking
Parking at MetLife Stadium will be severely restricted during the World Cup. There will be no
general spectator parking, as the parking lots will be repurposed for the FIFA Fan Village and
security staging.
However, there are still options for those who need to park. Premium parking is
available at the nearby American Dream Mall, but these spots are limited and will set you back
$225 per space. Be sure to book in advance, as availability will be tight.
Rideshare
If you’re considering ridesharing services like Uber or Lyft, there’s a catch: These services will not
be allowed to drop passengers off at the stadium gates. Instead, they’ll be directed to a designated
rideshare zone at Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment, about a mile away from the stadium.
Fans will then need to walk to the venue, so plan accordingly!
Trains and Buses
When it comes to travel options, fans have two primary choices: buses and trains. Each has its own
benefits, depending on your preferences and budget.
Buses: Starting at $20, shuttle buses will transport fans from key locations in New York City
(such as Port Authority Bus Terminal and Midtown East) to the Hackensack Meridian School of
Medicine near the stadium. Buses are expected to carry around 10,000 passengers per match,
making them a budget-friendly choice, although they will have a lower capacity than the trains.
Trains: For those willing to spend a little more, NJ Transit trains will operate direct services
from NY Penn Station to Secaucus Junction, with a $98 round-trip fare. These trains are expected
to carry up to 40,000 passengers per match, making them the preferred choice for those who
need to get to the stadium quickly and comfortably. If you’re traveling from Manhattan orthe
surrounding areas, this may be the more efficient option.
Commuters Beware: Four-Hour Lockout on Match Days. While the 2026 FIFA World Cup promises a once-in-a-lifetime experience for fans, it also brings challenges for regular NJ Transit commuters. During the tournament, there will be a four-hour lockout on outbound service from Penn Station to non-ticket holders on the eight match days
(from June 13 to July 19).
Gov. Kathy Hochul slashes bus price
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also said on Tuesday that the round-trip price of bus tickets from Manhattan to matches will be $20, down from $80.
The buses will transport up to 18,000 people on non-school match days and 12,000 people on school match days.
“Getting to the World Cup should be as accessible as possible,” she said on social media. “And because New Yorkers are helping host the world, 20% of those tickets will be reserved exclusively for New Yorkers.”
New bus lane to speed up service to LaGuardia
Meanwhile, in Queens, Mayor Zohran Mamdani is rolling out a new dedicated bus lane on Broadway to speed up service to LaGuardia Airport ahead of the tournament.
Right now, Q70 buses on that corridor crawl at less than three miles per hour during evening rush.
The new eastbound lane is designed to help travelers, airport workers and Queens residents beat that gridlock.
“The World Cup may come and go, but the investments we made to our streets and public transit must serve New Yorkers for decades to come,” Mamdani said in a statement. “Arriving in New York City should be fast, affordable and reliable all year round — not just during major events. This new bus lane will help welcome visitors from around the world this summer while delivering faster commutes every day for the thousands of working-class New Yorkers who rely on the Q70.”
The city’s Department of Transportation will present the proposal to the local community board later this month and expects to complete the project before the first match begins.
The buses will transport up to 18,000 people on non-school match days and 12,000 people on school match days.
“Getting to the World Cup should be as accessible as possible,” she said on social media. “And because New Yorkers are helping host the world, 20% of those tickets will be reserved exclusively for New
Yorkers.”
NJ TRANSIT rail tickets to NYNJ Stadium are on sale now exclusively through the NJ TRANSIT Mobile App