NJ Transit drops round-trip to FIFA World Cup matches — by $7 — to $98

NJ Transit is again reducing its round-trip fare for FIFA World Cup matches — by $7.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced on X that the price of one train ticket to get to and from matches at MetLife Stadium will now be $98, ahead of tickets going on sale Tuesday evening.

"Good news: Ahead of NJ Transit World Cup train tickets going on sale tonight, @NJTRANSIT is lowering ticket prices to $98 without New Jersey taxpayer money," the post said.

"Thank you to our partners — DoorDash, Audible, FanDuel, DraftKings, PSE&G, South Jersey Industries, and American Water — for helping make this possible. We’re excited to host a world-class event this summer and showcase New Jersey on the global stage."

The announcement comes days after the transit system announced it was lowering the fare from $150 to $105.

The usual price for a normal round-trip ticket from Penn Station to MetLife Stadium is $12.90.

Disgruntled soccer fans expressed their frustration at the "good news" in the comments on Sherrill's post, noting that other cities such as Philadelphia are keeping transit system prices consistent with ordinary prices during the World Cup.

Gov. Kathy Hochul also announced Tuesday the price of a round-trip bus ticket to World Cup matches were lowered from $80 to $20. She said 20% of those tickets will be reserved exclusively for New Yorkers.

"Getting to the World Cup should be as accessible as possible," the post said. 

Eight matches will be played at the venue in June and July, including the final on July 19. NJ Transit will sell 40,000 train tickets for each match; the venue is expecting 78,000 fans to attend each match.

There will be no general parking at MetLife.

"Hosting the World Cup is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for New Yorkers, and we are making this world class event as affordable and accessible as possible," Hochul said in a statement Wednesday morning. "Cheaper shuttle bus service is a no-brainer — saving fans money and making it easier to get to matches, especially for New Yorkers who have access to exclusive tickets at this new, lower price. This is your World Cup, and from Buffalo to Brooklyn, New Yorkers should be able to enjoy every moment of it."

The official NYNJ Stadium Shuttle bus service for fans traveling to and from World Cup matches were made possible through support from New York State and sponsors, a statement said.

In anticipation of increased ticket demand at this lower price point, bus capacity has been expanded from an initial 10,000 seats to 18,000 seats for five matches and 12,000 for three matches.

Hochul said additional school buses from Highland Electric Fleets with support from New York City School Bus Umbrella Services, Inc. would be deployed to help with the increased capacity. 

Buses will depart from the Port Authority Bus Terminal and two additional pickup locations in Midtown East and Midtown North. The exact locations will be announced to ticket holders in the coming weeks, the statement said.