As the 2026 World Cup approaches, fans face a transportation nightmare, with New Jersey Transit proposing a $150 round-trip fare for match day travel and shuttle bus tickets priced at $80. This comes amid broader concerns over costly and chaotic commutes to stadiums across US host cities.
Public transit agencies are capitalizing on demand, with some routes seeing fare hikes that could strain budgets. In contrast, Philadelphia is offering free train rides home after games, while Los Angeles charges $1.75 each way for buses to the venue.
For those seeking luxury, helicopter rides for groups of eight are available at up to $30,000. Host cities are scrambling to close transportation gaps, but fans may still face significant expenses and delays.
Bloomberg reports that these transit challenges highlight a clash between FIFA's expectations and local infrastructure realities, particularly in New Jersey, where officials are wrestling with FIFA over logistics.