A growing dispute has erupted between FIFA and New Jersey authorities over transportation costs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with organisers warning that steep train fares could deter fans and disrupt the tournament experience.

The row intensified on Friday after New Jersey Transit confirmed it would charge $150 for a round-trip journey from New York Penn Station to MetLife Stadium for World Cup ticket holders — more than 11 times the usual fare.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Chief Operating Officer Heimo Schirgi criticised the pricing model, describing it as a potential barrier to fan attendance.

“The current pricing model will have a chilling effect,” Schirgi said. “Elevated fares inevitably push fans toward alternative transportation options, increasing congestion and the risk of late arrivals, while diminishing the broader economic benefits the region hopes to gain.”

In addition to rail costs, organisers revealed that an alternative bus service to matches would cost $80 per passenger, with no concessions for children, seniors or persons with disabilities.

However, New Jersey officials have defended the pricing, pointing to the financial burden of hosting the tournament. Governor Mikie Sherrill insisted taxpayers should not subsidise transportation for fans, noting that the agreement inherited by her administration placed no financial responsibility on FIFA for transit costs.

“This will cost NJ Transit at least $48 million, while FIFA is positioned to make $11 billion during the World Cup,” Sherrill said. “If FIFA will not cover the cost of transporting its fans, we will not shift that burden onto New Jersey residents.”

NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri added that the agency, which faces a $200 million structural deficit, is simply attempting to recover operational costs rather than profit from the event.

The dispute highlights broader tensions between FIFA and host cities over the financial demands of staging the expanded 48-team tournament. While FIFA is expected to generate billions from broadcasting, sponsorships and ticket sales, host cities are responsible for infrastructure, security and transportation expenses.

FIFA, in response, described New Jersey’s pricing stance as “unprecedented,” arguing that no other major sporting event organiser has been asked to absorb such costs.

The governing body also pointed to more affordable transport plans in other host cities. Kansas City is offering $15 matchday bus services, while Philadelphia’s subway fares will remain at $2.90. Houston and Los Angeles are also maintaining low-cost public transport options.

However, similar controversies have surfaced elsewhere. In Boston, rail fares to Gillette Stadium have reportedly increased to $80, with bus alternatives priced at $95, drawing criticism from fans and stakeholders.

The escalating war of words underscores the challenges facing organisers as they prepare for what is expected to be the largest World Cup in history. With MetLife Stadium set to host eight matches, including the final, concerns are mounting that high transport costs could affect attendance, fan experience and the tournament’s economic legacy.

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• Summary

• * Round-trip transit fares rise over 10-fold for World Cup events
• * NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri cites security and parking closures for fare hike
• * Limited rideshare, closed parking lots, and shuttle options to ​manage congestion

Round-trip public transit tickets to World Cup ‌games in New Jersey will cost $150, up from less than $15 for the same route on a typical day, FIFA and NJ Transit officials said on Friday.

The more than 10-fold increase in transit fares adds to the cost of World ​Cup match tickets, which can run into the thousands of dollars.

“We’re expecting public transportation across ​the shuttle and New Jersey transit to sell out, because those are going ⁠to be the fastest and most efficient ways to get to the stadium,” the CEO of ​the World Cup’s New York/New Jersey host committee said on Friday.

The service will include round-trip tickets from ​New York City to the MetLife Stadium on trains and shuttles. About 40,000 non-refundable tickets will be available for World Cup ticket holders and go on sale on May 13.

The stadium has a capacity of around 80,000 people.

FIFA will ​run a shuttle bus service to the stadium from several locations, including Manhattan, which will cost $80 for ​a round trip, several times higher than the price for the same journey on a regular day, and will ‌have ⁠a capacity to transport 10,000 people. Tickets are expected to go on sale on Friday.

Asked to justify the price hikes, which typically do not occur during other events at the same stadium, New Jersey Transit CEO Kris Kolluri linked it to the higher number of passengers, driven by the closure of ​public parking around the stadium ​and increased costs ⁠due to World Cup security requirements.

“All consumer protection triggers that usually trigger a violation don’t apply to us, because, one, we’re seeking reimbursement for what we’re ​spending, and two, we’re not a for-profit company,” Kolluri said.

Other transportation options, ​including rideshare, will ⁠be limited because public parking lots around the stadium that normally accommodate more than 20,000 cars will be closed on game days.

The host committee said it will manage traffic to reduce congestion near the stadium. It ⁠gave ​a drop-off location for cars that is about a 20-minute walk ​from the stadium.

Penn Station in Manhattan will be closed to other passengers for four hours before and after the games.

MetLife ​Stadium will host eight World Cup games, including the final.

-Reuters

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By Kunle Solaja.

The dismissal of Hervé Renard by the Saudi Arabia national football team has highlighted a growing wave of coaching instability among teams heading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Renard’s exit, confirmed less than two months before the tournament, is the latest in a string of managerial changes involving World Cup-bound nations, raising concerns about continuity and preparation ahead of football’s biggest stage.

The trend is not limited to Saudi Arabia. Several other qualified teams have also parted ways with their coaches in recent months, including Otto Addo, who stepped down from the Ghana national football team, Sami Trabelsi of the Tunisia national football team, and Walid Regragui, who has also been moved on by the Morocco national football team despite previous success.

Coaches, Walid Regragui (Morocco), Sami Trabelsi (Tunisia) and Ghana’s Otto Addo qualified their teams for the 2026 World Cup, but will be glaring absentees.

Together, these changes underline a broader pattern of federations opting for last-minute technical adjustments in pursuit of improved World Cup performances.

Renard, who had returned for a second spell in 2024, leaves with a notable legacy, having guided Saudi Arabia to qualification for multiple World Cups, including the famous 2-1 victory over the Argentina national football team at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

“That’s football,” Renard said. “Saudi Arabia have qualified for the World Cup seven times, including twice with me.”

His departure follows that of Roberto Mancini, continuing a cycle of managerial turnover within the Saudi setup. Greek coach Georgios Donis is reportedly in line to take over.

A Familiar World Cup Pattern

While the current wave of dismissals is striking, it is not unprecedented.

In the aftermath of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, at least eight national team coaches either resigned or were dismissed following their campaigns. These included Paulo Bento (South Korea), Luis Enrique (Spain), Roberto Martinez (Belgium), Gerardo Martino (Mexico), Otto Addo (Ghana), Louis van Gaal (Netherlands), Tite (Brazil), and Fernando Santos (Portugal).

That turnover came after the tournament; the current cycle is notable for occurring before the World Cup, suggesting an even higher level of urgency and pressure among federations.

High Stakes, Quick Decisions

Analysts say the increasing frequency of coaching changes reflects the high expectations placed on national teams, particularly those from Africa and Asia seeking to make a stronger global impact.

However, such late changes also carry risks, including tactical disruption and reduced team cohesion.

Saudi Arabia, drawn in Group H alongside the Spain national football team, the Uruguay national football team and the Cape Verde national football team, now faces the challenge of adapting quickly under new leadership.

As the countdown to the 2026 World Cup continues, the growing list of coaching exits — from Renard to Addo, Trabelsi and Regragui — underscores a defining narrative of the tournament’s build-up: in modern international football, even qualification offers no guarantee of job security.

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