£111 trains will have 'chilling effect' on World Cup

Fifa has hit back at criticism from New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, saying vastly inflated train fares at the 2026 World Cup will create problems far beyond just hitting fans in the pocket.

Sherrill said world football's governing body is to blame for supporters having to pay $150 (£111) for a 30-minute NJ Transit train journey from New York to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to attend World Cup games this summer.

She said Fifa should subsidise the cost of public transport for World Cup games.

There are no concession prices for the journey to the stadium, so children and seniors must also pay the full $150, while shuttle bus tickets are priced at $80 (£59).

Fifa offical Heimo Schirgi said: "The NJ Transit current pricing model will have a chilling effect."

Schirgi, chief operating officer for the tournament, insisted Fifa's goal at the World Cup is "to minimise congestion, reduce reliance on private vehicles, and ensure the fan experience is positive and memorable defined by the action on pitch, not delays on the roads".

He added: "Elevated fares inevitably push fans towards alternative transportation options.

"This increases concerns of congestion, late arrivals, and creates broader ripple effects that ultimately diminish the economic benefit and lasting legacy the entire region stands to gain from hosting the World Cup."

MetLife Stadium - which will be named New York/New Jersey Stadium during the World Cup as part of Fifa's policy on corporate sponsored names - will host eight matches, including an England group game, and the final on 19 July.

Train fares for matches at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, outside Boston, have also been vastly increased to $80 (£59), with coach tickets costing $95 (£70).

Sherrill posted on X, external that her administration "inherited an agreement where Fifa is providing $0 for transportation" while NJ Transit has a bill of $48m (£35m), and claimed the tournament organisers will make $11bn (£8.1bn).

"To arbitrarily set elevated prices and demand Fifa absorb these costs is unprecedented," Fifa's Schirgi added.

"No other global event, concert or major sporting promoter has faced such a demand.

"While Fifa is projected to generate approximately $11bn in revenue, not profit, as the governor incorrectly claims, Fifa has always been a not-for-profit organisation as per our statutes.

"Revenues from the Fifa World Cup are reinvested into developing the game of football, particularly for youth and women, worldwide."

He added that host city agreements were signed in 2018 and that Fifa had already worked with the host committee to develop a transportation plan that "provides efficient and accessible mass transit options" for fans attending the eight matches in New Jersey.