Fans are facing spiraling travel costs ahead of this summer's World Cup in the United States, with many describing the tournament as the most inaccessible ever. Unlike previous hosts such as Germany in 2006, Russia in 2018, and Qatar in 2022, which offered free or heavily subsidized public transportation, the US is charging premium prices for train and bus services to stadiums.
Transit Pricing Controversy
Round-trip train fares to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey are set at $98, while trips to Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts cost $80. These fares are significantly higher than the $12.90 and $20 that NFL fans typically pay for the same journeys. Officials argue the charges cover enhanced security and expanded services without burdening taxpayers, but many fans view them as another financial strain imposed by tournament organizers.
Fans Take Matters Into Their Own Hands
Rory Phillips-Hunter, a 37-year-old hospitality worker from northern England, organized about 20 school buses to transport nearly 1,000 Scotland fans from Providence, Rhode Island, to Foxborough, Massachusetts, at about $50 per person. This is less than the $95 bus fare offered by local officials, saving the group over $85,000. 'When I look at that difference in cost, that's just profits you're taking from us,' he said.
Varied Approaches Across Host Cities
Transportation strategies differ among host cities. Atlanta, Houston, and Seattle have stadiums directly connected to rail systems with regular fares. Miami-Dade County offers free shuttles to Hard Rock Stadium, while Philadelphia provides free rides back from the stadium, supported by FIFA sponsor Airbnb. Kansas City, Missouri, offers $15 shuttles. However, suburban locations like MetLife and Gillette Stadiums, where fans typically drive to NFL games, face greater challenges due to limited parking for World Cup events.
Calls for FIFA to Bear Costs
David Gogishvili, a senior researcher at the University of Lausanne, noted that FIFA often offloads costs onto host countries, but US officials are less willing to absorb them. 'These costs should be borne by the organization that is earning money out of these events, which is FIFA,' he said, citing FIFA's projected $13 billion revenue from 2023-26. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has urged FIFA to cover transportation expenses.
FIFA has pushed back, arguing that no other global event has been asked to absorb such costs and that initial agreements with host cities stipulated free transportation. Those agreements were later amended to allow cities to provide transit 'at cost.'
Economic Concerns and Fan Frustration
Concerns over transit costs coincide with worries that the promised economic boom may not materialize, as hotel bookings fall short of expectations in most host cities. A 2022 study co-authored by Gogishvili found that nearly every World Cup from 1966 through 2018 operated at a financial deficit.
Yonah Freemark, a researcher at the Urban Institute, described the transit pricing as 'trying to get away with murder,' noting that wait times and access will likely disappoint international visitors accustomed to more advanced systems.
Brazilian fan Ynara Correa da Costa, attending her seventh World Cup, was shocked by initial proposals of $150 train fares from New York City to MetLife Stadium. After public outcry, the price was lowered to $98, and additional buses were secured at $20 per seat. However, only 18,000 bus seats are available for an 82,500-capacity stadium. 'We'll go to the match, that I know. But how? Let's see,' she said.
