Fans travelling to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States are facing mounting transport costs after several host cities announced sharply higher train fares for match days, triggering criticism from supporters already burdened by expensive tickets, flights and hotels.
The backlash has focused particularly on New Jersey and Massachusetts, where round trip rail fares to stadiums reached as high as $98 and $80 respectively, far above the prices usually paid by local sports fans for similar routes.
The controversy has revived comparisons with previous World Cups, where host countries heavily subsidized transport for supporters. Germany’s 2006 tournament offered free local public transport with match tickets, while Russia 2018 included complimentary long distance trains between host cities. Qatar 2022 also integrated free metro access into the fan experience.
Officials in the United States say the higher fares are intended to cover security, expanded services and operational costs rather than generate profit. But critics argue FIFA, which expects billions in revenue from the tournament, should absorb more of those expenses instead of passing them onto supporters.
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