NJ Governor Rips FIFA Over Travel Costs for 2026 World Cup

American soccer fans who thought they’d be able to save money attending the local matches may need to think again.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill recently spoke out over the eye-popping transportation costs for the 2026 World Cup. She pointed out that train rides to the stadium that would normally cost less than $13 will now go for over $100 per ticket. 

The Governor joins a growing number of US lawmakers questioning the rising costs of hosting the sport’s largest event.

NJ Transit Prepares for Big Bill

The Garden State’s Governor’s strong words came as NJ Transit said it expected to spend around $48 million to operate transportation for the tournament. That means either the transit authority greatly raises passenger fares or risks sticking residents with a massive tax bill.

We inherited an agreement where FIFA is providing $0 for transportation to the World Cup.

And while NJ TRANSIT is stuck with a $48 million bill to safely get fans to and from games, FIFA is making $11 billion.

I’m not going to stick New Jersey commuters with that tab for years… pic.twitter.com/pugU8davkW

— Governor Mikie Sherrill (@GovSherrillNJ) April 15, 2026

FIFA’s response showed the league didn’t think much of the Governor’s statements. It simply stated that the cost breakdowns were made clear long ago, meaning the state should have been prepared for them.

Costs Remain a Major Story Ahead of World Cup

Transportation isn’t the only part of the 2026 World Cup threatening to lighten fans' wallets.

After FIFA promised to make this year’s tournament affordable, fans have grown enraged as it quickly becomes one of the most expensive in history. Tickets have sold out, and many on the secondary market are being offered for $1,000 or more. Given the rising inflation and high daily costs Americans already face, a visit to a match held there could cost international fans a small fortune.

Several host cities also loudly complained about the costs of running security for matches. While FIFA and the White House had promised funds to support those efforts, the funds were repeatedly delayed, leading some cities to fear they would never be delivered. It took city officials threatening to forfeit their hosting duties to finally resolve the issue finally.

FIFA Missteps Dampen Hopes for World Cup

Early on, there was a lot of excitement for the 2026 World Cup. FIFA announced it was expanding the field to 48 teams and playing matches in the US, Canada, and Mexico. On paper, it seemed like the perfect situation. In reality, it has been anything but.

FIFA’s support of President Trump continues to backfire, making the league even less popular with many Americans from both political parties. Things got even worse as fans began to realize they had been lied to about ticket prices and seat locations. Now, with transportation costs to and from the stadiums projected to skyrocket, many soccer fans feel locked out of the World Cup.

The league has also failed to clarify Iran's status for this summer’s tournament. While FIFA President Gianni Infantino has continually promised that Iran has agreed to participate, soccer officials from the embattled country have said the opposite. That means fans with tickets remain uncertain of which teams they’ll actually see.