Round-trip bus fares for fans heading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been slashed by 75%, as officials hustle to secure alternative transportation options between New York City and New Jersey, as reported.
The New York/New Jersey host committee has lowered the prices from $80 to just $20 for ticket holders traveling from three different spots in Manhattan to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Furthermore, they’ve increased the seating capacity from 10,000 to 18,000 by adding yellow school buses for the eight World Cup matches.
This expanded bus service is scheduled to transport up to 18,000 people on non-school days from June 13 to July 19, with an estimated 12,000 spaces available for school game days.
These significant fare reductions were made possible after New York Governor Kathy Hochul invested $6 million into the initiative, which allowed for approximately 20% of the bus tickets to be designated for state residents who bought game tickets.
A source familiar with ticket sales noted that roughly 25 to 30 percent of residents from the tri-state area have already secured their tickets for the games at MetLife Stadium.
Alongside this major funding, Highland Fleet, the operator of the electric school bus fleet, coordinated efforts with Governor Hochul, the commission, and New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani. They also collaborated with New York City School Bus Umbrella Services to ensure additional buses, with around 300 expected to operate on peak game days.
Buses will leave from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown East, located east of Grand Central Terminal, and from the Midtown North area, situated west of Central Park.
Ben Schutzmann, the chief operating officer of Highland Fleet, expressed the intent to create an “affordable and accessible” transportation option during the World Cup, while a spokesperson for Mayor Mamdani highlighted the mayor’s endorsement of discounted fares for ticket holders.
“Mayor Mamdani supports all efforts to make transportation more affordable for New Yorkers, including discounted buses for World Cup ticket holders,” the spokesperson conveyed.
They added that there’s a hope to organize more free and affordable activities so everyone can bask in the excitement of the World Cup.
This price-cutting initiative comes shortly after the New Jersey Transit Authority rolled back its highly criticized fare hikes for the World Cup by 30% after obtaining financial support from various sponsors.
Round-trip tickets from Manhattan to MetLife Stadium, while originally priced at $105, had seen a dramatic jump from their standard fare of about $12.90, raising concerns among fans.
The matches at MetLife Stadium are set for June 13, June 16, June 22, June 25, June 27, June 30, July 5, and July 19.
