In an economy squeezed by tariffs, elevated fuel costs, and stubborn inflation, the FIFA World Cup was supposed to be America’s summer triumph. For millions of fans, it’s shaping up to be something else: a financial gauntlet. Before they cheer a single goal, many will face $80 to more than $100 transit fares, $4,000-plus tickets, and $4-a-gallon gas, a collision of costs that reflects the broader economic moment.
NJ Transit is planning to charge more than $100 for round-trip rail tickets from Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan to MetLife Stadium, according to The Athletic, which cited sources familiar with the agency’s planning. The normal fare for that journey is $12.90 — a roughly 700% increase. Under the current model, the fare would be a flat rate, with no discounts for children, seniors, or passengers with disabilities, who typically pay reduced fares.
