Wednesday 15 April 2026 – 04:12 PM
Press reports revealed a potential crisis for fans during competitions World Cup 2026, scheduled to be held in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico, during the coming months of June and July.
An expected increase in train ticket prices in New Jersey
According to The Athletic, the New Jersey Public Transit Authority currently intends to charge more than $100 for round-trip train tickets from Penn Station in New York to MetLife Stadium for World Cup matches.
She explained, according to her sources, that train ticket prices are expected to increase by more than 7 times their usual price during the World Cup, as the usual price of the trip is about $12.90, the same price as a ticket for the last Club World Cup final.
The Athletic indicated that the new prices for the World Cup will take effect during the World Cup, as the ticket price is expected to exceed $100, without any exceptions for the elderly, children and people with special needs, as the final decision will be announced within days.
The newspaper added that the New Jersey Transportation Authority may have to impose exorbitant fees on fans exceeding $100 for a train trip that usually costs $13, especially since the agreement to host the World Cup imposes additional transportation and security costs on America, while FIFA keeps the revenues from tickets, broadcasting, food and beverages.
The Athletic reported that the total cost of providing transportation services during the eight World Cup matches scheduled to be held in New Jersey will reach $48 million, noting that the security requirements imposed by FIFA make these matches require the highest level of security protection compared to any other event held in the state.
Earlier, The Athletic said that citizens of several countries participating in the World Cup will have to deposit a sum of up to $15,000 as a security deposit to obtain a visa to enter America.
She explained that citizens of some countries who travel to the United States on a work or tourist visa have become subject to sponsorship payments after policy changes made by the Trump administration, noting that the program includes 50 countries, 5 of which qualified for the World Cup: Algeria, Tunisia, Cape Verde, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire.
She noted that players who do not currently hold US visas will have to apply for tournament visas, which means they may also be asked to deposit bail, as there is no procedure for applicants to apply for a bail exemption.
