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NJ Gov. Sherrill says FIFA should fund World Cup transit — would OK $100 train tickets
By
Michael Sol Warren
Published Apr 15, 2026
Modified Apr 15, 2026
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Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
By
Michael Sol Warren
Published Apr 15, 2026
Modified Apr 15, 2026
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New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill on Wednesday called on FIFA to put up money to help NJ Transit move the hordes of spectators coming to the region for the World Cup this summer.
“When it comes to moving people into the game at the FIFA World Cup, and FIFA intends to make about $11 billion on this, they need to defray some of this cost,” Sherrill said.
Sherrill made the remarks on the debut episode of the “Ask Governor Sherrill” call-in show on WNYC. The show, in partnership with WHYY, WBGO and Montclair State University, will air bi-monthly, with its next episode scheduled for June 3.
The demand comes after The Athletic reported this week that NJ Transit is considering charging $100 for train tickets between New York Penn Station and MetLife Stadium for World Cup games. Sherrill said she is prepared to approve such fare hikes.
“I will, if that’s what it takes, because I’m not putting this on the back of New Jerseyans,” Sherrill said.
FIFA, in a statement to Gothamist late Wednesday night, said it was surprised by Sherrill's statements, and cited language in its agreement for host cities requiring fans to be able to access public or other planned transportation "at cost" to attend matches. The sports organization also said it wasn't aware of any time other event organizers were required to pay for fan transportation to MetLife stadium.
She also threw her backing behind a temporary local sales tax hike around the Meadowlands that critics have said violates her campaign promise not to raise taxes.
Lawmakers in Trenton are debating a bill that would boost sales taxes from 6.6% to 9.6% in the Meadowlands District — the 30-square-mile area centered around the MetLife Stadium complex that includes mostly commercial and industrial parts of 14 towns in Bergen and Hudson counties.
But Sherrill said her big focus now is moving fans through the region — an effort she likened to a military operation.
Public transit will be critical for the games, especially as FIFA has announced that parking will not be allowed at MetLife stadium. The parking lots will instead be used to host fan engagement events.
“FIFA has said no parking. So I think it's totally appropriate for them to take on some of the transit costs,” Sherrill added.
Sherrill’s comments to WNYC came as the NJ Transit board was meeting in Atlantic City. Kris Kolluri, NJ Transit’s CEO, reiterated the administration’s position at that meeting.
"The governor has said in no uncertain terms that, whatever the fare is going to be, it will not be cross-subsidized by our regular commuters," Kolluri said.
This story has been updated with more information.
Tagged
Politics
new jersey
Michael Sol Warren
Michael Sol Warren covers New Jersey for WNYC and Gothamist, and previously reported on issues around the Garden State for NJ Spotlight News and NJ Advance Media. He can be reached at [email protected].
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