The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has set round-trip train tickets from Boston's South Station to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough at $80 for World Cup matches. Parking at the stadium will be limited, with spots starting at $175. Meanwhile, train tickets from New York's Penn Station to MetLife Stadium could rise from $12.90 to over $100, a 775 percent increase. This has led some to label the event the 'Rip Off World Cup' due to perceived gouging and negative headlines.
The 2026 World Cup will be hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, featuring 48 countries across 16 venues in North America. Gillette Stadium is slated to host seven matches, including games with England's national team. MetLife Stadium will host eight matches, culminating in the final on July 19.
For Boston-area matches, the $80 train tickets will be sold exclusively through the MBTA's mTicket app, are limited, nonrefundable, and require a same-day match ticket. FIFA has erected a security perimeter around the 65,000-capacity Gillette Stadium, reducing parking from 20,000 to 5,000 spaces. The MBTA stated that this parking reduction is to establish a security perimeter, placing an extra burden on public transit. FIFA is charging $150 (£110) for each parking space and $600 (£447) for oversized vehicles.
The MBTA expects up to 20,000 passengers to take the commuter rail each match. It aims to move at least 20,000 fans between South Station in Boston and Foxborough Station on match days. To cover upgrades to Foxboro Station ahead of the tournament, the MBTA is looking to recover $35 million in costs.
In New York, parking around MetLife Stadium will be significantly reduced for the World Cup. New York's Penn Station may only be open to fans traveling to MetLife Stadium for four hours before kick-off, sparking commuter outrage.
NJ Transit insists train ticket prices are yet to be finalized. This contrasts with policies at Euro 2024 in Germany, where fans could use match tickets for free public transport for 36 hours surrounding games.
England fans will pay four times the normal train ticket price to get to their World Cup clash with Ghana in Foxborough. That match is scheduled for June 23 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, which is 27 miles from Boston's South Station.
Scotland supporters face their own challenges, with a huge row breaking out in the USA over whether Boston will host their first two games. FIFA will charge Scotland fans £110 for parking ahead of the opening game in Boston after available spaces were slashed by 75%. Scotland fans were already hit with ticket prices of up to £372 for the SFA allocation for the opening game against Haiti and over £500 for the showdown with Brazil in Miami. There is a headache of how to transport Tartan Army fans to Foxborough, 20 miles outside Boston.
The tiny town of Foxborough is outraged over a £5.5 million shortfall for security funding, with a deadline nine days away or they won't grant an entertainment license for seven games at Gillette Stadium. A meeting between stadium organizers and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority revealed parking availability had been slashed.
Fans must buy parking spots on FIFA's website and need a match ticket to complete the deal. A FIFA spokesman said they decided the security perimeter and parking inventory with stadium owners and are providing on-site parking for teams, media, and others.
FIFA's leadership under Gianni Infantino, who succeeded Sepp Blatter as president, vowed to restore FIFA's image with good governance and transparency. However, Infantino's governance has involved sucking up to autocratic regimes and hijacking the World Cup draw to award a peace prize to a controversial president. Infantino has never shown much interest in customer relations.
When the first batch of World Cup tickets were placed on the market in October, words like 'astonishing' and 'unacceptable' were used. Infantino issued a 'nothing to see here' message after Iran's 5-0 win over Costa Rica.
In Mexico, security concerns loom large, with the killing of drug lord El Mencho sparking a surge of violence nationwide. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum claims security measures will protect fans and players from organized crime groups. However, words offer little assurance to fans planning to attend 13 matches in Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Mexico City.
Many Scotland fans plan to hire cars and motorhomes to cut down on exorbitant hotel costs. This reflects broader uncertainties about the tournament experience, as fans navigate high costs and logistical hurdles.