World Cup fans should prepare to be gouged in the US

Heading for the FIFA World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico? 

Be prepared to be ripped off by the rapacious capitalists in the US. 

Not only are tickets to matches absurdly expensive and hotels charging obscene sums for rooms, but you can also expect to be gouged on local transport costs. 

Take New Jersey’s NJ Transit - which is reportedly planning to charge more than $100 for return rail tickets from New York’s Pennsylvania Station to MetLife Stadium (above) for World Cup games, the New York Times reported this week.

That's a seven-fold increase over the the regular price. 

The 30km rail journey ordinarily costs $12.90 for a return ticket. The new "special event" pricing will reportedly not even feature concessions for seniors, children and disabled passengers. 

The World Cup host committee for New York City/New Jersey declined to comment to the newspaper, with the transportation plans expected to go live in the coming week.

A spokesperson for NJ Transit did say: “The ticket prices for match day travel have not been finalised and any reference to cost would be unconfirmed speculation.”

Democratic senator from New York Chuck Schumer has accused FIFA of a “shakedown” of US host cities . 

“FIFA is set to reap nearly $11 billion from this summer’s World Cup, yet New York area commuters and residents are being handed the bill,” said Schumer.

“NJ Transit may be forced to charge fans an eye-popping $100-plus for a train ride that normally costs $13, because FIFA’s hosting agreement dumps added transportation and security costs onto states and cities while FIFA keeps the revenue from tickets, broadcasting, and concessions."

No one was smart enough to realise this when agreements were signed with FIFA.

In a news conference on Monday, Governor Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey said that since she took office early this year, she has sought to reduce the burden of World Cup costs away from taxpayers in her state. 

So the football fans must pay up.

“One of the key things I wanted to make sure is that we are not going to be paying for moving the people who are viewing the World Cup on the back of New Jersey taxpayers and New Jersey commuters," she said. "And so we worked together closely to make sure that that cost will not be borne by New Jerseyans.”

Massachusetts MBTA, meanwhile, is planning to raise its pricing for travel from Boston to Foxboro’s Gillette Stadium up from $20 return for an NFL game to more than $75 for World Cup matches. 

The US loves a gouge, in stark contrast to previous host nations. 

 During the 2022 men’s World Cup in Qatar, official ticket-holders received free access to Doha’s metro system throughout the tournament. Similarly, at the 2024 European Championship in Germany, match ticket holders also had access to free public transport on game day in host cities.