England fans banned from walking to MetLife Stadium during World Cup (Image: Getty)
New Jersey law will prevent England fans from walking to MetLife Stadium for the 2026 World Cup. The 82,500-capacity stadium is scheduled to host eight matches in this summer’s tournament, including the Three Lions’ group game against Panama and the World Cup final.
Fans from Norway, Brazil and France will also head to stadiums that are completely closed to pedestrians. That means the only access to MetLife Stadium is by car, bus, or the controversial train service that operates from nearby New York City.
The stadium is located approximately 19 miles from New York City and is surrounded by parking lots and freeways. There are no designated pedestrian streets, and New Jersey law states that it is illegal for the public to walk on or beside the highway.
Asked about this, New Jersey State Police Spokesman Charles Marchan told North Jersey: “For the safety of all FIFA World Cup participants, pedestrian traffic is strictly prohibited on the roadways surrounding MetLife Stadium. Walking on these roadways poses a significant safety risk to both pedestrians and motorists.”
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Asked if World Cup fans would be penalized if they were caught walking, he added: “The goal is not to issue tickets or issue citations, but rather to ensure public safety.”
This comes after news that a round-trip ticket from New York’s Penn Station to MetLife Stadium costs a whopping £110 ($150), while the regular price for an NFL game is £9.50 ($12.90). Alternatively, you can take a bus to the stadium, which will cost fans a whopping £60 (about $80).
MetLife Stadium is completely inaccessible to pedestrians (Image: Getty)
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill addressed the controversy, saying, “In the FIFA World Cup Agreement that my administration inherited, FIFA invested zero dollars in transporting World Cup fans. It also eliminated parking at MetLife Stadium, placing the burden on New Jersey Transit to transport four times as many matchday riders as usual for events at the stadium.”
“This contract will cost the New Jersey Department of Transportation at least $48 million, while FIFA will generate $11 billion in revenue during the World Cup,” she wrote in a post Friday. As I have said many times before, FIFA should cover the cost of transporting the fans. Otherwise, we would be paving the way for New Jerseyans who use NJ Transit every day and not subsidizing World Cup ticket holders. ”
FIFA hit back at the governor’s comments, with World Cup Chief Executive Heimo Siligi responding: “Since the Host City Agreement was signed in 2018, FIFA has worked with the Host Committee and its partners to develop a transportation plan that provides efficient and accessible public transportation options for fans who purchase tickets to attend the eight games at New York/New Jersey Stadium.
“The aim is to minimize congestion, reduce reliance on private cars and ensure that the fan experience is a positive and memorable one, defined by the action on the pitch rather than delays on the road.”
