The 2026 North America World Cup is an event that has only grown more controversial as the months close in. The political actions of the Trump administration have soured much of whatever hype the event previously had, especially amongst the sports Latino audiences. However, despite the number of tickets already being refunded, many are still looking forward to attending the events within the United States. Preparation for the event has put the spotlight on the lengthy list of problems and limitations the public transportation system within the US has. That said, a situation revolving around New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium has the potential of exacerbating these issues.
According to the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJT). MetLife Stadium will be closing general parking and tailgating for all eight events. It would be a fully transit-first operation that would focus on trains, buses, and rideshares transporting most of the crowds.
It’s an ambitious project, one that has many people skeptical of its success. NJT has a mixed reception amongst residents of the state. Bus and train times are often unreliable, and the upkeep has been something that many wish were improved. For a transportation initiative that massive for an event like the World Cup, some major infrastructure developments would be needed to make that happen. Luckily, the NJ Department of Transportation agrees.
A new bus terminal at MetLife Stadium is expected to be launched for the event, centered on funneling buses directly from NYC into the stadium area, in addition to a bus-only lane called “TransitWay.” They hope to have a bus every 30 seconds for four hours. Additionally, NJT is expected to provide 85 contingency buses in case of disruptions on its rail line for the summer.
This all banks on nothing going wrong during the days of the event, but knowing the area, the chance of that is high. Additionally, the impact of non-even goers, particularly commuters coming to-and-from the city, could be detrimental.
