Sherrill Draws Battle Line With FIFA Over $48M World Cup Transit Costs

Gov. Mikie Sherrill is publicly confronting FIFA over a $48 million transportation bill New Jersey Transit faces to move World Cup fans to MetLife Stadium this summer — igniting a broader political fight over who pays for the state's role in hosting the tournament, and how.

Sherrill, in a video posted to social media Wednesday, said her administration inherited a hosting agreement under which FIFA contributes nothing toward fan transportation, leaving NJ Transit to absorb the full cost of quadrupled ridership on game days.

"We inherited an agreement where FIFA is providing $0 for transportation to the World Cup — zero," Sherrill said. "That leaves New Jersey Transit with a $48 million bill to safely get 40,000 fans to and from every game. At the same time, FIFA is making $11 billion off of this World Cup and charging fans up to $10,000 for a single ticket for the final. I won't stick New Jersey's commuters with that tab for years to come."

Sherrill also noted that FIFA eliminated most parking at MetLife while retaining premium spots priced at over $200 each — effectively forcing fans onto public transit while the organization collects parking revenue.

NJ Transit's board of directors unanimously approved a resolution on Wednesday authorizing CEO Kris Kolluri to set fares to cover all costs of fan transportation, in line with Sherrill's directive.

Kolluri said commuters would not be cross-subsidized. "The governor said whatever the fare will be, it will not be cross-subsidized by our regular commuters," Kolluri said, according to ESPN.

The Athletic reported this week that NJ Transit is considering charging $100 per ticket between New York Penn Station and MetLife Stadium on game days, compared to a standard fare of $12.90.

Sherrill indicated she would approve that fare increase if FIFA does not act. "I will, if that's what it takes, because I'm not putting this on the back of New Jerseyans," she told WNYC Wednesday.

FIFA, in a statement late Wednesday, said it was surprised by Sherrill's remarks. The organization cited language in its host city agreement requiring fans to access public or other planned transportation "at cost" on match days, and said it was not aware of any prior instance in which event organizers were required to pay for fan transportation to MetLife Stadium, according to the Gothamist.

FIFA also noted that its original 2018 host agreements required free transportation for fans, but that in 2023 it revised the requirement across all host cities, shifting from free to at-cost transportation. FIFA said it had advocated for millions in federal funding to support host cities.

The dispute is unfolding against a contentious legislative backdrop. A bill introduced by state Sen. Paul Sarlo would temporarily raise the sales tax to 9.625 percent in the Hackensack Meadowlands District during the tournament, add a hotel surcharge, a 50-cent fee on rideshares to and from the Meadowlands, and a 10 percent surcharge on corporate gambling revenue from World Cup matches.

Assembly Republicans pushed back sharply, with Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips (R-Bergen) saying the bill contradicts Sherrill's October pledge not to raise the sales tax. DePhillips noted taxpayers have already spent more than $300 million to prepare for the tournament. S4111 has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.

World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium begin June 11.

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