Isiah Christie We love East Rutherford for so many reasons. Between its rich history, foodie spots, and of course, American Dream, there is so much to do in the city – but it is unapologetically New Jersey, and that does come with a side of transportation confusion. As the 2026 World Cup hosts games at MetLife Stadium, plenty of local and visiting fans have had to adjust to navigating East Rutherford, and it has caused some frustration among them. Between highway traffic and ticket holders attempting to walk to the stadium (yes, really), a lot is going on. Read on to learn about East Rutherford and the fans’ transit experience during the World Cup.
World Cup at MetLife + Its Restrictions
The World Cup has been going strong at MetLife Stadium since Saturday, June 13th, where the arena hosted its first of eight matches with a game between Brazil and Morocco. The full schedule of games is as follows:
- June 13: Brazil vs. Morocco
- June 16: France vs. Senegal
- June 22: Norway vs. Senegal
- June 25: Ecuador vs. Germany
- June 27: Panama vs. England
- June 30: Round of 32 match
- July 5: Round of 16 match
- July 19: World Cup Final
Strict restrictions have been put in place at MetLife Stadium, including a ban on on-site parking, meaning ticket holders are expected to take public transit, event shuttles, or rideshares such as Uber and Lyft for easy access to the stadium. Those driving are crowding at off-site parking lots and commuting to MetLife, meaning there is still a high volume of vehicles on the road that are creating congestion. This is further amplified by Rideshare and shuttle options being routed to centralized drop-off points (such as Meadowlands Racing + Entertainment), which causes traffic to hit bottlenecks nearby.
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Locals who normally commute via public transit have also been forced to take alternative routes, as NJ Transit trains are restricted to World Cup ticket holders at select times during game days. This has caused crowding on trains and inconveniences for commuters. NJ Transit has also received criticism for its ticket fares during the World Cup, which sit at $98 round-trip. It has caused fans to opt for the World Cup Host Committee’s shuttle buses, which are only $20 in comparison, but the imbalance in demand has caused tickets to sell out rapidly.
Fans Walking to MetLife Stadium
There has also been a wave of World Cup fans walking to MetLife Stadium to avoid the headaches of public transit and fares. This is despite various warnings from the New Jersey State Police, World Cup Host Committee, and NJ Transit explicitly stating not to travel via foot, due to roadways surrounding MetLife Stadium prohibiting pedestrian traffic.
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The terrain surrounding the stadium is also unsafe for walking, due to the prevalence of swamp land and the lack of pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, such as sidewalks and crosswalks. Walkers are also prohibited from approaching the stadium directly, with the Host Committee requiring that fans reach the stadium from one of the stadium’s drop-off points, such as Meadowlands Racing, via Rideshare or shuttle. This has made transit difficult for even those traveling by foot, therefore encouraging the use of public transit for World Cup attendance.
Table and data courtesy of Holafly.
Due to the controversy surrounding commutes around MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford has been named the hardest host city to navigate for the 2026 World Cup, according to the travel eSIM provider Holafly. Some notable stats from its study include a high percentage of fans walking to the stadium, at 16.7%, and the highest average train ticket price, at $12.90.
If you plan to commute to or around MetLife Stadium on game days, whether for matches or not, more information on reaching MetLife Stadium and finding transit alternatives can be found here.
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