FIFA World Cup 2026 runs June 11 through July 19, 2026, and MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey hosts eight matches, including the final on July 19. For the tournament the venue is called New York New Jersey Stadium, and it runs with no general spectator parking on match days. If you are traveling from New York City, the two official ways in are NJ Transit rail through Secaucus Junction and the Official NYNJ Stadium Shuttle from Midtown Manhattan. Both require a valid match ticket and advance purchase. Here is how each option works, plus how to add a Niagara Falls trip once your matches are done.
Getting to MetLife Stadium from New York for the World Cup
MetLife Stadium sits in the Meadowlands Sports Complex, about 10 miles west of Midtown Manhattan. On a normal event day you could drive and park, or grab a regular express bus. The World Cup works differently. The FIFA World Cup 2026 New York New Jersey Host Committee and NJ Transit have set up a ticket-holder-only system, and general spectator parking at the stadium is closed on match days.
That leaves two official public options from New York City: the NJ Transit train through Secaucus Junction, and the Official NYNJ Stadium Shuttle. A valid FIFA World Cup 2026 match ticket is required to buy either one, and both sell out in advance rather than at the door. Plan your ride the same week you plan your match, not the morning of.
NJ Transit Rail: Penn Station to the Stadium
Rail is the backbone of the official plan. NJ Transit runs expanded service from New York Penn Station and from stations across New Jersey, and every route to the stadium connects through Secaucus Junction.
How the route works
From New York Penn Station, you board an NJ Transit train to Secaucus Junction, a ride of roughly 10 minutes. At Secaucus you transfer to a matchday-only train or bus that runs direct to New York New Jersey Stadium, arriving steps from the gates. This shuttle leg is open to match ticket holders only. On standard events the same Meadowlands Rail Line covers the Secaucus to stadium hop in about 10 minutes, with trains every 10 to 20 minutes during the pre-event rush.
The ticket-holder rules
The World Cup adds restrictions you should know before you travel:
- Starting four hours before kickoff, NJ Transit rail between New York Penn Station and Secaucus Junction is limited to FIFA World Cup 2026 ticket holders.
- Train tickets must be bought in advance through the NJ Transit mobile app or at njtworldcup.com. They are not sold on match day at station ticket offices or vending machines.
- Rail capacity is capped at 40,000 tickets per match day, so buy early once your match is confirmed.
- You need your match ticket to buy the train ticket and to access matchday service.
If you are staying in Manhattan without a car, this is the option to build your day around. Give yourself a buffer: the four-hour window fills up, and Secaucus is a single transfer point for tens of thousands of fans.
The Official NYNJ Stadium Shuttle
The second official route is the NYNJ Stadium Shuttle, a direct round-trip bus operated by the Host Committee. It is a one-seat ride, meaning no transfer between the pickup point and the stadium.
From New York City and New Jersey, the published pickup points are:
- Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.
- Midtown East, near Grand Central, with a separate Midtown North pickup.
- Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine in New Jersey, which runs as a park-and-ride for fans driving in.
Shuttle seats are for FIFA match ticket holders only and are bought in advance at fevo.com/official-nynj-stadium-shuttles. Because the regular Coach USA 351 Meadowlands Express and standard event buses do not serve the ticket-holder-only World Cup matches, the official shuttle is the bus you want for the tournament. Round-trip booking means your return seat is held for after the final whistle.
Driving, Rideshare, and Parking
Driving your own car to the stadium is the option the plan steers you away from. There is no general spectator parking on stadium property on match days. A limited number of premium passes are sold for American Dream, the mall complex next to the stadium, and those must be bought in advance. Accessible parking in the J Lot is also pre-purchase only.
Rideshare works, with a catch. Uber and Lyft drop-offs for the World Cup route to Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment, which leaves about a 1.3-mile walk to the stadium gates. Fares and wait times are expected to run higher than usual around kickoff and full time, so budget extra on both.
For most fans coming from New York City, the math favors the train or the official shuttle over driving. You skip the parking problem entirely, and you avoid sitting in Meadowlands traffic with 80,000 other people trying to leave at once. MetLife Stadium seats 82,500, and the final on July 19 will test every exit route in the region.
Add Niagara Falls to Your World Cup Trip
Here is where a football trip turns into something more. Once your matches at New York New Jersey Stadium are done, Niagara Falls is a reachable add-on, and it is one of the few natural wonders you can pair with a World Cup on the same East Coast trip.
Three ways to get there from the New York area:
- Fly to Buffalo. Flights from Newark, JFK, or LaGuardia to Buffalo Niagara International Airport take about 75 to 90 minutes. From the airport, the falls are roughly a 30-minute drive.
- Drive. It is about 400 miles from the Meadowlands to Niagara Falls, NY, figure 6.5 to 7 hours via I-80 and the New York State Thruway. This suits groups who want a car once they arrive.
- Take Amtrak. Empire Service trains run from Penn Station to Niagara Falls, NY in about 9 hours, so this is an overnight or slow-travel option rather than a quick hop.
Once you are there, our full-day Niagara Falls tour covers both the American and Canadian sides, and we run daily through the entire tournament window. If you are planning the trip straight from the city, our New York City to Niagara Falls day trip guide lays out the timing. And because Niagara Falls has its own World Cup plans, from fan zones to lit-up waterfalls, our World Cup 2026 and Niagara Falls guide covers what is happening at the falls during June and July.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to MetLife Stadium for FIFA World Cup 2026 from New York City?
Two official public options run from New York City. The first is NJ Transit rail: take a train from New York Penn Station to Secaucus Junction, then transfer to the matchday-only train or bus that runs direct to the stadium. The second is the Official NYNJ Stadium Shuttle, a direct round-trip bus from the Port Authority Bus Terminal or Midtown East. Both require a valid FIFA World Cup 2026 match ticket and advance purchase.
Is there parking at MetLife Stadium for World Cup matches?
There is no general spectator parking on stadium property on match days. A limited number of premium parking passes are sold in advance for American Dream, the complex next to the stadium, and accessible parking in the J Lot is pre-purchase only. For most fans, the train or the official shuttle is the practical way in.
Do I need a match ticket to buy stadium transportation?
Yes. A valid FIFA World Cup 2026 match ticket is required to buy the NJ Transit World Cup rail ticket and the Official NYNJ Stadium Shuttle, and to access matchday transit services. Transportation is not sold to the general public without a match ticket.
How does the NJ Transit World Cup train actually work?
All rail routes to the stadium connect through Secaucus Junction, where you transfer to a matchday-only shuttle train or bus for ticket holders. Starting four hours before kickoff, service between Penn Station and Secaucus is limited to World Cup ticket holders. Tickets are bought in advance through the NJ Transit app or njtworldcup.com, capped at 40,000 per match day, and are not sold at the station on match day.
Can I add a Niagara Falls trip to my World Cup visit?
Yes, and many fans do. Fly from Newark, JFK, or LaGuardia to Buffalo in about 75 to 90 minutes, then drive 30 minutes to the falls. You can also drive the roughly 400 miles in 6.5 to 7 hours, or take Amtrak from Penn Station in about 9 hours. Over The Falls Tours runs daily tours of both sides of the falls throughout the June 11 to July 19 tournament window.
Plan Your World Cup Travel
The short version: buy your NJ Transit World Cup rail ticket or Official NYNJ Stadium Shuttle seat as soon as your match ticket is confirmed, skip driving to the stadium, and give yourself extra time around the four-hour pre-kickoff window. Confirm the current details on the official FIFA World Cup 2026 site and the NJ Transit World Cup page closer to your match date, since match-day service windows are set per game.
When your matches wrap and you want to see Niagara Falls, we can handle the falls end of the trip. Browse our Niagara Falls tours to lock in your dates. We recommend booking 3 to 5 days ahead during World Cup summer, since June and July 2026 will be some of the busiest weeks the falls have seen.