Transit officials across New York and New Jersey are asking commuters who don't need to travel during this summer's FIFA World Cup to work from home—a rare, large-scale request driven by eight soccer matches expected to overwhelm the region's rail and road networks.
"If you are not attending one of the events, please work from home because the city will be incredibly congested and so will New Jersey," Kathryn Garcia, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said at a news conference on World Cup transit plans on April 24.
Alex Lasry, CEO of the FIFA World Cup 2026 NY/NJ Host Committee, said managing travel demand will be essential to keeping the plan on track—especially on the two weekday matches.
"We are going to be working with everyone to ensure that people who don't need to be utilizing those public transit routes, who don't need to be on the roadways, who can work from home, to be able to do so, and especially on those peak days, which are going to be June 22 and June 30," Lasry said at the news conference.
Stadium access on match days will be restricted to official transportation options only, with no private bus or charter operators permitted and no general spectator parking on stadium property. Fans must arrive via NJ Transit rail, an $80 round-trip official bus shuttle run by the NYNJ Host Committee from the Port Authority Bus Terminal or a Midtown East pick-up location, rideshare to a designated drop-off at Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment, or limited premium parking at American Dream.
Starting four hours before kickoff on each match day, NJ Transit rail service between Penn Station New York and Secaucus Junction will be restricted to World Cup ticket holders. Regular commuters can use the PATH train from the 33rd Street Station or the NJ Transit bus service from the Port Authority Bus Terminal at no extra cost.
For three hours after each match, select NJ Transit trains on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast Line, and Raritan Valley Line will terminate at Newark Penn Station rather than continuing to New York, with PATH service available at no additional charge to complete the trip into the city.
"While we are ready to deliver a seamless travel experience for those riding with us on match days, we have been equally focused on ensuring our everyday customers have a multitude of travel options if they rely on NJ TRANSIT for essential travel during key time periods," NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri said in the April 17 press release.
More information is available at njtworldcup.com.