With the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to bring an estimated 1.2 million visitors to the New York–New Jersey area this summer, the city’s already shoulder-to-shoulder sidewalks are about to hit a whole new level of crowded.
And it’s not just foot traffic–officials say your daily commute could get significantly messier, too.
To ease the expected chaos, transit leaders across both states are sounding the alarm: if you can work from home, you probably should.
In a move to prevent a total regional gridlock, transit leaders across both states are urging New Yorkers to trade their office desks for their kitchen tables. Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming transit apocalypse.
The Hub of the Chaos: MetLife Stadium
MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey will serve as the region’s main hub, hosting eight matches including the high-stakes World Cup Final on July 19, 2026.
The trouble begins Saturday, June 13, but the real headache starts when matches overlap with the standard weekday rush hour.
Officials are particularly worried about the window between June 22 and June 30, where match-day travel and peak commuting hours are expected to collide.
The Work From Home Advisory
Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia kept it straightforward at a recent press conference, urging anyone who doesn’t need to be in the city to steer clear.
If you are not attending one of the events, please, if possible, work from home — because the city will be incredibly congested and so will New Jersey.
Commuter Alert: Price Hikes and Penn Station Restrictions
For those who do plan on attending, getting to the pitch will cost a premium.
- Ticket Surge: NJ Transit round-trip tickets from NYC to MetLife are expected to hit $150–a staggering 775% increase from standard fares
- Penn Station Lockdown: During match days, the NJ Transit section of Penn Station will be restricted to World Cup ticket holders only–these “lockouts” will last four hours before kickoff and three hours after the final whistle
Why It Matters for You
Even by New York standards, the sheer volume of people–roughly 40,000 fans per match relying on mass transit–will push the region’s already-strained transit system past its limits–no small feat, considering a “good” day on New York transit is already doing the bare minimum.
So unless you’ve got a match ticket in hand, you might want to start perfecting your work from home routine now–because this summer, even by New York standards, getting around is going to be a sport of its own.
