How to Navigate Penn Station for the World Cup

The hub of every MetLife match — platforms, timing, and getting out after the final whistle

Navigating Penn Station for the 2026 World Cup

Every MetLife match day begins and ends at Penn Station. The station sits at the intersection of 7th Avenue, 8th Avenue, 31st, and 33rd Streets in Midtown Manhattan — accessible from multiple subway lines and multiple street entrances. For first-timers, the layout can be confusing under normal conditions; on World Cup match days when thousands of international fans are all making the same journey, the chaos increases significantly. This guide makes it navigable.

The Station Layout

Penn Station has three distinct areas that matter for World Cup travelers:

The Main Concourse — The main underground hall below Madison Square Garden with ticket windows, NJ Transit board displays, and the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR). This is the most crowded area on match days. The NJ Transit gates are on the lower level below the main concourse.

Moynihan Train Hall — The new glass-roofed hall opened in 2021, accessed from 8th Avenue between 31st and 33rd Streets. This is significantly less crowded than the old Penn Station concourse, has more comfortable waiting areas, and connects to all the same NJ Transit platforms. On match days, entering via Moynihan rather than the 7th Avenue entrance reduces stress considerably.

The NJ Transit Platforms — Below the main concourse, reached by escalators and stairs. Your NJ Transit ticket shows your platform number — check the departure boards for which platform your train leaves from. Platforms 1-11 are on the NJ Transit side (west).

Step-by-Step: Penn Station to MetLife

1. Buy your ticket before arriving — NJ Transit app or purchased online in advance. There are ticket machines at Penn Station but they have queues on match days. The app is faster.
2. Enter via Moynihan Train Hall — 8th Avenue between 31st and 33rd Streets. Less crowded than the main 7th Avenue entrances.
3. Check the departure board — Find the next train to Secaucus Junction or a train with Secaucus as a stop. NJ Transit runs multiple lines; any train that stops at Secaucus Junction works for the World Cup shuttle.
4. Go to your platform — Platforms are announced on the board about 10-15 minutes before departure. When your platform is announced, everyone moves at once — this is normal and manageable.
5. Board the train to Secaucus — The ride is approximately 15 minutes.
6. At Secaucus Junction, transfer to the Meadowlands shuttle — Signs direct you to the shuttle platform. The shuttle runs continuously on match days. Journey to MetLife: approximately 10 minutes.

Getting Back After the Match

The return journey is the same in reverse — Meadowlands shuttle to Secaucus, NJ Transit train to Penn Station. The key thing: do not get off at Secaucus unless you have a specific reason to. Many first-timers mistake Secaucus for the final destination and exit the train there — you want Penn Station Manhattan. Stay on the train past Secaucus. You'll arrive at Penn Station in about 15 minutes from Secaucus.

On the return, trains run continuously and at higher frequency than normal service. There will be queues at the shuttle but they move. The whole process from MetLife to Penn Station takes 45-75 minutes depending on how quickly you exit the stadium. For tips on the stadium exit itself, see the first match guide.