NYC Subway Guide for World Cup 2026 Visitors

How to tap in, which lines to use, and how the subway fits into your match-day plan.

NYC Subway Guide for World Cup 2026 Visitors

The New York City subway runs 24 hours a day, costs $3 per ride, and reaches almost every neighborhood a World Cup visitor would need. For movement within the city — bar-hopping, fan zones, Penn Station — it is faster and cheaper than any alternative.

How to pay: OMNY (tap-to-pay)

The easiest way to pay is OMNY — tap your contactless credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay directly on the yellow reader at the turnstile. No MetroCard needed. One tap = one ride at $3.00. OMNY also caps your weekly spending at $34 (equivalent to 11 rides) — after that, rides are free for the rest of the week.

If your card doesn't have contactless, get a MetroCard from any station vending machine. Load it with cash or card. A 7-day unlimited MetroCard costs $34 and is worth it if you're riding more than 11 times in a week.

The most important lines for World Cup visitors

1, 2, 3 — West Side / Penn Station

The most important lines for most visitors. They run up and down the West Side of Manhattan and stop directly at Penn Station (34th Street). Penn Station is your gateway to NJ Transit and MetLife Stadium on match days.

A, C, E — Midtown / JFK access

The A train runs from JFK Airport (via AirTrain at Howard Beach) all the way up through Midtown and into Upper Manhattan. The E stops at Penn Station at 34th Street. These lines are key for airport arrivals and Midtown movement.

N, W, Q — Astoria, Times Square, and Brooklyn

The N and W serve Astoria in Queens — where strong Moroccan, Greek, Brazilian, and Croatian fan communities will be watching. These lines also run through Midtown and into Brooklyn.

L — Williamsburg

The L train runs from 14th Street in Manhattan directly to Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg — the heart of NYC's dedicated soccer bar scene. Essential for Spike Hill, Berry Park, and the surrounding venues.

7 — Queens fan neighborhoods

The 7 runs through Jackson Heights (74th Street–Roosevelt Avenue), the heartland of NYC's Ecuadorian, Colombian, and Argentine communities. On South American match days, this train fills with fans in jerseys.

Getting to Penn Station by subway

Penn Station sits at 34th Street on the West Side. Lines that stop there:

• 1, 2, 3 → 34th Street–Penn Station (direct)
• A, C, E → 34th Street–Penn Station (direct)
• B, D, F, M, N, Q, R, W → 34th Street–Herald Square (2-minute walk)

From Penn Station, take NJ Transit to Secaucus Junction, then Meadowlands service to MetLife. Allow 60–90 minutes total from hotel to stadium. See the full NJ Transit guide.

Getting to fan zones by subway

• Rockefeller Center Fan Village: B, D, F, M to 47–50th Streets–Rockefeller Center
• Hudson Yards Big Screen: 7 to 34th Street–Hudson Yards
• USTA Fan Zone Queens: 7 to Mets–Willets Point (then a short walk)

Tips for World Cup match days

• Download the MTA app or use Google Maps for real-time subway status — service changes happen frequently, especially on weekends.
• Avoid the subway at rush hour (7–9am, 5–7pm) if you can — it gets extremely crowded.
• On major MetLife match days, trains toward Penn Station will be packed from late morning. Leave extra time.
• After a MetLife match, the subway back from Penn Station fills quickly. Consider stopping for a drink nearby before the rush clears.
• The subway runs all night — no last train to worry about for late matches or post-game socializing.

What the subway doesn't cover

The subway does not go to MetLife Stadium — that requires NJ Transit rail or a shuttle bus. It also doesn't serve Staten Island (use the Staten Island Ferry from Whitehall St + local buses) or New Jersey beyond the PATH system.