Transit · May 20, 2026

World Cup Parking at MetLife Is $225 a Match — and the Final Is Already Sold Out

By WorldCup.NYC Editorial · Published May 20, 2026

If you're planning to drive to a World Cup match at New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife), here's what you need to know before you book anything: there is no general parking at the stadium on match days. The only official parking option costs $225 per match, requires a valid FIFA ticket, and is already sold out for the Final.

Why FIFA eliminated stadium parking

FIFA's match-day logistics for the 2026 World Cup push fans toward public transit. The organization has made mass transit the official recommendation for all host venues, and New York New Jersey Stadium is no exception. With MetLife's regular parking lots holding upward of 20,000 vehicles, allowing general parking would create traffic gridlock on Route 3 and the NJ Turnpike that would affect the entire region for hours before and after each match.

The decision also aligns with FIFA's broader sustainability messaging for the tournament.

The American Dream Mall option

The adjacent American Dream Mall — the massive entertainment and retail complex next to the stadium — is offering roughly 5,000 parking spaces for World Cup match days. The price: $225 per spot, per match.

A few important conditions:

• You must have a valid FIFA World Cup match ticket to purchase parking
• A dedicated pedestrian walkway connects American Dream directly to the stadium
• Parking for the World Cup Final (July 19) is already sold out
• Availability for other matches is limited and will decrease as the tournament approaches

At $225 a spot, a family of four driving to a match faces $225 in parking alone — before tolls, fuel, and the match ticket itself. By comparison, four NJ Transit round-trip tickets cost $392 total.

A rideshare lot is planned

Officials have indicated a rideshare staging lot is in the works near the Meadowlands Racetrack. Surge pricing is expected on match days. The post-match rideshare situation at MetLife on normal NFL game days is already chaotic — for World Cup matches with global audiences, it is expected to be significantly worse.

The math strongly favors transit

For most fans, NJ Transit is the right answer. The $98 round-trip World Cup special ticket covers the full journey from Penn Station through Secaucus Junction to the stadium. Buses will run every 30 seconds on match days. The official shuttle from Midtown costs $20 round trip.

Driving makes sense only if you have multiple people splitting the $225 parking cost, you live in New Jersey and can arrive very early to avoid traffic, or you have mobility needs that make transit impractical.

Full transit options compared

• NJ Transit guide — $98 round trip
• Official shuttle bus — $20 round trip
• Complete MetLife Stadium transit guide
• Penn Station match-day guide