MetLife Stadium will stage eight 2026 World Cup matches, including the July final. A round‑trip NJ Transit fare from Penn Station rises to $98, down from an initially slated $150. Parking can reach $225. Officials warn that walking the 4.5 miles from Weehawken is unsafe and impractical.

The journey, attempted by author Alex Wolfe and photographer Tom Wilson, exposed dense residential corridors, aging infrastructure, and a maze of construction. From ferry hops to overpasses, the route threaded through West New York, Guttenberg, and North Bergen, highlighting the region’s fragmented pedestrian network amid heavy traffic and development.

Even after six hours on foot, the authors found themselves at MetLife’s gates, realizing that thousands of fans would face the same daunting walk. The exercise underscored a wider trend: New Jersey’s vehicle‑centric design hinders public access, despite robust train and bus options. The result: fans must pay high travel costs or confront hazardous routes to reach the 80,000‑seat stadium.