Isiah Christie 
The World Cup festivities are going strong in New Jersey, and with them come events, local fun, and of course, plenty of visitors + ticket holders commuting to see the games at MetLife Stadium. This volume of commuters will affect local life and traffic, so HG has put together a list of what you need to know if you plan to travel on match days. Read on to learn about the World Cup match this upcoming week and how it may affect your commute.
World Cup Dates this Week
The World Cup, which is hosting games at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, will continue this week with three matches:
- Monday, June 22nd | Norway vs. Senegal
- Thursday, June 25th | Ecuador vs. Germany
- Saturday, June 27th | Panama vs. England
The World Cup has attracted many international fans to New Jersey, with an estimated 1.2 million visiting the Garden State for the event, according to the event’s official website. As a result, NJ Transit has altered public transit schedules, with its services around the East Rutherford area limited to World Cup ticket holders on game days. Riders are encouraged to avoid nonessential travel if they use its services, but if commuting is necessary, plan trips to avoid peak travel hours. It has also affected local schools, with at least one New Jersey school district organizing an early dismissal last week to mitigate the anticipated traffic crunch.
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Here are a few things to keep in mind regarding NJ Transit’s restrictions for the World Cup:
- Access to trains from Penn Station New York (PSNY) and Secaucus Junction Station will be limited to ticket holders traveling to MetLife Stadium on Monday, June 22nd, from 3:20 PM to 7:01 PM, according to NJ Transit’s website.
- Customers departing from New Jersey will be directed to the Hoboken PATH Station for travel to New York.
- Customers departing from New York will be directed to the 33rd Street PATH Station for travel to Hoboken or Newark Penn Station.
After the match concludes, eastbound trains traveling to New York Penn Station will terminate at Newark Penn Station from 10:14 PM to 12:35 AM. Customers commuting to New York may use an NJ TRANSIT rail ticket or pass at no extra cost. Commuters may go to Newark Penn Station’s Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast Line, Raritan Valley Line, or PATH Station to reach New York as an alternative.
Commuters at Newark Broad Street Station who use the Morris + Essex Lines and Montclair-Boonton Line will have the following alternatives:
- Boarding a Hoboken-bound train to Hoboken Terminal for travel on the PATH train or NJ TRANSIT Bus No. 126 from Hoboken.
- Using an NJ TRANSIT rail ticket on the Newark Light Rail for travel to Newark Penn Station, where customers can transfer for PATH service to New York.
Similar restrictions are expected for Thursday and Saturday’s World Cup matches, and this article will be updated with more information as it is announced by NJ Transit. For a full list of on scheduling adjustments + alternatives for NJ Transit on Monday, visit here.
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