A reporter and group of fans walked from Penn Station in New York City to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey this week [1].
The experiment aimed to determine if walking is a practical and cost-effective transportation option for spectators attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup [1], [2]. With high demand expected for the tournament, fans are seeking alternatives to official transit routes that may be prohibitively expensive or congested.
Hank Schrader, a reporter for TIME, participated in the trek to test the feasibility of the route [1]. The journey covered a distance of 13 miles [1]. It took the group more than six hours to complete the walk from the heart of Manhattan to the stadium in East Rutherford [1].
The effort highlights the financial burden facing some spectators. A train ticket from New York City to MetLife Stadium is priced at $98 [3]. For many fans, the prospect of a long walk may be preferable to the high cost of specialized transit during the event.
MetLife Stadium is scheduled to host eight matches during the tournament [2]. This includes the final, which is set to take place in mid-July [2]. The scale of these events is expected to put significant pressure on the regional infrastructure of New York and New Jersey.
Organizers and city officials have faced scrutiny regarding the accessibility of the venues for the general public [2]. While official shuttles and trains are the primary recommended methods of travel, the success of this 13-mile walk demonstrates that some fans are willing to endure extreme commutes to avoid steep fees.
“The journey covered a distance of 13 miles”
The willingness of fans to walk over six hours to reach a venue underscores a potential crisis in transit affordability and accessibility for the 2026 World Cup. If a significant number of spectators opt for walking over official transport due to costs, it could create unexpected pedestrian traffic and safety challenges on roads not designed for mass migration between New York City and East Rutherford.
