The Metro light rail Stadium Park/Astrodome station at NRG Park is shown Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022 in Houston.
Melissa Phillip/Staff photographer
Houston Metro riders won’t face fare increases during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, unlike in other cities where public transit is expected to be significantly more expensive than usual.
Metro Board Chair Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock said in a statement that the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County will not raise fares because affordability and accessibility are the agency’s central mission.
“While we are thrilled to support hosting the World Cup, Metro’s system is built to serve everyone, every day, and that remains our focus as we proudly welcome the world to Houston,” she said.
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As affordability remains a major talking point around the World Cup, Boston and the New York-New Jersey area have emerged as locations where public transportation prices will rise significantly.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is charging $80 for a round-trip train ticket to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough during matchups. The normal round-trip train fare for special events is about $20. A round-trip ticket for the Boston Stadium Express Bus will cost $95, per Boston’s host committee.
NJ Transit is planning to make people pay over $100 for train tickets from New York Penn Station to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, according to a report from the Athletic.
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The high transportation prices have sparked criticism and pushback. The NJ Transit ticket price report drew the ire of New York politicians. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer posted on X that FIFA should “step up and cover transportation costs” for U.S. host cities.
“The World Cup should be as affordable and accessible as possible,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in an X post.
Houston keeps public transit fares steady
Although other cities have jacked up public transit fares, Houston will maintain its standard and discounted fares for its buses and trains.
Metro’s regular fare for buses and light rail trains is $1.25. Regular Park-and-Ride options range between $2 and $4.50.
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Metro plans to boost bus, light rail and MetroLift service as it prepares for more than 500,000 visitors expected in Houston for the World Cup.
The agency is using the MetroNow initiative and federal funding tied to the World Cup to improve safety, operations and staffing, Brock said. The goal is to handle higher demand without disrupting the city’s regular riders.
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Houston will host seven World Cup matches starting June 14. Five of the matches will be group stage affairs and two of them will be in the knockout stage.
The city’s World Cup host committee is also putting on a FIFA Fan Fest in EaDo, which will run from June 11 to July 19. The festival will be open for 34 days of the 39-day period. The location of Fan Fest and NRG Stadium along the light rail will make the system a key artery for moving people during June and July.
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NRG parking costs to spike during World Cup
Metro’s prices might not be going up, but people driving to the games will face extremely high parking prices.
It will cost a regular vehicle between $98.99 and $175 to park in one of NRG Stadium’s official lots for the World Cup, which is more expensive than other recent marquee events held at the stadium.
People have also criticized the cost of match tickets for being too expensive and pricing out fans.
FIFA is using a dynamic ticket pricing model, where tickets can go up or down depending on demand. It also recently introduced new, even pricier ticket categories.
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Nearly 70 members of Congress signed a letter orchestrated by U.S. Rep Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif., to FIFA President Gianni Infantino in March asking for ticket prices to be lowered.
“Folks are not talking about how excited they are to root for their team,” Kamlager-Dove told the Chronicle in March. “They’re complaining about why FIFA is trying to gouge them of the few dollars that they have.”