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Germany's squad will fund travel for 600 supporters to attend its final group stage fixture against Ecuador, amid growing outrage over World Cup costs.
Steep increases in train and bus fares from central New York to MetLife Stadium—where Germany is set to face Ecuador on June 25—have sparked significant controversy in recent weeks.
In response to the issue of unaffordable pricing for supporters, a group of senior players led by captain Joshua Kimmich have agreed to cover shuttle bus expenses for fans attending the Ecuador match.
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"Given the steep cost of bus and train travel in New York during the World Cup, the German national team players have arranged free transportation to the final group match for 600 fans," the German FA announced.
"Captain Joshua Kimmich and his teammates are footing the bill for buses to transport supporters from New York to the arena in New Jersey for the match against Ecuador."
What Is the Controversy Around Transport Prices?
The situation in New York and New Jersey specifically concerns inflated prices for train and bus tickets between central New York and MetLife Stadium, which will host five group stage matches along with games in the Round of 32, Round of 16 and the final.
Round-trip train fares ordinarily priced at $12.90 from central New York to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey were hiked to $150 for the tournament before being reduced to $98.
Meanwhile, shuttle buses had initially been priced as high as $80—though they have since been lowered to $20.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has attributed the inflated fares to FIFA's unwillingness to subsidize supporter travel at the World Cup.
By contrast, complimentary transport between stadiums and fan zones was provided at the World Cups in Russia and Qatar. At the 2024 European Championships in Germany, local train travel was free with a match ticket.
Empty Seat Fears
Prohibitive transport costs are among several concerns fueling fears that the World Cup could face the embarrassment of noticeably empty seats at numerous matches this summer—a problem seen during last year's FIFA Club World Cup.
Multiple reports suggest that FIFA is experiencing weaker than anticipated ticket demand, amid soaring costs for transportation, accommodation and match entry itself.
The Financial Times reports that as many as 180,000 World Cup tickets remained unsold just days before the tournament officially kicks off on June 11. Meanwhile, the median ticket price on the official reseller portal has dropped by 20% over the past month.
The record-high ticket prices and use of variable pricing have drawn fierce criticism from fans and politicians, with the attorneys-general of both New York and New Jersey launching investigations into the pricing practices.
Fan groups have estimated that the cost of following a team at this summer's World Cup will be five times greater than four years ago.