Rail fares for World Cup matches soar
Football supporters travelling to World Cup matches at Gillette Stadium this summer face the prospect of paying nearly four times the standard rail fare, with Boston’s transport authority reportedly planning to charge around $75 for return tickets, reports BritPanorama.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) typically asks $20 for round-trip journeys from central Boston to the Foxborough venue during NFL and MLS fixtures. However, reports have indicated that fans attending tournament matches could be charged $75 or more per person for the 27-mile trip from Boston South station.
The authority is expected to announce its fare structure by 8th April. England’s clash with Ghana on 23rd June is among seven fixtures scheduled at the 65,000-capacity venue, which also hosts Scotland’s group stage encounters with Haiti and Morocco. The Tartan Army will open their campaign against the Caribbean nation on 14th June before facing the 2022 semi-finalists five days later.
A quarter-final and round-of-32 match are also set for the stadium, owned by billionaire Robert Kraft’s group. The MBTA has defended the anticipated price increase, citing a $35 million investment to upgrade Foxboro Station ahead of the tournament, including making the facility fully accessible.
The authority expects to transport up to 20,000 supporters to and from each fixture. The Football Supporters Association (FSA) has urged Boston officials to reconsider the proposed charges. An FSA spokesperson stated, “On top of extortionate parking charges and likely high taxi tariffs, sadly it comes as little surprise that the cost of what should be a free service to encourage use of public transport has been set at a ludicrously high level for what is by far the most expensive World Cup ever.”
The representative body for England and Wales supporters noted that fans enjoyed complimentary public transport at both the 2022 Qatar World Cup and Euro 2024 in Germany. “Surely this has to be revisited and fans given a fair deal and made to feel welcome by the host cities,” the spokesperson added. The inflated transport costs compound what is already shaping up to be the most expensive World Cup in history for travelling supporters.
Entry-level tournament tickets start at approximately $60, though the cheapest seats are extremely limited and prices escalate dramatically for knockout rounds. Final tickets begin at over $2,000 for the lowest category, reaching nearly $6,400 for premium seating. The FSA spokesperson described the situation as “yet another example of the exploitation of loyal fans who work hard to pay to support their national teams in person.”
Accommodation costs are also expected to surge as the tournament approaches, adding further strain to supporters’ budgets.
The stakes are incredibly high in a World Cup that already lays claim to being the priciest in history, leaving fans grappling not just with matchday expenses but also the challenge of making their voices heard amidst soaring costs.
