NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit and partner organizations on Monday hosted a workshop at Rutgers University Newark to prepare for 2026 World Cup events at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, including the international soccer tournament’s championship game.
The workshop, in partnership with the International Association of Public Transportion (UITP) and the Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation, or CAIT, was the first of several such events in advance of the World Cup. Attendees included transit leaders and event-planning experts from around the world to discuss approaches for handling large-scale events.
“This partnership with UITP and Rutgers CAIT allows us to take best practices from around the globe and incorporate them in our planning to make this the best World Cup ever,” NJ Transit CEO Kevin S. Corbett said in a press release. “This workshop represents a key component of our broader strategy to ensure the best possible transit experience for all those attending the FIFA 2026 World Cup Finals, along with the seven additional matches at MetLife Stadium.”
Topics discussed included crowd management, security, mobility/transport management, integrated ticketing, travel information, and wayfinding. Participants included Sir Peter Hardy, commissioner of Transport for London from 2006 to 2016, who oversaw transit operations during the 2012 Olympic and Paralymic Games.
“With the FIFA World Cup 2026™ less than two years away, there is a concentrated focus on transportation, infrastructure and security efficiencies for the highly anticipated Final match,” said Lauren LaRusso and Bruce Revman of the NYNJ host committee for the 2026 World Cup. “Working in tandem with NJ Transit and leveraging the expertise of UITP and Rutgers CAIT, we’re committed to further enhancing our transportation system and making the FIFA World Cup 2026 a remarkable experience for all who visit.”
Super Bowl XLVIII was held on Groundhog Day, 2014 (Feb 2). It was held at the NFL Stadium in Secaucus NJ; the one used by both the Secaucus Giants and the Teterboro Jets.
Patrons were expected to arrive by some form of transit and airport-level security was provided by TSA.
The rail portion proved to be a disaster when at least twice as many people rode the trains as NJT had planned to carry or as TSA was prepared to process.
I believe Meadowlands has three tracks with one island platform and one side platform. It’s not a through station ans is on a spur off of the NJT ex-EL exx-Erie line from Hoboken at Secaucus Jct, PRR had more tracks at Princeton for football specials to the University there.
This is where the PRR (AMTK) from Newark to Penn Station NY line crosses over the Erie. There is no track connection at Secaucus Jct. PAX change trains.
I think NJT is trying to avoid the mass of confusion that occurred at the Super Bowl,
Could someone familiar describe the track arrangements between the two stations and if there are layover tracks at the stadium, and estimate how many attendees could be handled at max train capacity? I’m curious as to how substantial this might be.