Republican members of the Senate and Assembly Budget Committees are calling for joint hearings with the NYNJ FIFA 2026 Host Committee to get answer about taxpayer costs, financial risks and planning tied to the upcoming World Cup matches this summer at MetLife Stadium.
In a letter sent Thursday to Senate Budget Chairman Paul A. Sarlo (D-36) and Assembly Budget Chairwoman Eliana Pintor Marin (D-29), GOP lawmakers said the Legislature and public still lack clear answers about the state's financial commitments despite years of planning.
“With New Jersey set to host one of the largest sporting events in the world, it is imperative that the Legislature and the public have a clear and complete understanding of the commitments made on behalf of taxpayers," the GOP lawmakers wrote. "While the event presents an opportunity to showcase our state, it also raises significant and unanswered questions about costs, risks and transparency.”
The letter outlines several key concerns lawmakers want addressed, including the state's obligations for transit, security, infrastructure and operations; the extent of taxpayer subsidies; whether New Jersey is exposed to financial risk if projected revenues fall short; and what safeguards exist to prevent cost overruns.
Concerns intensified following recent testimony before the Assembly Budget Committee, when Attorney General Jennifer Davenport indicated that funding is in place to meet the event's security needs, the lawmakers said. At the same time, NJ TRANSIT announced plans to charge up to $150 for train tickets and $80 for shuttle services for fans traveling to MetLife Stadium.
NJ TRANSIT has said that without the higher fares New Jersey commuters and residents would be on the hook for $48 million in World Cup-related transit expenses associated with safely transporting 40,000 fans to and from the eight matches that will be played at MetLife stadium.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill has said FIFA is positioned to earn $11 billion from the games but is not providing funds for transportation or security, while FIFA contends that was never part of the agreement negotiated two years ago when her predecessor was governor.
“In the agreement that my administration inherited, FIFA put zero dollars towards transporting World Cup fans,” Sherrill said in a statement issued earlier this week. “In addition, it eliminated parking at MetLife Stadium, putting the burden of transporting four times more matchday riders than typical for an event at the stadium on NJ TRANSIT.”
The Republican lawmakers said that scheduling legislative hearings with the Host Committee, particularly those involved in site selection and negotiations with FIFA, are critical to understanding the full scope of the agreement and ensuring accountability for taxpayer dollars.
With World Cup matches set to begin in New Jersey on June 13 and budget deliberations for fiscal year 2027 underway, lawmakers emphasized the urgency of holding hearings now.
"Time is of the essence," the lawmakers wrote. "Conducting these hearings now will allow the Legislature to fully understand the scope of the state's commitments and, if necessary, take appropriate action before costs escalate further."
The letter was signed by Senators Declan J. O'Scanlon Jr. (R-13), Carmen Amato Jr. (R-40), Douglas Steinhard (R-26), and Michael Testa (R-1); and Assembly members Brian Rumpf (R-9), Al Barlas (R-40), Michael Inganamort (R-24) and Gerry Scharfenberger (R-13).
