Thousands of soccer fans experienced significant travel disruptions at MetLife Stadium over the weekend following the Brazil-Morocco World Cup match, leading to widespread frustration and scrutiny of New Jersey’s transportation arrangements. The match, which ended in a 1-1 draw on Saturday, saw fans trapped in heavy traffic and long waits that extended well past midnight.

NJ Transit sought to highlight a positive moment amid the chaos by sharing an incident in which a police response unit transported a mother and her son, who had missed the last train to the stadium, to the event. According to NJ Transit’s social media post on Saturday, the Deputy Chief authorized the Emergency Service Unit (ESU) to use a light truck to ferry the pair, allowing them to attend the match. The agency described the mother’s emotional reaction upon arrival as a “good news story.” However, this characterization was met with skepticism and criticism from the public, with some questioning the appropriateness of framing the situation as a positive outcome amid the travel difficulties.

Outside the train stations, roads around the stadium and nearby Meadowlands racetrack were heavily congested for hours following the match’s conclusion. Fans using ride-hail services reported delays exceeding three hours, and many expressed high levels of frustration. Brazil supporter Gerardo Alfaro described his experience as extremely disappointing, rating his frustration as a “10” on a scale of 1 to 10.

Sources attributed the congestion partly to an influx of visitors driving and parking near the American Dream theme park, which borders the stadium and was temporarily renamed the New York New Jersey Stadium for the tournament. Parking fees reportedly reached as high as $225, further complicating access for many attendees.

While train services ran with reduced passenger loads, shuttles managed by the NY-NJ Host Committee succeeded in clearing bus passengers within three hours after the game. However, the overall transport situation was regarded by some insiders as poorly managed. One source alleged that Governor Mikie Sherrill’s refusal to reduce the $98 round-trip train ticket price contributed to the problem by discouraging train use and resulting in a greater reliance on personal vehicles. The source also criticized the governor for prioritizing the FIFA Host Committee’s demand to alter stadium signage over measures to address ticket pricing. Neither Sherrill’s office nor NJ Transit responded to requests for comment.

The governor had previously urged visitors to use train services to avoid traffic but faced challenges as cost concerns and limited capacity reportedly led many fans to seek alternative transportation. The disruptions at MetLife Stadium highlighted ongoing logistical issues ahead of future matches during the tournament.