As the World Cup match between France and Senegal approaches on Tuesday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, concerns are mounting over potential transportation challenges for tens of thousands of attendees. Despite official reassurances, up to 50,000 tickets for NJ Transit trains remain unsold, raising questions about how a substantial portion of the approximately 80,000 expected fans will travel to the venue.

With the game set to kick off at 3 p.m., transportation options beyond the trains appear limited. NJ Transit requires fans to purchase a two-way train ticket priced at $98, a cost some find prohibitive. New York state had arranged bus services at $10 each way, but the 12,000 available bus spots have been sold out. Additional alternatives include ride-sharing services, which have reportedly struggled to meet demand, and personal vehicle use, with an estimated 3,500 parking spaces available on-site.

The situation has drawn scrutiny following last weekend’s match at the same venue, where thousands of spectators experienced extended delays leaving the stadium. Despite this, New York City Mayor Mamdani and his designated "World Cup czar" have sought to downplay worries about Tuesday’s transportation, emphasizing their confidence that fans will purchase transit tickets closer to game time. Mamdani highlighted that a significant number of fans bought their train and bus tickets just before the previous match, encouraging similar behavior in advance of the upcoming game.

Officials have been promoting mass transit through routine communications, including the mayor’s online "Morning Pitch" briefings, which provide updates on weather and traffic conditions. However, a city official privately criticized Maya Handa, Mamdani’s World Cup coordinator and former campaign manager, suggesting she also minimized concerns over the weekend.

Transportation providers have echoed the challenges on the ground. An Uber spokesperson acknowledged the company’s inability to keep pace with demand during Saturday’s match, urging fans to use bus or train services. Uber reported moving roughly 6,500 fans that day, while NJ Transit stated they transported more than 21,500 passengers via bus and train combined.

City Hall has indicated that multiple strategies are being deployed to encourage the use of public transit for the seven remaining matches at MetLife Stadium. Nonetheless, the gap between available mass transit capacity and the expected crowd size remains a pressing concern as the tournament continues.