Philadelphia to offer free train travel to fans leaving World Cup matches

Philadelphia will offer free train travel to fans leaving World Cup matches this summer, the local organising committee has confirmed.

A partnership with World Cup sponsor AirBnB has allowed the committee to make the offer to fans, which will cover any journey on the B (Broad Street Line) train network from half-time until up to two hours after full-time of the matches from NRG Station, which sits close to the Lincoln Financial Field stadium at the end of the B line.

Spectators will also pay just 2.90 US Dollars (£2.14) for a journey to the stadium from any B line station after the local transport network confirmed last week there would be no price increases connected to the finals.

Transport costs at the tournament have been in the news in recent days after New Jersey confirmed spectators travelling from central New York to the MetLife Stadium would have to pay a 150 USD (£111) return fare.

The decision was criticised by fan groups and even by FIFA, who warned the move could have a “chilling effect” and cause transport issues around the stadium.

Philadelphia’s approach will be a welcome antidote to fans, with the city set to host matches featuring Brazil and France in the group stage and also a last-16 match on July 4, American Independence Day.

Josh Shapiro, the Governor of Pennyslvania, said: “I’m glad Airbnb is stepping up to provide free rides for fans so they can get home safely and affordably.

“I invite everyone to come see for yourself why Pennsylvania is truly the Great American Getaway.”

Kansas City and Dallas have also announced fan-friendly transport pricing for the tournament.

Kansas City, where England’s training camp will be based, will lay on free bus travel for fans from the airport close to the fan festival in the city centre, and daily, weekly and tournament passes for unlimited regional travel costing five, 25 and 50 USD respectively.

Ticket holders will also be able to use a Stadium Direct service, which connects four park and ride locations as well as the fan festival to the Arrowhead Stadium for 15 USD per person, the host city committee said.

Dallas organisers have confirmed spectators travelling to the AT&T Stadium – where England play their opener against Croatia on June 17 – from downtown Dallas will pay just six USD return to the Centreport station, with complimentary buses to be laid on to take supporters the rest of the way. Return fares from Fort Worth to Centreport will cost just four USD, organisers said.

New Jersey governor Mikie Sherrill said “FIFA should pay” for transport, a day before NJ Transit confirmed the 150 USD return fare from Penn Station in central New York to the MetLife Stadium.

The original hosting agreement signed by cities obliged them to provide free transport to fans, before the wording was later updated to say this could be provided “at cost”.

FIFA’s criticism of New Jersey’s approach comes after the governing body itself faced outrage over the pricing of match tickets and the decision to adopt a dynamic pricing strategy.