German national team funds free transport for 600 fans to World Cup group match in New Jersey

Background: a row over NJ Transit pricing

Captain Joshua Kimmich and his DFB colleagues will cover the bus costs for the fixture at East Rutherford, allowing 600 fans to attend the final group match at no charge. A round-trip bus ride had originally been priced at $80 but has since been reduced to $20, while a special World Cup ticket dropped from $150 to $98 for a round trip.

The regular price on the same route normally runs at about $12.90, according to official information. NJ Transit had raised fares for the World Cup period and only reduced them after heavy public criticism, but the revised prices remain significantly higher than before and after the tournament.

DFB sporting director Rudi Völler criticised FIFA's ticket-pricing policy from the German squad's base in Winston-Salem, citing the additional financial burden on supporters from flights and accommodation. "Ja, dieses Paket ist natürlich furchtbar teuer. Das ist natürlich schwierig nachzuvollziehen, wieso sie jetzt Gründe haben, solche Preise zu verlangen," Völler said, adding: "Da helfen wir mit dem DFB, dass wir das finanzieren."

How fans can apply for a free seat

To qualify for a free seat, supporters must be members of the Fan-Club Nationalmannschaft, the official fan organisation of the German national team. If more fans register than the 600 seats available, the remaining places will be allocated by lottery, the DFB said.

The 600-fan cap reflects the limited capacity of the buses being chartered for the occasion. Organisers said the lottery system is intended to keep the allocation fair and transparent, particularly given the strong demand expected for a high-profile group-stage fixture in the New York metropolitan area.

Völler criticises FIFA pricing

The match against Ecuador on June 25 in East Rutherford is Germany's final group game of the tournament. The gesture by the players comes amid broader scrutiny of how host cities and transport providers are pricing access to matches, with fans and federations alike questioning whether ordinary supporters can still afford to attend a World Cup in person.

Völler's remarks in Winston-Salem pointed to a wider pattern in which the total cost of attending matches — combining tickets, flights, hotels and local transport — has become a political talking point. By stepping in directly, the DFB players have set a precedent for how a national team can intervene when local infrastructure costs are seen as unreasonable.