German national team players are stepping in to ease the financial burden on their fans, offering to cover transport costs for 600 supporters traveling to their final Group E World Cup match against Ecuador in New Jersey on June 25.
This generous gesture comes amid widespread frustration over significantly increased rail and bus fares from New York to the MetLife Stadium.
City authorities hiked fares several times over regular rates, citing increased pressure on public transit, sparking backlash from fans already paying high ticket prices.
The German Football Association confirmed the initiative, with the BBC quoting them as saying: “In light of the high cost of bus and train travel in New York during the World Cup, the German national team players have organised free transport to the final group match for 600 fans.
“Captain Joshua Kimmich and his teammates are covering the cost of buses to take supporters from New York to the arena in New Jersey for the match against Ecuador.”
A round trip to the stadium by train, which usually costs $12.90, has been set at $98 during World Cup games, down from the originally proposed $150 fare after NJ Transit faced heavy criticism.
Shuttle buses will cost $20, down from the initial $80 price tag.
This contrasts sharply with free transport at the last two World Cups in Russia and Qatar. Reuters could not immediately confirm the statement regarding the players’ funding.
Germany are due to get their World Cup campaign underway when they face the tournament’s smallest nation, Curacao, on Saturday.
They will then take on Ivory Coast a week later, prior to their match against Ecuador in New Jersey.
Germany have won the World Cup on four occasions, with their latest triumph coming in 2014, but they have failed to make it beyond the group stage at the last two World Cups.
