German Team Lends a Helping Hand to Fans for World Cup Match
The German national football team is showing its support for fans by covering the travel costs for 600 supporters to their final group match against Ecuador in New Jersey. Players like Joshua Kimmich decided to step in after hearing about the rising transportation prices during the tournament.
Train tickets from central New York to MetLife Stadium were originally around $12.90 but soared to $150 during the tournament, later settling at $98. Shuttle bus fares were initially set at $80 before being reduced to $20. New Jersey’s governor pointed out that these high costs come from FIFA’s choice not to offer travel subsidies for fans.
The German Football Association announced that the players would take care of the travel expenses for these 600 fans. “In light of the high cost of bus and train travel during the World Cup, the German national team players have organized free transport for the final group match,” they stated.
In past World Cups held in Russia and Qatar, fans enjoyed free public transport to and from match venues. The United States had also promised similar benefits for this tournament but later decided to drop the free travel option, leaving fans to shoulder transportation costs themselves.
Germany will kick off their World Cup campaign against Curacao on June 14.
