New Jersey is hosting eight FIFA World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium in 2026, including the tournament final on July 19. Now lawmakers are scrambling to figure out who picks up the bill. Senate Bill 4111, introduced by Sen. Paul Sarlo on May 4, alongside companion bill A 4838 in the Assembly, proposes a package of temporary surcharges between June 12 and July 20 — with the most contentious being a 10% surcharge on online sports betting revenue tied to World Cup matches.
The betting surcharge would apply to Atlantic City casinos, online sportsbooks and horse racing permit holders offering online wagering. Prop bets on individual player performance statistics would also be covered under the broadly written legislation.
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A raft of additional charges
Beyond the betting surcharge, the bills propose a 2.5% hotel occupancy surcharge, a 3% sales surcharge on retail purchases, food, alcohol and amusement admissions within the Meadowlands district, and a $0.50 charge on rideshare trips involving the area. New Jersey residents would be able to claim a 2026 state income tax credit for the surcharges they paid — though sportsbooks would receive no comparable relief on the betting levy.
Bipartisan backlash
The proposal has drawn criticism from both sides of the aisle. Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips pointed out that Governor Mikie Sherrill had previously pledged not to raise the sales tax. Rep. Josh Gottheimer urged the governor and legislative leaders to reconsider, while Assemblyman Al Barlas argued that businesses had already planned around the tournament under very different financial expectations. “Changing the rules of the game after the fact is wrong,” Barlas said.
Transit costs add fuel to the fire
The broader cost debate has been further inflamed by reports that NJ Transit plans to charge $150 for a round-trip train ticket from Manhattan’s Penn Station to MetLife Stadium during tournament days — more than ten times the standard $12.90 fare. Shuttle bus tickets are expected to cost $80.
Sherrill has blamed FIFA for failing to contribute any transportation funding, claiming her administration inherited an agreement under which FIFA would contribute nothing toward transit costs — leaving the state facing a $48 million bill to move roughly 40,000 fans per game. FIFA has pushed back, saying host cities were always aware that transportation would be provided at cost.
The bigger picture: who profits from the World Cup?
New Jersey’s difficulties reflect a wider tension surrounding the 2026 tournament. According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, host cities will collectively lose millions in tax revenue through FIFA-related exemptions while bearing substantial public costs. U.S. taxpayers could be on the hook for roughly $625 million in World Cup-related expenses — while FIFA itself is expected to earn approximately $11 billion from the tournament, retaining most game-day revenue including ticket sales, concessions and parking.
What it means for bettors
For sports bettors in New Jersey, the proposed surcharge is a reminder that the regulatory and fiscal environment around online wagering is in constant flux. Whether placing World Cup bets on a sportsbook or playing at trusted online casinos, players are best served by platforms that operate transparently within the regulatory framework — trusted online casinos and licensed sportsbooks that clearly communicate any changes to fees, terms or conditions, and that maintain their commitment to fair treatment of players regardless of what the legislative landscape looks like.
