Germany players to fund travel for 600 fans

Germany's players covered the costs for 600 fans to travel by bus to their final World Cup group game against Ecuador in New Jersey. This initiative came amid criticism over the high transportation costs associated with the tournament.

Train tickets from central New York to MetLife Stadium, where the game was held on 25 June, initially surged from a normal price of $12.90 (£9.50) to $150, before being reduced to $98. Similarly, shuttle bus fares, which began at $80, were eventually lowered to $20. New Jersey's governor attributed these inflated prices to FIFA's refusal to subsidize transportation expenses.

In response to the situation, the German national team players organized free transport for 600 supporters to the group match against Ecuador, as stated by the German Football Association. Team captain Joshua Kimmich and his teammates took the initiative to fund the buses transporting fans from New York to the stadium.

Historically, fans had access to free transportation at the World Cups in Russia and Qatar. The host agreement for the 2018 World Cup in the US included a commitment to provide similar benefits, but a revision in 2023 led to the decision that supporters would now incur costs for transportation.