Some U.S. states still don't know if the World Cup will benefit them financially—just look at New Jersey

Millions of soccer fans celebrated the 2026 World Cup kicking off on Thursday, a first step toward the tournament's eventual final match on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. But the state hosting the final is still squaring off with FIFA, soccer's global governing body, over ticket prices and the massive transportation costs associated with the highly-anticipated tournament. The World Cup is expected to generate significant income for New Jersey and its businesses by drawing millions of tourists to the area. But state officials are balking at the mounting costs of hosting the tournament — costs that could ultimately be passed onto taxpayers and which are already making it more expensive for fans to travel to matches. The state isn't alone: Some other hosts, including Massachusetts and California, have experienced similar uncertainties in recent weeks and months. In short, some U.S. states still don't know if they'll benefit financially from hosting World Cup games. "Our administration inherited an agreement where FIFA is providing $0 for transportation to the World Cup. Zero," New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill said in a statement provided to CNBC. "At the same time, FIFA is making $11 billion off of this World Cup and charging fans up to $10,000 for a single ticket for the final." FIFA did not immediately respond to CNBC Make It's request for comment. DON'T MISS: The communication skill that can help you accelerate your career growth New Jersey anticipates needing to spend $48 million on its transit system, NJ Transit — including expanded rail services, shuttles, traffic management and public messaging efforts to manage the huge upticks in ridership, Sherrill's office announced in April. Heightened security will severely limit parking at matches played in suburban stadiums, where many fans typically drive and park for major events. The governor says she asked FIFA to help offset the costs of transporting as many as 40,000 fans per match, to no avail. "They have to have more train conductors [and] a lot more security because it's an international event," says Danielle Zanzalari, an assistant professor of economics at Seton Hall University. "They're fixing potholes on the road. They're putting up barriers and construction for traffic. All of those [measures] cost money." Some of the money will be paid by NJ Transit riders, incurring backlash from some locals. After initially announcing in April that round-trip NJ Transit tickets to MetLife Stadium would cost fans $150 apiece — almost 12 times the normal price — the state later backtracked, lowering the fare to $98 and making up the difference with added advertising revenue, NJ Transit said in May. The higher-than-usual NJ Transit fares add to the already-exorbitant prices for tickets to the World Cup games themselves, with some tickets to the final being advertised for more than $30,000 apiece on resale platforms. Will New Jersey's investments pay off? With eight matches scheduled to be played at MetLife Stadium, including the final, the World Cup is projected to attract more than one million visitors to both New Jersey and nearby New York. That influx is forecasted to generate $3.3 billion for the local economy and support more than 26,000 jobs, according to an economic impact summary published in July 2025 by the states' host committee. Some experts call the committee's forecasts for the World Cup's estimated financial return overly optimistic. Zanzalari calls them "very much overstated," noting that such forecasts are typically inflated by groups looking to win competitive bidding processes to host major events. When New Jersey and other states hosted matches during the 1994 World Cup, the host cities underperformed economic forecasts for that tournament by an average of $712 million, according to a study published by economists Robert Baade and Victor Matheson in 2007. In April, 80% of U.S. hotels saw reservations around the World Cup falling short of forecasts, according to a report from the American Hotel & Lodging Association, feeding concerns that this year's tournament could also come up short of economic expectations. New Jersey has invested millions of dollars preparing to host the World Cup, including providing the local World Cup Host Committee with $35 million to support local infrastructure and community initiatives, according to Sherrill's office. The state has also budgeted $120 million for other related costs, including construction and security costs, such as building a pedestrian bridge for fans near MetLife Stadium. New Jersey currently faces a structural budgetary deficit of $1.5 billion, driven largely by the loss of federal Medicaid funding and the impending expiration of Covid-19 pandemic aid. Contract and funding agreements around the World Cup were approved by the administration of the previous governor, Phil Murphy. Now, Sherrill faces her first budget cycle as governor while reassuring constituents that the tournament won't be a drain on taxpayers. Some economists aren't sold on the World Cup being an overall boon to the state and its taxpayers. "New Jersey's investment into the World Cup is not going to pay off. Fans might have a great time, but taxpayers are not going to see a positive net return," says Zanzalari. However, despite some state officials' complaints, Sherrill's office expresses confidence that the high-profile event will ultimately be a winner for New Jersey. "Since taking office, Governor Sherrill has ... worked to ensure the cost of transporting fans does not fall on the backs of New Jersey taxpayers and commuters, while also investing in initiatives that bring the economic and cultural benefits of the World Cup to communities across our state," a spokesperson for Sherrill's office says. Want to get ahead at work? Then you need to learn how to make effective small talk. In CNBC's new online course, How To Talk To People At Work, expert instructors share practical strategies to help you use everyday conversations to gain visibility, build meaningful relationships and accelerate your career growth. Sign up today!