What Long Island commuters need to know as the World Cup kicks off locally

The World Cup is coming to the New York region, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is predicting a larger number of riders than usual at Penn Station and beyond. The first match of the eight to be held in the metro area is Saturday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The tournament runs through July 19, when MetLife will host the final.

The MTA says it is prepared to handle match-day travelers as well as ordinary commuters. Here are some questions and answers about what will change and what officials are promising won't.

"You will see more traffic and maybe some more delays and some frustration, but try to turn that into a sense of celebration," Gov. Kathy Hochul said last week. "Where else would you rather be than right here, right now?"

How will the typical LIRR train schedule be affected?

The Long Island Rail Road will run its standard schedule with no planned additional trains, according to the MTA. Increases to MTA staffing will help direct riders, according to a news release from Hochul’s office.

The MTA recommends LIRR riders consider traveling via Grand Central Madison and Atlantic Terminal instead of Penn Station for service.

What should I know about navigating the MTA on World Cup match days?

The MTA plans to run additional service on some subway lines on match days and for other major events, such as watch parties, during the World Cup. Extra service will be available on the 1, C and F trains before and after matches, according to the MTA. The C train will also run more frequently on weekend match days between 10 a.m. and 10:30 p.m., and there will be extra 7 train service from June 11 through June 27 to accommodate increased ridership.

How crowded will Penn Station be?

Penn Station will likely be more crowded than usual on match days, according to the MTA. NJ Transit officials are prepared to transport about 40,000 riders to and from MetLife on World Cup match days.

Should driving commuters expect gridlock?

The New York City Department of Transportation designated all eight match days as "Gridlock Alert Days" and will close some streets beginning six hours before matches and until three hours after they conclude. The agency recommends avoiding unnecessary driving and to walk, bike or take public transit whenever possible, especially in midtown Manhattan.

How do I use the LIRR to get to MetLife Stadium?

Ticket holders opting to take the railroad from Long Island must use both the LIRR and NJ Transit to get to MetLife Stadium. Riders must buy NJ Transit tickets to MetLife Stadium in advance using the NJ Transit mobile app. Riders can only purchase a NJ Transit ticket if they have a valid World Cup ticket, and NJ Transit service to the stadium will be limited to ticket holders on match days.

On match day, riders should take the LIRR to Penn Station. After arriving at Penn, riders will exit the station to a boarding zone outside on the street, where NJ Transit staff will check their tickets. Riders will then be given an NJ Transit match-day wristband, reenter Penn Station and take a train to Secaucus Junction. At Secaucus, they will transfer to a shuttle train or bus to MetLife Stadium.

NJ Transit will offer frequent train and bus services back to Secaucus Junction from MetLife after the match. Riders will need their wristbands to board. NJ Transit will post exact train times to and from the stadium closer to match day.

Where can I find up-to-date notifications about MTA service the day of?

The MTA provides a travel guide specifically for the World Cup on the agency website: www.mta.info/world-cup-2026-new-york-new-jersey. NJ Transit also offers more detailed information on its website about how to get to MetLife: njtworldcup.com/nynj/.

For real-time updates, the MTA recommends downloading the TrainTime app before boarding.