$10 parking and plenty of tailgating. Here’s what the World Cup looked like when it came to N.J. 32 years ago
Before MetLife Stadium: A Look Back at How New Jersey Hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup
Long before MetLife Stadium became the center of global soccer attention for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, New Jersey welcomed the world’s biggest football tournament at Giants Stadium in 1994. While today’s fans have access to multiple transportation choices and modern travel services, the experience for supporters attending World Cup matches more than three decades ago was much simpler.
As excitement continues to build around the return of the FIFA World Cup to New Jersey, looking back at the tournament held in 1994 shows just how much the fan experience has changed over the years.
At the time, several of the transportation options that thousands of fans now rely on did not exist. The Meadowlands rail station had not yet been built, and Secaucus Junction was also unavailable. MetLife Stadium itself had not been constructed, with Giants Stadium serving as New Jersey’s host venue for the tournament.
Fans attending matches primarily had two choices. They could drive directly to Giants Stadium or use designated park-and-ride bus services operating from locations in Kearny, Ridgefield, and New York City’s Port Authority Bus Terminal.
Those using the park-and-ride service paid five dollars for parking and an additional six dollars and fifty cents per person for a round-trip bus ticket to the stadium. Fans who chose to drive directly to Giants Stadium paid ten dollars per vehicle for parking. The parking fee was twice the standard five-dollar rate normally charged during football games and concerts at the venue.
Unlike many major sporting events today, tailgating was permitted at Giants Stadium during the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Supporters were able to gather in the parking areas before kickoff, creating a festive atmosphere that added to the tournament experience.
New Jersey hosted a total of seven FIFA World Cup matches at Giants Stadium during the 1994 tournament. The venue’s final match was the semifinal played on July 13 between Italy and Bulgaria.
Italy secured a 2-1 victory to advance to the championship match. However, the team was unable to lift the trophy after losing the FIFA World Cup Final to Brazil in a penalty shootout at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on July 17.
The return of the FIFA World Cup to New Jersey in 2026 highlights how much sports infrastructure and transportation have evolved over the past 32 years. Modern fans can now choose from rail connections, shuttle services, rideshare options, and additional parking facilities, making travel to the stadium significantly more flexible than it was during the 1994 tournament.
Even with those changes, the memories of New Jersey’s first FIFA World Cup remain an important chapter in the state’s sporting history. From tailgating outside Giants Stadium to affordable parking and simple bus routes, the 1994 event reflected a different era of major sporting events while laying the foundation for New Jersey’s role in hosting another historic World Cup decades later.
Sources
- NJ.com – “$10 parking and plenty of tailgating. Here’s what the World Cup looked like when it came to N.J. 32 years ago.”
- FIFA (Official) – FIFA World Cup historical tournament records.
