NJ Transit police rescue mother and son who missed World Cup train to MetLife Stadium

During the FIFA World Cup 2026, a mother and her young son arrived at Penn Station in New York just as the last train to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford closed, leaving them unable to reach the Brazil‑Morocco match. A deputy chief of the NJ Transit Police Department ordered the Emergency Services Unit to intervene. Officers dispatched a tactical light truck, navigating heavy traffic to escort the pair directly to the stadium gates, arriving moments before kickoff.

NJ Transit highlighted the incident as a "good‑news" story on social media, but the post drew widespread mockery and criticism. Fans reported severe gridlock after the match, with thousands stranded for hours and many expressing frustration on X. NJ Transit also claimed it moved over 21,500 fans from the venue in 90 minutes and faced scrutiny over a $98 round‑trip ticket price to the Meadowlands. The rescue sparked debate over the use of public resources for individual incidents amid broader transport challenges during the tournament.