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✈️ Airport Guide

Three major airports — Newark (EWR), JFK and LaGuardia (LGA). Newark is closest to MetLife Stadium and the simplest match-day route. Here's how to arrive, navigate, and reach Manhattan or East Rutherford.

EWR — closest to MetLife JFK LGA

Step by Step

Arriving at Newark (EWR)

Newark Liberty International (EWR) is the closest major airport to MetLife Stadium — only about 13 miles away — and bypasses Manhattan entirely on the way to East Rutherford. Most international visitors will land at EWR or JFK; EWR is the simpler option for World Cup matches.

01
Land & Clear Immigration
International arrivals clear US Customs and Border Protection upon arrival at EWR. Have your passport, customs declaration, and onward travel info ready. The Mobile Passport Control app or Global Entry kiosk speeds up clearance — Global Entry is dramatically faster if you're enrolled.
→ Mobile Passport Control is free and almost as fast as Global Entry — download before you land.
02
Collect Baggage
Baggage carousels are at the lower level of each terminal. EWR baggage claim typically takes 25–45 minutes after landing. Most international flights arrive at Terminal B (international) or Terminal C (United's hub).
→ Oversized baggage is collected at a separate claim area — ask staff if you don't see it.
03
Take the AirTrain Newark
EWR's AirTrain monorail connects all terminals with the Newark Liberty rail station, where you transfer to NJ Transit or Amtrak. The AirTrain itself is free between terminals; the AirTrain + NJ Transit combo to Penn Station Newark or NYC is the cheapest path into the city.
→ Buy a combined AirTrain + NJ Transit ticket at the station vending machine.
04
Match-Day Path: AirTrain → Newark Penn → Secaucus → Meadowlands
For MetLife Stadium directly: AirTrain to Newark Liberty rail, NJ Transit to Newark Penn Station, transfer to NJ Transit Northeast Corridor toward Secaucus Junction, then transfer to the Meadowlands Rail Line to MetLife. ~25 min from terminal to Meadowlands Station — the fastest airport-to-stadium path in the entire NY/NJ region.
→ For the FINAL on July 19, the FIFA round-trip rail pass (~$150, ticket-holder only) guarantees a seat both ways.
05
Get Connected
International visitors should activate a US eSIM or international roaming before leaving the airport. T-Mobile and AT&T kiosks sell prepaid SIMs in-terminal. Airalo offers global eSIM plans you can buy and activate before you land — works on most modern phones.
→ You'll need US data for Uber, Google Maps, FIFA app, and NJ Transit's mobile ticket app.

Getting from EWR to NYC / MetLife

AirTrain + NJ Transit (best for MetLife)
~$13
~25 min to Meadowlands Station
AirTrain Newark to Newark Liberty rail station, then NJ Transit through Secaucus to Meadowlands. The fastest and cheapest match-day path from any NYC airport.
AirTrain + NJ Transit (to Manhattan)
~$16
~30 min to Penn Station NYC
AirTrain Newark + NJ Transit Northeast Corridor or North Jersey Coast Line into NYC Penn Station. Standard combined fare.
Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)
$60–90
25–60 min to Manhattan
Uber and Lyft pickup is in the designated TNC zone at each terminal. Surge pricing extreme on match days. Time varies dramatically with Lincoln Tunnel traffic.
Rental Car
$50–110/day
25–60 min
Rental car center is shuttled from each terminal. Useful for day trips to Hudson Valley, the Hamptons, Atlantic City, or Newport. Less useful for daily NYC navigation due to traffic and parking costs.

EWR Terminal Guide

Navigating Newark Liberty

Domestic / International
Terminal A
Recently renovated (2022). American, Delta, JetBlue, Alaska, Air Canada. Modern dining and shopping. Some international, primarily Canada.
International ★
Terminal B
Most international flights from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and South America. Lufthansa, British Airways, Singapore, El Al, Air India, and many others. Most World Cup visitors from overseas will arrive here.
United Hub · International + Domestic
Terminal C
United Airlines's main hub — domestic and international (Star Alliance partners). The largest of the three terminals. Modern Polaris lounges and dining.

All terminals are connected by AirTrain Newark (free between terminals) and a separate AirTrain extension to the rail station. Terminal-to-terminal transit takes ~5–10 min including walking.

JFK & LaGuardia

The Other NYC Airports

If you're flying domestic or your fare is significantly cheaper into JFK or LGA, here's what to expect. Both are slower to MetLife than EWR.

John F. Kennedy (JFK) · Queens
~32 mi from MetLife
NYC's primary international gateway. 6 active terminals (1, 4, 5, 7, 8 + new T1/T6 under construction). AirTrain JFK ($8.50) connects to Howard Beach (A train) or Jamaica (LIRR + E train). Yellow cabs to Manhattan are flat-rate $70 + tolls + tip; rideshare $70–120; LIRR $11–14 to Penn Station in 35 min via Jamaica. To MetLife: AirTrain → Jamaica → LIRR → Penn → NJ Transit → Secaucus → Meadowlands. Plan ~75–90 min.
LaGuardia (LGA) · Queens
~21 mi from MetLife
Recently rebuilt (2018-2022). Mostly domestic — Southwest, JetBlue, Delta, American. No direct rail; the LaGuardia Link Q70 bus runs free to the 74 St-Broadway subway station, where you transfer to the 7 train or E/F/M/R. Rideshare $40–60 to Manhattan, ~25 min off-peak. Often the cheapest domestic option but slowest transit.

Essential Airport Tips

⚠Download the FIFA app before arriving — you'll need it for digital match tickets. Do this on home Wi-Fi, not airport data.
⚠Download Uber, Lyft, NJ Transit and MTA apps before you land. US phone numbers are required for some account setup — use a US eSIM or your home carrier roaming.
⚠Newark Liberty is the closest airport to MetLife Stadium by a wide margin. If you have flexibility on your flight, fly into EWR.
⚠JFK has the most international flights but adds 30–40 minutes to your match-day travel time. Acceptable if you're staying in NYC for non-match days.
⚠Match day surge: airport-to-MetLife rideshare can spike to $100+ on big match days. Always favor rail (AirTrain/LIRR + NJ Transit) for match-day arrivals.

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