NEW YORK June 13, 2026 — Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani celebrated with New Yorkers in the stands at MetLife Stadium on Saturday as the city kicked off its hosting of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with affordable access for local residents.
In a selfie posted to X from the upper bowl, Mamdani — wearing a colorful soccer jersey — grinned alongside a diverse crowd of fans in team colors, many flashing peace signs and thumbs-up. “1,000 New Yorkers won our lottery for affordable tickets to the World Cup,” he wrote. “Today, we celebrated in the stands for the first NY/NJ game of the tournament. The beautiful game belongs to everyone.”
The initiative, announced in May, offered 1,000 tickets at just $50 each — a fraction of typical World Cup prices — plus free round-trip bus transportation from New York City to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The seats, located in the upper bowl, cover selected group-stage and knockout matches exclusively for NYC residents via a public lottery.
Mamdani’s office partnered with the NY/NJ Host Committee to secure the discounted allocation amid broader concerns over high ticket costs for the global tournament. “We don’t want sports to become a luxury commodity,” the mayor said at the time of the announcement.
Winners were notified in recent days, with many attending Saturday’s early match featuring teams like Morocco and Brazil. The program drew strong interest, with registration limited to verified NYC residents.
The move has drawn praise for promoting accessibility and community inclusion during the city’s World Cup spotlight, though some critics questioned the scale relative to the event’s overall costs and other city priorities.
MetLife Stadium is scheduled to host multiple high-profile games, including the tournament final, as part of the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
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