New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is set to announce a new initiative offering 1,000 World Cup tickets at $50 each to residents of the five boroughs, as part of a random lottery system. The tickets cover all matches at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium except the final, and include bus transportation to and from the venue.
Ticket Details and Allocation
The program will distribute approximately 150 tickets per game for seven matches, including five group games, a Round of 32 match on June 30, and a Round of 16 match on July 5. The eligible group games are: Brazil vs Morocco (June 13), France vs Senegal (June 16), Norway vs Senegal (June 22), Ecuador vs Germany (June 25), and Panama vs England (June 27). All tickets will be located in the upper bowl of the 82,000-capacity MetLife Stadium.
Lottery System and Eligibility
The lottery opens on May 25 at 10 a.m. ET and closes on May 30 at 5 p.m. ET, with a maximum of 50,000 entries allowed per day. Winners can purchase up to two tickets each. The initiative is a collaboration between the mayor's office and the NY/NJ World Cup host committee, not FIFA, which has faced criticism for dynamic pricing.
Addressing Ticket Affordability
Ticket pricing has been a major issue leading up to the 2026 World Cup. New Jersey Transit initially announced a round-trip train fare of $150 from Penn Station to MetLife Stadium, later reduced to $105. Bus fares are expected to be $80 per ticket. FIFA had previously released limited $60 tickets, but dynamic pricing has driven most costs into the hundreds.
Mayor Mamdani, a vocal soccer fan who made affordability a key campaign issue, has criticized FIFA for prioritizing revenue over accessibility. "There's just no chance for so many who love this game so much to actually be able to go and see this," he said at a campaign stop in September. "This also has a real impact on the potential for the atmosphere of the World Cup and just how many fans will actually be there."
Community Engagement
Mamdani will unveil the plan on Thursday in the Little Senegal neighborhood of Harlem, accompanied by community leaders. This marks the first time a host city has provided special ticket access to its residents for the 2026 World Cup, echoing Qatar's approach for the 2022 tournament.
