New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced a new initiative offering 1,000 tickets for the 2026 World Cup to city residents at $50 (£40) each. The tickets, distributed via a random draw, cover seven matches at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, excluding the final. Each winner can purchase up to two tickets, which are non-transferable and include bus transport to and from the venue.
The eligible games include five group matches—Brazil v Morocco (13 June), France v Senegal (16 June), Norway v Senegal (22 June), Ecuador v Germany (25 June), and Panama v England (27 June)—plus a Round of 32 game on 30 June and a Round of 16 game on 5 July. Tickets are located in the upper bowl of the 82,000-capacity stadium.
Mamdani unveiled the plan in Harlem, joined by US men's national team players Tim Weah and Mark McKenzie, both New York natives. The lottery opens on 25 May at 10am ET and closes on 30 May at 5pm ET, with a maximum of 50,000 entries per day. This marks the first time a 2026 host city has provided special ticket access for its residents, echoing Qatar's discounted tickets for locals in 2022.
The initiative is a collaboration between the mayor's office and the NY/NJ World Cup host committee, not FIFA, which has faced criticism over dynamic pricing. Ticket prices have been a contentious issue, with New Jersey Transit initially charging $150 for a round-trip train to MetLife Stadium, later reduced to $105. Buses are expected to cost $80 per ticket. FIFA previously released limited $60 tickets, but dynamic pricing has pushed most prices into the hundreds.
Mamdani, a vocal soccer fan who prioritised affordability in his campaign, criticised FIFA for prioritising revenue over accessibility. "There's just no chance for so many who love this game to actually be able to go and see it," he said last year, warning that high prices could harm the tournament's atmosphere by excluding genuine fans.
