New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced that 1,000 World Cup tickets will be made available for just $50 each to New Yorkers. The announcement, made on Thursday, aims to make the global football event accessible to local residents.
Lottery Details and Eligibility
The tickets will be distributed via a lottery system, opening on May 25 at 10 a.m. ET and running for six days. Up to 50,000 people can enter each drawing, with winners randomly selected and notified by email on June 3. Each person may enter once per day. Winners have 48 hours to purchase up to two tickets, which are non-transferable.
To ensure tickets go to genuine New Yorkers, buyers may be required to verify their identity and residency using official IDs, pay stubs, rental or mortgage agreements, or recent utility bills. Tickets must be picked up in person on match day before boarding a free round-trip bus to MetLife Stadium.
Mayor's Statement
In his announcement, Mamdani said: "1,000 World Cup tickets. $50 each. All for New Yorkers. We fought hard to make the people's game available to the people — and won. Let the summer of soccer begin."
The initiative is part of the city's efforts to ensure that the World Cup, which is set to be hosted across the United States, remains accessible to local communities rather than being dominated by corporate interests or tourists.
