New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on April 17 that the city will set aside 1,000 tickets for the 2026 World Cup at just $50 each for city residents. These tickets cover seven of the eight matches at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, excluding the July 19 final, which has massive demand and prices approaching $33,000.
Speaking at a bar in Harlem's Little Senegal neighborhood, Mamdani quipped: 'To put it in perspective, $50 is about five lattes in New York.' He was joined by U.S. national team star Timothy Weah.
Tickets will be distributed through a lottery starting May 25, with complimentary round-trip bus transfers from the city to the stadium. The mayor said tickets are non-transferable, and the city will verify residency of winners through multiple methods, issuing tickets only directly to fans as they board the bus on game day.
The program uses tickets allocated to the joint New York–New Jersey bid committee from FIFA, not tickets directly from the world soccer body. FIFA had earlier released some $60 tickets per match after a backlash, but those were distributed to national federations, which decided how to allocate them to loyal fans.
Mamdani, a Democrat who took office in January, said the effort ensures working people are not excluded from a tournament they helped build. During his campaign, he called on FIFA to reserve 15% of tickets at discounted rates for New Yorkers.
MetLife Stadium, home to the NFL's New York Giants and Jets, will host five group-stage matches and two knockout games. Group-stage action begins June 13, featuring top names like Brazil, France, Germany, and England.
