New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced a new lottery program offering 1,000 FIFA World Cup match tickets for just $50 to residents of the city’s five boroughs ahead of the 2026 tournament.
The initiative was launched in partnership with the New Jersey Host Committee and aims to give working-class New Yorkers access to one of the world’s biggest sporting events.
In addition to the discounted tickets, the city will also provide transportation to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey for lottery winners on match days.
Speaking during a press conference in Manhattan’s Little Senegal neighborhood, Mamdani said the city wanted to make sure local residents were included in the global football celebration.
“We sat down with the Host Committee to make certain this tournament belongs to the people who make this city what it is,” the mayor said.
He added that the goal was to ensure working-class New Yorkers had a chance to experience the FIFA World Cup in person.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
How to apply for the $50 World Cup tickets
Here’s what New York City residents need to know about the lottery system:
- Applicants must live in one of New York City’s five boroughs
- Participants must be at least 15 years old
- The lottery opens on May 25 at 10:00 a.m.
- Entries close on May 30 at 12:00 a.m.
- Winners will be notified by June 3
- Transportation to MetLife Stadium will be provided on match days
- Tickets must be collected in person at the designated bus boarding location
The affordable ticket program comes amid growing criticism from football fans over the soaring cost of FIFA World Cup tickets and hospitality packages.
Some premium resale and hospitality packages for the World Cup final had reportedly reached extremely high prices online, sparking backlash among supporters hoping to attend matches in the United States.
The New York City initiative is being viewed as an effort to make the tournament more accessible to ordinary fans.