New Jersey lawmakers are raising serious concerns after learning that a special World Cup ticket lottery is only available to New York City residents — even though New Jersey helped fund the event in a major way.
All eight FIFA World Cup matches, including the championship game, will take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. FIFA even renamed the venue “New York New Jersey Stadium” for the tournament. The stadium sits just outside New York City, near the New Jersey Turnpike and the Hackensack River.
But here’s what has state leaders frustrated:
- New Jersey invested around $300 million to help host the World Cup matches
- The state also added another $50 million directly to the NYNJ Host Committee
- Meanwhile, a newly announced ticket lottery is only for New York City residents
The lottery, announced on Thursday by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, offers 1,000 World Cup tickets plus free roundtrip bus rides for just $50 each. The city said the program was created in partnership with the NYNJ Host Committee.
That announcement quickly sparked backlash from several New Jersey Republican lawmakers.
Members of the New Jersey Assembly Budget Committee sent a formal letter to Host Committee Chair Tammy Murphy and CEO Alex Lasry demanding answers about how taxpayer money is being spent.
The lawmakers are asking for:
- A full breakdown of spending tied to the $50 million contribution
- Details about any agreement connected to the ticket purchases
- Information on how the tickets became a “gift” for New York City residents
They requested responses by June 6.
In the city’s announcement, Lasry said organizers worked from the start to create a program focused on affordability and access for New Yorkers. That comment only added to concerns from New Jersey officials who believe their residents are being overlooked despite the state’s huge financial role.
Assemblymen Brian Rumpf, Gerry Scharfenberger, Al Barlas, and Michael Inganamort said they can no longer confidently say New Jersey taxpayers are being properly represented or protected.
The lawmakers also stressed that the host committee has a responsibility to the state that helped fund the event — especially with the World Cup final and every match being played on New Jersey soil.
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