New York City is rolling out a new, budget-friendly way for local residents to experience the 2026 FIFA World Cup — and it’s already getting attention.
Announced on Thursday, the plan comes from Zohran Mamdani as part of a relief effort to make World Cup games more affordable for NYC residents across the five boroughs. The idea is simple: give locals a real chance to attend matches without getting priced out.
Big highlight: $50 tickets with travel included
Each $50 ticket isn’t just a seat — it also comes with:
- 🚍 Round-trip bus transportation to and from the stadium
- 🎟 Entry to select World Cup matches in the NYC area
A total of 1,000 tickets will be available for games held at MetLife Stadium.
Which matches are included?
Residents can win access to seven total games, including:
- 5 group-stage matches
- 1 Round of 32 match
- 1 Round of 16 match
(Final match not included)
How the ticket lottery works
This isn’t a first-come, first-served deal. Instead, tickets will be distributed randomly through a lottery system for each game.
Key details:
- Registration opens May 25 at 10 a.m. ET
- Registration closes May 30 at 5 p.m. ET
- Up to 50,000 entries allowed per day
- Winners can purchase a maximum of 2 tickets
- Tickets are non-transferable
- Tickets will be issued on the day of the match
Games included in the program
Here’s the lineup of eligible matches:
- Brazil vs Morocco — June 13
- France vs Senegal — June 16
- Norway vs Senegal — June 22
- Ecuador vs Germany — June 25
- Panama vs England — June 27
- Round of 32 match — June 30
- Round of 16 match — July 5
Why this program stands out
Officials say this is the first time a host city has created special discounted access for its own residents during a World Cup.
The goal is to make sure real fans — not just resellers or profit-driven buyers — actually fill the stands.
At a campaign stop in September, Mamdani highlighted the issue directly, saying many passionate fans often get left out while tickets are snapped up by people looking to resell them.
He also pointed out that crowd energy depends on who’s in the stadium — and this plan aims to bring in more local supporters who truly want to be there.
In short, NYC’s new lottery system is designed to keep the World Cup experience affordable, local, and fan-focused — while giving residents a rare shot at seeing some of the biggest matches in the tournament up close.
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