ไทย
English
中國人
Most tickets for the 2026 World Cup carry price tags in the hundreds or even thousands of dollars on the primary market, but New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani has made attending more accessible for some residents by securing $50 tickets exclusively for New Yorkers.
A total of one thousand tickets priced at $50 will be made available for seven of the eight matches held at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, commonly referred to as MetLife Stadium. The eligible matches include five group stage fixtures, a round of 32 game and a round of 16 match, with the sole exclusion being the July 19 World Cup final at the same venue.
The tickets will be allocated through a random ballot system open to New York City residents, and those selected will also receive free bus transportation to and from the matches. These are set to be the most affordable tickets available for the World Cup, undercutting even FIFA's supporter tier pricing of $60, which accounts for 1.6% of seats per game — approximately 1,000 tickets per match across 104 games and 16 venues throughout North America.
"There are countless New Yorkers desperate to attend a World Cup match, but who simply cannot afford to go," Mamdani said Thursday. "We are making sure that working people will not be priced out of the game that they helped to create."
World Cup Previews
All 48 Teams
Bespoke Illustrations
According to reports from The Athletic, Mamdani presented his proposal to FIFA president Gianni Infantino during a March meeting in Manhattan, with FIFA chief of global development Arsène Wenger joining via video call.
The discounted tickets will not affect FIFA's revenue, as they come from the allocation purchased by the local host committee. Nevertheless, FIFA was still required to sign off on the initiative, which applies exclusively to New York City residents — not those in New Jersey, where the matches will actually take place — as local New Jersey officials did not seek comparable support.
New Jersey officials instead focused on relief for commuters, securing more than $3.5 million to offset costs for New Jersey residents affected by the disruptions the World Cup will bring to the region.
The discounted ticket initiative is the latest in Mamdani's efforts to make soccer more financially accessible, following a similar program that offered 1,000 tickets at just $5 for a recent NWSL match between Gotham FC and Boston Legacy at Sports Illustrated Stadium in nearby Harrison, New Jersey.
USMNT's Tim Weah Embraces New York, Cheaper Tickets
Brooklyn-born Tim Weah, who is expected to be named to the U.S. men's national team at a Tuesday event in New York City, appeared alongside Mamdani at Thursday's announcement, having previously voiced frustration that tournament tickets were "too expensive."
"I think this opportunity is really healthy for the community and for New York in its whole," Weah said Thursday. "I think as athletes, it's important to have a voice because we are the pillars of this community. We are the leaders of the next generation."
USMNT star and Brooklyn native Timothy Weah at Zohran Mamdani's affordable tickets press conference: pic.twitter.com/WcFpGfk8ho
When Weah first aired his concerns, USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino pushed back at a January press conference, stating that "it is not his duty to evaluate the price of a ticket," even though Pochettino himself had previously expressed worry about the U.S. playing in front of thin crowds or predominantly opposition supporters on home turf.
"As a kid, it was always a dream to be out there and to be in stadiums playing," Weah added. "My job is to bring joy, to put smiles on faces, and I'm going to do exactly that while standing by [Mamdani's] side and making sure we can make it easier for everyone."
The USMNT is not currently slated to play at New York New Jersey Stadium, though they could land a round of 32 fixture there by finishing third in Group D, or appear in the July 19 World Cup final. In the group stage, the venue will host Brazil, Morocco, France, Senegal, Norway, Ecuador, Germany and England, with knockout round opponents still to be confirmed.