New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani has revealed a plan to provide affordable access to the FIFA World Cup 2026 for city residents. The initiative, in partnership with the NYNJ Host Committee, will offer 1,000 tickets at a reduced price of $50 per seat. The offer includes complimentary return bus travel to MetLife Stadium.
Affordable Tickets for New Yorkers
Mayor Mamdani made the announcement in Little Senegal, surrounded by Harlem residents, African community leaders and elected officials wearing jerseys representing tournament nations with deep roots in New York City. He stated that the aim is to ensure working-class New Yorkers have the opportunity to attend the World Cup. He added that the Host Committee collaborated to ensure the tournament is accessible to the city’s residents. He expressed his pride that New York City is leading the way.
Lottery Details and Ticket Allocation
The programme includes five group stage matches and two knockout round matches. Approximately 150 tickets are allocated per game. New York City residents aged 15 and over can enter a lottery for a chance to purchase the tickets, with winners being selected at random.
- Entry opens at www.regnyctix.com on Monday, May 25th at 10 a.m. and closes Saturday, May 30th at midnight.
- New Yorkers may enter once per day, with a daily cap of 50,000 entries.
- Winners will be notified on Wednesday, June 3rd.
- Winners may purchase up to two tickets each.
Preventing Ticket Scalping
To prevent scalping, tickets will be nontransferable. They will be distributed directly to winners at the official boarding location on the day of each match. Free round-trip transportation from the pickup location to the NYNJ Stadium will be included for every winner.
Ensuring Accessibility for All
NYC World Cup Czar Maya Handa said that this program exists because the Mayor was determined to make sure working New Yorkers would be in the stands when the World Cup comes home to New York. Alex Lasry, CEO of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ NYNJ Host Committee, said that Mayor Mamdani has been unwavering in his commitment to making sure New Yorkers could be part of this historic moment in a real and meaningful way. He added that they pushed for a program that prioritised affordability and access for New Yorkers and worked closely together to help make that possible.
Today’s announcement reflects months of collaboration between the Mamdani administration and the NYNJ Host Committee to create a program centered on affordability and accessibility for New York City residents. The Mayor has been a consistent advocate for ensuring New Yorkers can be part of this historic moment.