New Yorkers are in for a treat.
On Monday, Mayor Zoran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul revealed that soccer enthusiasts in all five boroughs will get free viewing parties as the city hosts several World Cup games.
Mamdani noted that making this fan event free wasn’t the initial plan, but he collaborated with Hochul to ensure that everyone could join the fun.
“Every fan should be able to watch the greatest tournament on earth without breaking their savings,” the mayor, who identifies as a socialist, stated at an announcement event in Staten Island’s SIUH Community Park, home of the Staten Island Ferryhawks.
This announcement comes amid some frustrations for residents of New York and New Jersey, especially with the upcoming summer games at MetLife Stadium.
About 1.2 million visitors are expected to arrive in the New York area for the eight World Cup games scheduled at MetLife Stadium.
A passionate soccer fan, Mamdani recently issued an emergency order halting new permits for events like concerts and food festivals in city parks during the World Cup, due to staffing concerns raised by police officials. The tournament will take place from mid-June to July 19.
The city has committed a staggering $90 million to organize this major international event.
Fans eager to attend the games should brace themselves for hefty ticket prices, which are set between approximately $600 and nearly $11,000.
NJ Transit is set to hike fares for those traveling from New York Penn Station to MetLife Stadium, pushing the cost to a staggering $100. Transportation officials have advised commuters in both states to consider working from home if possible.
The free event might relieve some of that financial stress for local soccer fans.
“Our thought today is that even if we don’t make it to the World Cup, the World Cup is coming,” Hochul expressed.
“New York isn’t just hosting the World Cup; New York is the World Cup.”
Officials reported that Albany spent over $20 million to fund activities celebrating the six-week soccer tournament happening in the city.
Here’s how the fan events are planned:
- NYNJ World Cup 26 Queens Group Stage Headquarters: June 11th to 27th at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows
- NYNJ World Cup 26 and Telemundo Fan Village: July 6th to 19th at Rockefeller Center
- NYNJ World Cup 26 Bronx Fan Zone: June 13-14 at Bronx Terminal Market
- Brooklyn Fan Zone: June 13th to July 19th at Brooklyn Bridge Park
- NYNJ World Cup 26 Staten Island Fan Zone: June 29 to July 2 at Staten Island University Hospital Community Park
