Mamdani secures $50 World Cup tickets for New Yorkers after negotiations with Infantino
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani secured 1,000 discounted World Cup tickets priced at $50, to be distributed by lottery exclusively to NYC residents for matches at MetLife Stadium, excluding the final.
- The tickets, significantly cheaper than FIFA's standard pricing (which ranges from $220 to $415 for similar seats), include free round-trip bus transportation to the stadium, aiming to make the event accessible to working-class New Yorkers.
- Mamdani negotiated directly with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, overcoming initial FIFA reluctance due to concerns about setting pricing precedents, with the tickets coming from the joint host committee's allocation rather than FIFA's direct revenue.
- The ticket lottery opens May 25, allowing residents over 15 to apply, with winners notified by June 3; tickets are non-transferable and distributed on game day to prevent scalping.
- This initiative complements other local efforts like affordable tickets for Gotham FC matches and citywide World Cup fan zones, reflecting Mamdani's commitment to affordability and community engagement around the tournament.