Lottery aims to broaden access
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani unveiled a lottery that will award 1,000 tickets priced at $50 for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, targeting local workers who might otherwise be priced out of the tournament. The draw, scheduled to begin on May 25, will also grant each winner a complimentary round‑trip bus ride to the stadium, and the tickets are non‑transferable to curb resale markets.
Mayor Mamdani, who has previously urged FIFA to reduce ticket costs, said the initiative reflects a commitment to making major sporting events attainable for working families across the city.
Free rides and ticket rules
The program pairs each $50 ticket with a free bus service that will shuttle winners from designated pickup points to MetLife Stadium, the venue that will host the tournament’s final matches. Officials emphasized that tickets cannot be transferred, a rule designed to prevent scalping and ensure that the seats reach the intended recipients.
Pricing history and FIFA’s response
FIFA had previously drawn criticism for listing $60 tickets for every match in North America, a price point that many fans deemed prohibitive. In response to public outcry, the governing body announced a limited set of lower‑priced options, but the new $50 lottery represents a more aggressive effort to broaden access for everyday New Yorkers.
MetLife Stadium and the road to the group stage
MetLife Stadium, the shared home of the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets, will serve as the central venue for the World Cup’s showcase matches. The stadium is managed by the New York and New Jersey joint host committee, which has allocated a portion of its ticket inventory to fund the lottery. Group‑stage fixtures featuring traditional powerhouses such as Brazil, France, Germany and England are slated to begin on June 13, promising a global spectacle that the city hopes to make financially inclusive.