Football fans in New York City will soon have a cheaper chance to attend World Cup matches after Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a special ticket lottery program for local residents. The city plans to distribute 1,000 World Cup tickets through a random draw system for people living across the five boroughs.
The announcement was made on Thursday as excitement continues growing ahead of the upcoming matches scheduled in June. According to city officials, each ticket will cost only US$50, around SGD68, making the event more accessible for working-class residents and football supporters.
Affordable Tickets For Residents
Mamdani explained that the city worked closely with the New York-New Jersey host committee to organize the special program. In addition to discounted tickets, lottery winners will also receive free round-trip bus transportation to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where several World Cup matches will take place.
“A World Cup is coming to our backyard, and we want to ensure working-class New Yorkers have the opportunity to be part of it,” Mamdani said during the announcement.
The mayor added that city leaders wanted the tournament to feel connected to ordinary residents who help build and support New York every day.
Lottery Opens This Month
According to officials, residents aged 15 and above may join the lottery once each day during the application period. The lottery opens on May 25 at 10 a.m. and closes on May 30 at midnight. Winners will receive notification on June 3.
The city said 150 tickets will be available for each of the five group-stage matches and two knockout-round matches. Winners must collect their tickets personally at the designated bus boarding location before traveling to the stadium.
Mamdani made the announcement in Little Senegal, located in Harlem, alongside World Cup officials and United States national football team players Tim Weah and Mark McKenzie.
Transport Costs Spark Debate
The ticket lottery program comes during growing public concern over transportation costs linked to World Cup games. Many fans recently criticized expensive travel charges connected to attending matches at MetLife Stadium.
Normally, a train ticket to the stadium costs US$12.90, about SGD18. However, transport prices were initially expected to rise to US$150, around SGD203, during the tournament period. Last week, New Jersey Transit announced it would reduce train fares to below US$100, approximately SGD136.
Bus tickets, however, still remain priced at US$80, or around SGD109, according to transport officials.
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