Mamdani Leads NYC World Cup Push for 1.2 Million Visitors as He Battles Affordability Concerns
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jun 13
Mamdani Leads NYC World Cup Push for 1.2 Million Visitors as He Battles Affordability Concerns
1 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jun 13
Summary
More than 1.2 million people are expected to pass through the New York area for the 2026 World Cup, putting first-year Mayor Zohran Mamdani in charge of security, transit and fan logistics around the final in nearby East Rutherford.
Mamdani has tried to blunt criticism over FIFA costs and Trump-linked politics by securing free entry to city Fan Fests and 1,000 match tickets priced at $50 for New York City residents.
Trump is expected to attend some matches, adding political tension for a liberal mayor whose supporters see the tournament as tied to high prices, FIFA excess and the president’s promotion of the event.
For Mamdani, a longtime soccer obsessive who has campaigned on cheaper tickets and played in city rec leagues, the tournament is also a chance to widen the sport’s appeal across New York.