$50 World Cup ticket lottery to open for New Yorkers
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The city is opening a lottery for $50 World Cup tickets, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on Thursday. Photo by Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
By Ryan Schwach
As New Yorkers stare down astronomical prices to attend World Cup matches across the Hudson next month, the city and the New York-New Jersey Host Committee are providing a cheaper option for a few lucky locals.
A lottery to win one of one thousand $50 tickets to World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium will soon open exclusively to New Yorkers, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NY/NJ Host Committee CEO Alex Lasry announced on Thursday.
“There are countless New Yorkers desperate to attend the World Cup match, but who simply cannot afford to go,” said Mamdani. “As we prepare to host the World Cup right outside of New York City, we know that ticket prices for this tournament have soared into the thousands of dollars.”
The cheapest available ticket for the group stage in New Jersey is a $475 ticket to see Senegal play Norway on June 22.
The city and the host committee will open 1,000 total tickets, 150 for each of the five group stage matches and two knockout round matches that are being played in East Rutherford.
New Yorkers who are lucky enough to score a ticket will be able to secure one extra ticket for a friend or family member, and will be provided free bus transportation to the match.
Tickets will be non-transferable, and will be given to match attendees when they get on the bus.
The lottery opens Monday at 10 a.m.
Mamdani made the announcement in Harlem on Thursday alongside Timothy Weah, a winger on the United States Men’s National Team who grew up playing soccer in Rosedale.
“As a kid, it was always a dream to be up here, and to be in stadiums playing, and if I can help the next kid get to that stage, I think it's a wonderful feeling,” Weah said. “I think this opportunity is really healthy for the community, and for New York.”
As a kid, Weah played for the Rosedale Rockets Soccer Club, which will be celebrating its most accomplished alum this weekend with Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers.
“Its such a joy to have one of our own out of Rosedale,” said Brooks-Powers. “We are going to be rooting for our team all the way through, and for all of the players that are bringing center stage.”
The USMNT will kick off their World Cup on June 12 against Panama at SoFi Stadium in California.
