Mamdani Offers 1,000 $50 World Cup Tickets To New Yorkers

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the city will distribute 1,000 World Cup tickets at $50 each to New York City residents through a lottery and provide free round-trip bus transportation to MetLife Stadium.

The tickets cover seven of eight matches at MetLife Stadium, comprising five group-stage matches and two knockout games, and exclude the July 19 final for which some seats were priced nearly $33,000.

Mamdani said the tickets will be non-transferable, will be handed out at the bus boarding location, and city officials will verify residency to prevent resale on the secondary market.

The lottery opens May 25 at 10 a.m. and closes May 30 at midnight, entrants may enter once per day, winners will be notified on Wednesday, June 3, and daily signups are capped at 50,000.

The move follows criticism over steep transportation surcharges, including train fares initially set as high as $150 then reduced to under $100, while bus tickets remain priced at $80, according to city and transit statements.