Exclusive: Mamdani to announce free 2026 World Cup fan events across NYC, reversing Adams’ plan to charge

CITYWIDE — Mayor Zohran Mamdani is set to announce on Monday that New York City is rolling out the largest set of free fan events in the country for the duration of the FIFA World Cup 2026 — a decision that reverses an Adams administration plan to charge for tickets to the official fan zones.

New York’s announcement runs in contrast to cities like Los Angeles and Toronto, which have said they intend to charge for fan events to recoup expenses.

Each borough will have an official fan zone — and Brooklyn’s will be in Brooklyn Bridge Park, with live match viewings, daily programming, local businesses and interactive experiences, sources exclusively told the Brooklyn Eagle. 

Brooklyn’s fan zone will also be the longest-lasting such zone across the five boroughs. The World Cup runs from June 13 to July 19.

“When I think back on my first World Cup, some of my most meaningful memories weren’t in the stadium, they were in the fan zones, surrounded by thousands of people brought together by a pure love of the game,” Mamdani said. “That’s what we’re building here: a World Cup that belongs to New Yorkers. By bringing these free fan events to every borough, we’re making sure everyone can be part of that joy.”  

Councilmember Lincoln Restler, who represents DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights, told the Eagle that the city selected the park’s Emily Roebling Plaza as the site for the fan zone, which he called “a great spot for epic matches and the best view in New York City. I hope there will be more spots designated for Brooklynites to have an unforgettable World Cup experience.”

‘Something that brings people together’

Brooklyn soccer enthusiasts were super excited to hear the news.

“As a soccer fan, it’s really exciting to see experiences like this made accessible to everyone,” Brooklyn Heights resident Trotter Oberrender told the Eagle. “Hosting the World Cup in the U.S. is a huge opportunity to grow the game domestically, especially since it hasn’t always been the most widely followed sport here. 

“At a time when things can feel divided, it’s meaningful to have something that brings people together to celebrate, watch and connect as a community.”

“It’s extremely exciting,” said soccer player Angelo Pennati, originally from Milan and now a Park Slope resident. “Coming from Europe to Brooklyn, free events for high-involvement are something you don’t realize you miss until the proposition is announced. It’s a magical thing — if you get it right.”

“I’m extremely excited for it,” said soccer fan Guillermo Martinez. “As a person coming from Spain and living in Brooklyn, being able to see the Spanish national team live, for free, with all the people that I love and all my friends is super exciting, especially considering that going to see a game, it’s extremely expensive and so out of reach. So being able to see the games in such a cool, free public environment, it’s amazing and I’m really looking forward to it.”

While many people are excited, some who live near Brooklyn Bridge Park worry about the overlap of the World Cup with the upcoming Fourth of July fireworks and additional events related to the nation’s 250th Anniversary celebration. Groups including the Willowtown Association are asking the city for more information about the preparations and their impact on neighborhoods surrounding the park.

This follows what many considered to be a disastrous lack of planning during last year’s fireworks celebration — under the previous administration — resulting in an experience described as “chaotic,” and “a fiasco.”

Free activities will boost economic activity

Mamdani intends to use free events as a way to bring tourism, economic activity and equity to small businesses and local restaurants across the city. 

Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su said the World Cup is an opportunity to celebrate all of the city’s diverse cultures and people. “In the past, host cities have been criticized for failing to ensure their own workers and residents benefit and get to participate in the opportunities this global game presents,” she said, calling Mamdani’s approach “a new model.”

The expansion of free programming across all five boroughs will ensure that local restaurants and small businesses share in the benefits of the World Cup, said World Cup Czar Maya Handa.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said on April 20 that she was working on a plan that would allow event organizers statewide to host off-site activities by applying for a World Cup One-Day Permit through the New York State Liquor Authority. Bars and restaurants would also be able to use the process to use contiguous outdoor space to host events during the World Cup, as opposed to the current maximum of four days.

Hochul confirmed on Monday that the state has created the permit, and will extend bar hours to 4 a.m. statewide during the event. She said officials were expecting more than 1.1 million visitors to come to the region, generating about $3.3 billion of economic activity.

MetLife Stadium, home to the New York Jets and Giants in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will be hosting eight games, including the World Cup final.

“These events are about welcoming the world to New York New Jersey and showcasing the very best of our region,” said Alex Lasry, CEO of the NYNJ 2026 World Cup Host Committee. 

Additional details on programming, partners, and talent will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information, visit nynjfwc26.com.