World Cup 2026: NYC Mayor Says Fans Shouldn't Pay So Much

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani says the 2026 FIFA World Cup makes 'more than enough' money, and fans should not have to pay sky-high prices to attend. The World Cup is being held across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, and it is the most expensive tournament in history to attend in person. Tickets for many first-round games cost between $350 and $5,000, and hotels and buses have also gotten much more expensive. Mayor Mamdani believes FIFA, the group that runs world soccer, could have made the event more affordable for regular people.

FIFA is expected to earn nearly $9 billion from this World Cup — even more money than the Paris 2024 Olympics made. Mayor Mamdani said that because so much money is coming in, FIFA should cover the extra costs so that fans don't have to. He told BBC Radio 5 Live that transportation to the stadium in New Jersey costs nearly $100 per ticket, which is about ten times the normal price. Even after fans complained and prices were lowered a little, the cost is still very high for most families.

Mamdani, who is 34 years old and became mayor of New York in January 2025, pushed back against these high prices from the start. He said New York City wanted the World Cup to be a tournament that everyone could enjoy, not just wealthy fans. He pointed out that a BBC Sport study found that English fans would need about £6,500 — roughly $8,000 — just to attend all three of England's group-stage games. That is a lot of money for most families to spend on a sports event.

Despite the high prices set by FIFA and other groups, Mayor Mamdani said New York worked hard to help fans. The city was able to get 1,000 tickets priced at just $50 for each game, making it possible for some fans to attend without spending hundreds of dollars. The city also set up free fan festivals, called 'fan fests,' in each of New York City's five boroughs so people could watch and celebrate without buying tickets. When Mamdani took office, there were plans to charge people to enter these fan fests, but he made sure that cost was removed.

The city also launched other programs to make the World Cup feel welcoming to everyone. Around 900 bars and restaurants across New York signed up to offer a special $26 World Cup meal deal. Mamdani said he wants both tourists visiting the city and everyday New Yorkers to enjoy the event and explore what the city has to offer. He described the effort as part of a larger fight against turning sports into something only rich people can afford.