There is no cost that Zohran Mamdani doesn’t want to lower. New York’s mayor-elect will take office Jan. 1 with an agenda focused on affordability in America’s most expensive city. Their proposals include freezing rents, making public buses free, reducing the cost of food in supermarkets… and reducing the price of tickets to the FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico in June and July, and whose final will take place at MetLife Stadium, just outside the Big Apple.
The young socialist has asked FIFA to implement a series of measures to ensure that New Yorkers can attend the eight matches that will be played during the summer at the New York-New Jersey stadium. As part of a campaign launched in September – while still a mayoral candidate – Mamdani launched a petition calling on FIFA to reverse its plan to set tournament prices based on demand (known as dynamic pricing), to cap resale prices – which will be carried out directly through the FIFA system – and to reserve 15% of reduced-price tickets for local residents.
“The World Cup is coming to New York next year. As a lifelong soccer fan, sorry, I mean soccer—I couldn’t be more excited. But will working-class New Yorkers really be able to see the game?” Mamdani asked in a video posted to his social media on September 9, the first day fans could begin requesting tickets to the event through a pre-sale lottery. In the recording, which has nearly six million views on Instagram alone, the then-candidate appears in slacks, a shirt, tie and dress shoes as he plays with a ball on a soccer field.
“For the first time, FIFA uses dynamic pricing, where they will determine in real time how much they can charge for a ticket. Tickets can be resold on an official FIFA platform with no price limit. This means you can buy one for $60 and resell it for $6,000. And unlike the last three World Cups, there are no tickets reserved for residents. All this means is that the biggest sporting event in the world will be held in your backyard, and you won’t be able to pay to attend it.” he adds in the video. FIFA has not yet expressed its opinion on the matter.
The first two phases of ticket presales for the World Cup have currently been completed. The exclusive presale for Visa card holders took place in September, during which more than one million tickets were sold. While demand was greatest from host countries, applications were received from over 200 countries. The early ticket draw was completed in October, where winning applicants were given a set period of time to purchase a limited number of tickets. Additionally, hospitality packages have been on sale since the spring, aimed primarily at corporate buyers and high-net-worth fans willing to pay more than $1,000 for a single-game ticket.
The next phase of sales to the general public will take place after the final draw of the tournament, which will be held on December 5th in Washington. A larger draw will then be opened in which beneficiaries will be able to choose the pairings they want, although prices will be determined based on demand. Ultimately, remaining tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis starting in early 2026. The difference in demand could mean, as happened during the Club World Cup held in the United States in the summer, that some matches cost thousands of dollars, while others end up being available for even less than the initial price of $60.
Mamdani is a passionate football fan and in particular of the London club Arsenal, a team he has followed since he was a child. Beyond the initiative aimed at FIFA, the socialist has incorporated sport into his historic campaign with events and appearances in community matches. It was something unusual for a candidate in a city where baseball – with the rivalry between the Yankees and Mets – and basketball, with the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, reign supreme.
In an interview last month with AtleticoMamdani assured that he grew up “with the memory of the World Cup, both watching it on television and having been there in person”. “I know what this tournament represents, which is the most popular in the world, and also what it could be, which is a celebration of the beautiful game. However, these types of FIFA policies threaten to exclude the very people who make this game so special,” he said.
“In our fight to make America’s most expensive city affordable, it’s not just about housing, child care and public transportation. It also extends to the moments that bring so much joy to New Yorkers, including next year’s World Cup,” he added.
