Instead of paying sky-high ticket prices and $150 NJ Transit train fares, New York soccer fans can attend free World Cup watch parties hosted in every borough. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul, along with the NYNJ 2026 World Cup Host Committee, on Monday announced five official fan experiences to be held throughout the six-week tournament. “If you can’t get to the World Cup, the World Cup is coming to you,” Hochul said.
The events will be free to attend, but online registration is expected to be required. Some events last a few days, while others take place for several weeks.
The official FIFA fan events will take place at the following locations:
- Queens: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (June 11-June 27)
- Manhattan: Rockefeller Center (July 6- July 19)
- The Bronx: Bronx Terminal Market (June 13-June 14)
- Brooklyn: Brooklyn Bridge Park (June 13-July 19)
- Staten Island: Staten Island University Hospital Community Park (June 29-July 2)
Last fall, Rockefeller Center announced, in partnership with Telemundo, a two-week fan village as Manhattan’s flagship fan experience. As part of the event, the iconic ice rink will transform into a soccer pitch and the Channel Gardens will become a “living tribute to the eight nations that have lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy and the legends who defined those historic moments,” according to a press release.
“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 in a statement.
“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.”
Other live viewing events outside of the city will take place at the Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, Stony Brook University on Long Island, and Kensico Dam Plaza in Westchester. Canalside in Buffalo will also be home to three community parties to watch the U.S. Men’s National Team on June 12, June 19, and June 25.
Officials expect more than 1.2 million visitors to travel to the region for the World Cup, which will be the largest edition of the tournament ever, featuring 104 matches across 16 cities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Some elected city officials and local neighborhood groups have expressed concern about a lack of coordination over public programming for both the World Cup and celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary on July 4. As 6sqft noted last week, an emergency order issued by the Parks Department and approved by the mayor gives the agency the ability to deny permits for new, large-scale events like concerts and festivals from June 11 to July 19. According to the New York Times, returning events would not be impacted.
On Monday, Mamdani said more fan events and pop-ups will be announced in the coming weeks, including a partnership with the Department of Transportation’s Open Streets program.
The City Council last week introduced a package of legislation to support local businesses during the tournament, including bills that would create a “cultural passport” to encourage visitors to check out local places and institutions across the city and another to launch a guide to festivals, parties, and cultural corridors tied to the participating teams.
Other bills call for an expansion of public restrooms with high foot traffic and the co-naming of several thoroughfares and public places, including “Thierry Henry Way” next to Rockefeller Center, and “Pelé Way” in Queens.
There will be eight matches played at MetLife, starting with the June 13 matchup of Brazil vs. Morocco and ending with the World Cup Final on July 19.
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