Lottery offers 1,000 affordable tickets with free bus rides to New Jersey matches.
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New York City residents can enter a lottery to buy $50 World Cup tickets for select games in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Thursday. The city is offering 1,000 tickets for five group-stage and two knockout matches, with 150 tickets available per game.
Tickets include free round-trip bus transportation and will be distributed at the bus boarding point to prevent scalping. Each winner can purchase up to two non-transferable tickets.
“Working people will not be priced out of a game they helped create,” Mamdani said, noting the $50 price equals roughly five coffees in New York.
Ticket affordability has been a major concern for the U.S., Canada, and Mexico co-hosted tournament. Average group-stage tickets in New York start at $864, while resale prices can reach thousands. Best seats for the July 19 final are nearly $33,000.
Councilman Yusef Salaam emphasized the importance of inclusivity, saying the lottery ensures “everybody is lifted up.” Residents can enter starting May 25.
