Why Are Only New York City Residents Eligible For $50 World Cup Tickets?

This may be more of a hypothetical question, but i'm certain there are a LOT of people out there who would give anything to be considered for reasonably priced tickets to a World Cup game, right?

A recent news story came across my Instagram feed earlier today and got me to thinking...why is this only available to New York City residents?

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World Cup Fever, The Countdown Is On

Soccer fans, and really New York/New Jersey residents in general have been hyper-focused on all things World Cup lately as we approach June and the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches.

Beginning June 13th, MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will become a soccer mecca as eight matches are scheduled to be held at the stadium with is traditionally home to the New York Giants, New York Jets, and several large events and concerts.

There's been no shortage of information about ticket prices, as well as transportation and parking cost lately, along with a great deal of feedback (and shock) from locals and out-of-town soccer fans alike about the monetary investment needed to attend a game.

SEE ALSO: Free World Cup Events in New York

Mayor Mamdani Announces NYC World Cup $50 Ticket Lottery

(as well as several other outlets) reported that 'a limited number of affordable tickets' for the FIFA World Cup will soon be available to New Yorkers via a lottery....however those New Yorkers must live in the city.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said a partnership with the New York/New Jersey Host Committee secured 1,000 tickets for city residents. They will cost $50, and winners will also get free round-trip bus tickets.

In order to allow people who wouldn't otherwise be able to afford the astronomical price tag that comes with a FIFA World Cup ticket, Mayor Mamdani worked to provide an opportunity to those 'working people who couldn't otherwise afford it.'

On Monday May 25th, the lottery for NYC residents will open at 10am, and those aged 15 and up who are interested can enter once a day over a six day period. The lottery system will not allow more than 50,000 entries per day. Tickets will be evenly distributed across the five boroughs, and there will be residential eligibility checks done to ensure identify and residency

These are 1,000 tickets. They will be split into batches of 150. Those 150 will be for the five group games and the two knockout rounds in New York, New Jersey.

To ensure that only those NYC residents who have had their eligibility checked and won through the lottery system attend the matches, the tickets are non-transferable and will be given to the winners in person at the bus terminal prior to the game they have been selected to attend.