New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani released an exclusive run of 1,500 FIFA World Cup 2026 jerseys inspired by New York City earlier this week. These jerseys are now being resold on eBay at prices up to 2,000 times their original cost, according to livemint.com. The original jerseys were part of a broader effort to make World Cup access affordable for working-class New Yorkers.
Mamdani secured 1,000 World Cup tickets priced at $50 each, including free roundtrip transportation, after New Jersey Transit initially set a match-day rail ticket price at $150 to MetLife Stadium. The state also allocated $6 million for a free watch party in Central Park’s Great Lawn for 50,000 New Yorkers and organized fan events across all five boroughs. Additionally, the city expanded its ferry schedule to accommodate fans, aiming to reduce travel costs and improve access.
The high resale prices on FIFA’s official portal, reaching $32,970 per ticket, have prompted investigations by attorneys general into alleged scalping and price gouging. Mamdani’s initiatives contrast sharply with these inflated secondary market prices, highlighting ongoing challenges in ensuring affordable access to major sporting events. The city’s efforts reflect a growing trend of local governments intervening to support working-class fans amid rising event costs.
The free watch party in Central Park is scheduled to host 50,000 attendees, funded by the state’s $6 million commitment. This event, along with the expanded ferry service and borough-wide fan fests, represents a coordinated effort to provide inclusive World Cup experiences for New Yorkers.