NEW YORK (BLOOMBERG) -- New York City will host a free watch party in Central Park for the World Cup Final next month, as Mayor Zohran Mamdani looks to make the international soccer tournament accessible to those who can’t afford to attend matches in person.
The event on July 19 is expected to accommodate more than 50,000 people and will be held on the Great Lawn. While the tickets are free, they will be distributed by Global Citizen, an advocacy group that hosts events aimed at reducing extreme poverty. The organization also holds an annual music festival in Central Park.
“You shouldn’t have to spend tens of thousands of dollars to be part of the World Cup. Under our administration, you don’t have to,” Mamdani said at an event with Governor Kathy Hochul and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “We’re making sure the World Cup belongs to the people who make this city what it is. This is a once-in-a-generation event, and working-class New Yorkers deserve to experience it, celebrate it, and benefit from it.”
The event on July 19 is expected to accommodate more than 50,000 people and will be held on the Great Lawn.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Hochul has already directed $20 million to cover the cost of fan sites that will be spread across the five boroughs.
The World Cup Final will be held at MetLife Stadium, across the Hudson River from New York City. Tickets for the matchup on the secondary market have topped $50,000, according to listings on StubHub, a resale site.
The Central Park watch party will feature live entertainment and local food vendors, according to a press release outlining the plans. It’s backed by a $6 million investment from the Empire State Development and a $3.5 million allocation from New York City.
Twenty percent of tickets will be set aside for local nonprofit organizations and NYC Service volunteers.
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