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Ahead of this summer’s 2026 FIFA World Cup festivities, New York City is turning school blocks into mini soccer stadiums.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a new initiative called Soccer Streets, which will transform streets outside 50 public schools across the five boroughs into car-free soccer zones complete with pickup games, drills, art stations and block-party-style celebrations. The program launched on May 1 and will continue through the end of the school year on June 26.
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The activations are tied to the World Cup, which kicks off June 11, with several matches and the final game set to take place at MetLife Stadium. But the city says Soccer Streets is designed to make the tournament feel accessible even for New Yorkers who won’t be scoring pricey tickets. And the city is partnering with nonprofit Street Lab and food company Chobani on the rollout.
“The World Cup is coming to New York City, and we want every kid in this city to experience the joy of the game,” Mamdani said in a statement announcing the initiative. “Soccer Streets takes that energy directly into our neighborhoods — closing streets to cars, opening them to play and making sure this celebration isn't reserved for people who can afford a ticket. Open Streets is one of the best tools we have to reclaim public space for the public and these activations are another step toward bringing the World Cup to our city’s young people.”
Soccer Streets is also an expansion of the city’s Open Streets for Schools program, which closes streets outside participating schools to traffic so students can use the space for recreation and programming. According to transportation officials, many city schools lack adequate outdoor space, making the temporary street closures especially impactful.
The administration says schools interested in participating can still contact Street Lab to get involved. And for New Yorkers who’ve spent years dreaming about the World Cup coming to the area, the program could be one of the rare moments when the tournament feels truly like a neighborhood event.