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In case you've been living under, uh, a football, you already know that the FIFA World Cup 2026 is officially coming to New York this summer, with eight high-stakes matches taking place at the nearby MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, including the big finale match on Sunday, July 19. That's plenty of cause for celebration and New Yorkers—including Mayor Zohran Mamdani—are certainly getting in on the fun.
Shortly after the recent announcement from city and state officials about a massive lineup of giant fan zones, public watch parties and other free soccer-fueled events coming to NYC ahead of the games, the mayor's office is exclusively revealing to Time Out New York its planned programming and new tools that will get both longtime locals and visitors alike to explore the five boroughs throughout the World Cup series.
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A key component of the sporty lineup is the NYC Neighborhood Passport program. Launched in partnership with Team Wonder, the passport will encourage people to scavenger-hunt their way through the outer-borough neighborhoods, diverse immigrant enclaves, cultural institutions, small businesses and community events that help make New York, well, New York. You'll be able to collect stamps, each designed by a New York City-based artist, from a wide variety of cultural and community organizations including the American Museum of Natural History, El Museo del Barrio, Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, Prospect Park Alliance, Queens Botanical Garden and the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts, as well as at events like dance performances, film showings, block parties, and more. Starting Thursday, June 11, the passports will be available for pick up at every library branch in all five boroughs as well as select World Cup events.
Along with the NYC Neighborhood Passport, Mamdani and Co. are unveiling a comprehensive events calendar and digital map to help World Cup revelers find free and low-cost ways to keep the athletic fun going throughout the whole city. Debuting on Wednesday, May 27, the events calendar will include things like watch parties, game-day experiences, live performances, restaurant deals and other special programming. Equally handy, a map launched with the New York New Jersey Host Committee will feature similar items to help people find programming all across the city. Both tools will be available at the NYC Tourism website.
“The World Cup isn’t just coming to MetLife Stadium. It’s coming to Corona and Flatbush, Astoria and Sunset Park, and every neighborhood that makes New York the most diverse, dynamic city in the world,” Mayor Mamdani told Time Out. “Whether you’re arriving at JFK for the first time or you’ve lived in the five boroughs your whole life, we want every New Yorker and every visitor to experience the full breadth of this city during the World Cup. The NYC Neighborhood Passport, events calendar and digital map will help people discover fun, free and accessible ways to explore New York through the world’s game.”
Team Wonder's Betsy MacLean, who is leading the NYC Neighborhood Passport program, concurs: “Ask any soccer fan about the World Cup, and you'll hear stories that span generations, bridge borders, and inspire dreams,” she shared. “This summer, we have the chance to lean into the joy, belonging, and solidarity of it all—to celebrate immigrant communities, explore the magic of NYC neighborhoods, connect with each other, and lead with love on a global stage.”