New York Allocates $20 million for Free World Cup Viewing Sites

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co‑hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, features 48 national teams. In New York, the state has earmarked $20 million to set up large‑screen public viewing sites so fans who cannot afford stadium tickets can watch matches together.

Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani opened a tennis centre in Flushing, Queens, as a dedicated fan zone. The initiative includes dozens of venues across the five boroughs—Rockefeller Center, the Billie Jean King Tennis Center, a Brooklyn under‑bridge space, the Bronx Terminal Market, Staten Island’s St. George park and a centralized screen in Central Park for the final. Ticket‑lottery packages priced at $50 have also been introduced.

The programme aims to serve New York’s diverse population, which includes more than 150 nationalities, and to allow all residents to participate in the historic tournament despite limited stadium capacity.