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How to apply and all you need to know for $50 Zohran Mamdani World Cup tickets
Barry Williams/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Zohran Mamdani has opened a route for New York City residents to buy $50 FIFA World Cup tickets for selected games at MetLife Stadium.

The deal matters because World Cup tickets have already felt out of reach for many local fans. This program is designed to keep at least a small part of the tournament accessible.

The catch is demand. There are only 1,000 tickets available, and the lottery has already shown how quickly New Yorkers are moving.


Photo by Jordan Bank/NWSL via Getty Images

Zohran Mamdani’s $50 World Cup tickets require New York City residents to move fast

In the official NYC Mayor post, the city promoted the discounted ticket push for residents hoping to attend 2026 World Cup matches.

To apply, residents must use the official RegNYCTix portal during the lottery window. The program is open to New York City residents aged 15 and older, and applicants can enter once per day while the portal remains active.

That daily part matters because the lottery has a 50,000-entry cap each day. Reports said the first window hit capacity within minutes, so the best chance is to be ready when registration opens at 10 a.m. ET.

Winners are selected randomly and notified by email. After that, they have 48 hours to buy up to two tickets at $50 each.

The tickets cover seven MetLife Stadium matches, including five group-stage games and two knockout-round games. The World Cup final is not part of the program.

Zohran Mamdani’s World Cup ticket challenge is about beating the cap and proving residency

The challenge is not a skills contest. It is about getting into the lottery before the daily entry limit closes and then winning through random selection.

Applicants also need to be ready for strict verification. The city is limiting the program to verified residents of the five boroughs, so winners may need documents such as ID, a lease, a utility bill or other proof of address.

The anti-scalping rules are just as important. Tickets are non-transferable, and winners will not receive them far in advance. Instead, tickets are expected to be handed out on match day when fans board the official bus to MetLife Stadium.

Free round-trip transportation is included, and that system helps stop resale before kickoff. That makes the process simple but competitive. Apply early, watch the daily cap, check email on winner day, and be ready to prove residency quickly.

For fans who get through, the reward is huge: a $50 World Cup seat in a market where most people expected the tournament to be far more expensive.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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