Gobernadora de Nueva York, Kathy Hochul . Foto Darren McGee/ gobernación NYS
Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans, Central Park Conservancy President and CEO Betsy Smith and NYNJ Host Committee CEO Alex Lasry announced a free watch party in Central Park for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final on Sunday, July 19. Tickets for the event — which will be one of the largest free FIFA World Cup 2026 watch parties in the world — will be administered by Global Citizen through a lottery system. Individuals interested in participating must register here, with the lottery opening up on Thursday, June 11, at 10 a.m. and closing on July 16. Doors will open at 12:00 p.m. ET and the Final match will begin at 3:00 p.m. ET.
“The World Cup is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that New Yorkers of all ages deserve to experience,” Governor Hochul said. “Over the next month-and-a-half, New Yorkers will experience the thrill of watching the World Cup in their hometown. If New Yorkers aren’t able to attend the World Cup, we’re bringing it to them, and for the Final game, New Yorkers will get to experience watching at the biggest watch party in the world in one of the greatest parks in the world”.
New York City Mayor Zohran K. Mamdani said, “You shouldn’t have to spend tens of thousands of dollars to be part of the World Cup. Under our administration, you won’t have to. From a free watch party for 50,000 New Yorkers on the Great Lawn to fan festivals in every borough and investments that help small businesses share in the benefits of this tournament, 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.”
FIFA World Cup 2026™ NYNJ Host Committee CEO Alex Lasry said, “The FIFA World Cup Final will be one of the most watched sporting events in the world, and we’re thrilled that 50,000 people will be able to experience it together in the heart of New York City, free of charge. This watch party creates an opportunity for residents and visitors to be part of a truly historic moment, regardless of whether they have a ticket to the match itself. Combined with the opening of FIFA Arena, we’re creating free, accessible ways for people to come together, celebrate the game, and be part of the excitement of the tournament throughout the summer. We are grateful to Governor Hochul, Mayor Mamdani, Global Citizen, FIFA, and all of our partners for helping make this experience possible.”.
Global Citizen Co-Founder and CEO Hugh Evans said, “For the past 14 years, Global Citizen has proudly called Central Park’s Great Lawn home. We are thrilled to present the biggest watch party for the biggest match in the world, welcoming 50,000 fans for a free experience in the heart of New York City. As producers of the first-ever FIFA World Cup™ Final Halftime Show, we are honored to help create a day that brings together sport, music, and community while extending the impact of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund and its mission to expand access to quality education and sport for children around the world”.
Street Soccer USA Founder and CEO Lawrence Cann said, “At Street Soccer USA we work everyday to strengthen communities through soccer from the bottom up. We are proud to work with the City and State of New York and FIFA to make this Central Park field an inclusive and inspirational one that ensures everyone can participate in building the legacy of the 2026 World Cup”.
Doors for the event will open at 12:00 p.m. ET and the Final match will begin at 3:00 p.m. ET. In addition to tickets available to the general public, 20 percent will be reserved for local nonprofit organizations and NYC Service.
Backed by a $6 million investment from Empire State Development and a $3.5 million allocation from New York City, the watch party will provide 50,000 people with a free place to gather and watch the World Cup Final. iHeartRadio will serve as the official media partner for the event. National syndicated on-air personalities Charlamagne Tha God and Elvis Duran will emcee the watch party. The event will also feature live entertainment and local food vendors.
Governor Hochul, Mayor Mamdani and FIFA President Infantino also joined community partners to cut the ribbon for “FIFA Arena,” a temporary mini-soccer pitch in Central Park. The pitch will remain open throughout the tournament and offer free clinics, tournaments and open-play opportunities for New Yorkers of all ages.
Installed by FIFA and operated by Street Soccer USA, FIFA Arena will be open from June 10 to July 18, providing a free place to play throughout the tournament. Programming will include youth clinics, community tournaments and open-play sessions. A full schedule of events is available at https://www.streetsoccerusa,
This announcement complements the Governor’s efforts to ensure that more New Yorkers can enjoy the World Cup. This month, Governor Hochul announced significant upgrades to the Official NYNJ Stadium Shuttle bus service for fans traveling to and from World Cup matches through reduced fares and 20 percent of bus tickets reserved for New York residents. The Governor also announced two New York State flagship World Cup Watch Experiences, taking place at Stony Brook University on Long Island and at Kensico Dam Plaza in the Mid-Hudson Region.
In April, Governor Hochul, Mayor Mamdani and the FIFA World Cup 2026™ NYNJ Host Committee announced free fan events in all five boroughs of New York City. The Governor has also announced that 12 community-based projects statewide will receive grant funding as part of the New York State Community World Cup Grant Program, including free public viewings at Silo City in Buffalo.
As part of the FY27 Budget, Governor Hochul launched NY Kicks: A $5 million World Cup Legacy Investment Fund aimed at building soccer infrastructure in disadvantaged communities across each region of the state to strengthen neighborhoods and bring people together through a shared love of the game. The FY27 Budget also includes $1 million in additional funding that will be administered by the State Office of Children and Family Services for a companion grant program for NY Kicks recipients to fund programming, equipment, training, and other operating costs that maximize use of these new facilities including uniforms, shin guards, soccer balls, and coaches.
These family-friendly events are part of New York State’s coordinated effort to maximize the 2026 World Cup’s statewide and economic impact, bringing communities together to experience this historic global moment close to home while advancing long-term investments in youth soccer and community infrastructure.
Last month, Governor Hochul announced that event organizers can serve alcohol at off-site activations for the duration of the World Cup by applying for a World Cup One-Day Permit through the New York State Liquor Authority. Bars and restaurants will be able to use the World Cup One-Day Permit process to use contiguous outdoor space to host events during the World Cup as opposed to the current maximum of four days. In addition, the Governor is working with the legislature to authorize temporary expansion of permissible operating hours during the World Cup, allowing bars, restaurants and other eligible on-premises establishments to remain open whenever matches are broadcast live.
These collective efforts also build on the State’s broader strategy to maximize the economic, tourism and community benefits associated with hosting matches during the tournament. For more information, including how to sign up to be notified of future New York State World Cup announcements, visit the I LOVE NY website here.
