Governor Kathy Hochul, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the FIFA World Cup 2026 New York New Jersey Host Committee on Monday announced free fan zones and events across all five boroughs where New Yorkers can enjoy matches and programming at no cost.
The Brooklyn Fan Zone will be at Brooklyn Bridge Park from June 13 to July 19, with daily programming and match viewings, officials said.
“New Yorkers are ready to welcome fans from across the world for the 2026 World Cup and we’re making sure everyone who calls this city home is part of this historic event,” Hochul said in a statement. “These free fan events across all five boroughs bring the excitement of the game to every New Yorker in every community — supporting our small businesses and bringing New Yorkers together.”
The state kicked in $20 million in funding to help support World Cup activities across New York City.
“When I think back on my first World Cup, some of my most meaningful memories weren’t in the stadium, they were in the fan zones, surrounded by thousands of people brought together by a pure love of the game," New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said. "That’s what we’re building here: a World Cup that belongs to New Yorkers. By bringing these free fan events to every borough, we’re making sure everyone can be part of that joy.”
New York State Senior Director of Major Event Operations Justin Brannan said the World Cup, where some tickets are going for thousands of dollars, should be for everyone to enjoy.
“New York is ready to welcome the World Cup this summer, but it has to be for everyone," Brannan said. "For Governor Hochul, that means making sure working families, small businesses and communities in every corner of this great state can take part in this global celebration of the beautiful game.
Previously, the governor announced that event organizers can host off-site activations throughout 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.
