New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday said he is launching a series of initiatives to help New Yorkers and visitors find free and low-cost ways to celebrate the 2026 FIFA World Cup across the boroughs.
Mamdani, NYC Tourism + Conventions and Team Wonder unveiled NYC Neighborhood Passport, a city-wide program encouraging people to explore the city's immigrant communities, cultural institutions, small businesses and community events throughout the tournament.
Participants will be able to collect stamps from hundreds of community organizations and public events across the five boroughs while also sharing stories about what the World Cup means to them as part of a nationwide storytelling initiative.
The city will also launch a new events calendar and interactive digital map at nyctourism.com to help New Yorkers and visitors discover free and low-cost programming, local promotions and neighborhood events throughout the tournament. Developed alongside the New York New Jersey FIFA World Cup 2026 Host Committee, the platform will help drive visitors to local businesses, cultural institutions and community events across all five boroughs, the mayor said.
“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,” Mamdani said in a statement. “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."
Beginning June 11, NYC Neighborhood Passport booklets will be available at every public library branch across the five boroughs and at select events. Participants will be able to collect stamps from hundreds of cultural institutions, community organizations and public events. Each stamp has been designed by New York City-based artists with roots in India, Colombia, Iran, Korea, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Vietnam, Ghana, Mexico and Argentina, reflecting both the countries participating in the World Cup and the cultural diversity of the city.
Stamps will be distributed across designated locations throughout the city, encouraging participants to explore dance performances, film screenings, art exhibits, book talks and block parties in order to collect every stamp. Locations were also selected to highlight immigrant communities, including Little Senegal, Little Colombia, Little India and others.
“Every one of the 48 World Cup nations has a community here in New York — and in Brooklyn in particular,” said Linda E. Johnson, president and chief executive officer of the Brooklyn Public Library. “We're excited to partner with Mayor Mamdani this summer to celebrate that heritage, with free World Cup screenings at dozens of libraries and a Neighborhood Passport to guide New Yorkers through the rich cultural opportunities right outside their door.”
Many Brooklyn institutions are participating in the program, including BRIC Arts Media, Brooklyn Public Library, Cypress Hills Fulton Business Improvement District, Flatbush Central, I AM CARIBBEING/Little Caribbean NYC, Prospect Park Alliance, West Indian American Day Carnival Association, and more.
For a full an updated list of participating organizations and stamp locations, click here.
