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NYC Lottery Offers 1,000 $50 World Cup Tickets

5/22/2026

Summary

NYC Ticket Lottery

New York City will allocate 1,000 World Cup tickets at $50 each through a lottery.
The lottery runs from 10 a.m. May 25 to midnight May 30, caps entries at 50,000, and accepts NYC residents 15+ who verify identity with ID, pay stub or utility bill.
Winners are notified June 3, have 48 hours to buy up to two tickets, receive free round-trip bus service to MetLife’s upper-tier seats, and cannot transfer the tickets.

Summary

Sherrill Launches Tickets

New Jersey officials, including Governor Mikie Sherrill’s office, launched a ticket program backed by corporate sponsors, calling the NYC lottery a “reward” for Mayor Mamdani.
Congresswoman Nellie Pou and Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. sent FIFA a letter labeling the NYC policy “opaque” and “potentially deceptive.”
The program will allocate 1,000 tickets while Governor Sherrill earmarked $3.6 million to subsidize NJ Transit fares for commuters affected by World Cup traffic.

History

Historical Context

The United States secured the 1994 World Cup hosting rights on July 4 1988, drawing a record 3,587,538 spectators; the 2026 tournament, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico, will be the first three-nation World Cup, feature 48 teams and return to a summer schedule, with the final set for MetLife Stadium, underscoring the lasting impact of the 1994 legacy on ticketing and organization.

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NYC Ticket Lottery

New York City will allocate 1,000 World Cup tickets at $50 each through a lottery.
The lottery runs from 10 a.m. May 25 to midnight May 30, caps entries at 50,000, and accepts NYC residents 15+ who verify identity with ID, pay stub or utility bill.
Winners are notified June 3, have 48 hours to buy up to two tickets, receive free round-trip bus service to MetLife’s upper-tier seats, and cannot transfer the tickets.

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