New York City Mayor Amanda and Governor Hochu of New York State, along with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and others, announced on June 8 that the countdown to the final of the FIFA World Cup 2026 has begun. They declared that on the day of the final on July 19, a free viewing party for up to 50,000 people will be held on the Great Lawn in Central Park, touted as one of the largest World Cup viewing events globally.
This viewing party is organized by the charity organization Global Citizen, with all tickets being distributed through a lottery system for free. Those interested can register on the Global Citizen website starting from 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 11, with the registration deadline set for July 16. Link: https://tinyurl.com/2ubw3534
The final of the World Cup will kick off at 3 p.m. on July 19 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey (temporarily renamed the New York-New Jersey Stadium during the event). The viewing party on the Great Lawn in Central Park will open its doors early at 12 p.m. on the same day.
In addition to the general public, 20% of approximately 10,000 tickets will be reserved for non-profit organizations and volunteer groups in New York City, aiming to allow more grassroots citizens to join in the celebration. The event will feature three giant LED screens, along with large sound systems, New York DJs, and local food vendors.
Excitedly speaking at the press conference in Central Park, Hochu stated, “This will be the ‘front-row seat’ to watch this beautiful game in New York City!”
Mayor Amanda emphasized the “accessibility” of the event. He highlighted that the viewing party is 100% free, stating, “You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to watch the final game with fellow New Yorkers.” The city government has previously introduced 1,000 tickets priced at $50 each for the final, as well as a $26 meal package from 488 small businesses across the city.
Infantino confirmed during the press conference that this World Cup final will feature a halftime show for the first time in nearly a century of FIFA World Cup history. The show will be curated by Coldplay’s lead singer Chris Martin and will feature performances by Shakira, Madonna, and the South Korean group BTS. He described New York as a city with residents from over 200 countries, even more than the member countries of the United Nations, which will turn into the “capital of the world” and the “capital of football” during the event.
Apart from announcing the viewing activities, the organizers also held an inauguration ceremony for the “FIFA Arena” mini football pitch in Central Park. This pitch will be open from June 10 to July 18, offering free youth football training camps, community events, and open practice sessions.
FIFA President Infantino stated that this pitch will serve as an important legacy of the World Cup for the New York community, and will continue to promote the development of youth football in the future.
Alex Lasry, the Executive Director of the New York-New Jersey Organizing Committee, estimated that during the World Cup, over a million people will flood into the New York metropolitan area, bringing in over $30 billion in economic benefits. He quoted data indicating that the global viewership of the last World Cup final was equivalent to the total viewership of the past 13 Super Bowls.