SOCCER: US Open home to host one of New York's free World Cup fan zones

The home of the U.S. Open will be transformed this summer as tennis gives way to soccer, after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens will serve as the largest of five free FIFA World Cup fan zones across the city’s boroughs.

Officials said the Queens venue is expected to host up to 10,000 fans at a time from June 11 to June 27. Additional fan zones are planned in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Staten Island as part of a citywide effort to expand public access to the tournament.

“These events were not initially planned to be free, but the world’s game should belong to the world,” Mamdani said. “We made this decision so fans can experience it together without spending a dollar.”

In Manhattan, a fan village will be set up at Rockefeller Center from July 6 to July 19. Smaller viewing events will also take place at Bronx Terminal Market and Staten Island University Hospital Community Park.

Brooklyn Bridge Park is set to host one of the longest-running fan zones, operating from June 13 through July 19.

Mamdani said the initiative is aimed at ensuring local residents are not priced out of the tournament, amid growing criticism from fan groups and lawmakers over rising ticket costs that they argue could exclude ordinary supporters.

“Soccer is a game born from the working class,” he said. “The ticket prices we are seeing are not something many working people could even imagine affording.”

Officials added that the fan zones will feature live match screenings, food vendors, cultural programming, and additional community events to be announced in the coming weeks.

WIDER REGIONAL IMPACT EXPECTED

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the broader region is expected to welcome more than one million visitors during the tournament, generating an estimated $3.3 billion in economic impact.

She also announced supporting measures, including extended bar hours, permits for outdoor watch parties, and statewide public viewing events.

The state is proposing a $5 million “New York Kicks” program to fund youth soccer facilities, along with a $500,000 community grant initiative to support local World Cup-related activities.

Organizers also highlighted long-term investments tied to the tournament, including planned upgrades to venues such as Staten Island University Hospital Community Park.

When asked about security preparations, Mamdani said coordination was ongoing with law enforcement and other agencies, noting heightened concerns following recent political violence in the United States.

“These are events where New Yorkers can celebrate without fear,” he said. “We are confident in our ability to keep people safe.”

The New York-New Jersey region is set to host eight World Cup matches, including the final on July 19. The tournament begins June 11 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. -Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City; Editing by Ken Ferris/Reuters