Sports cannot become a luxury, says Mamdani, outlining plans to air World Cup throughout New York

NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani plans to broadcast select FIFA World Cup matches across hundreds of public kiosks in all five boroughs, expanding his push to make major sporting events more accessible to everyday New Yorkers.

Under the initiative, a selection of matches will air on 55-inch LinkNYC digital screens installed on street corners across the city. The kiosks, which typically display advertisements and public service announcements, will be temporarily repurposed to stream live sports events for public viewing.

The move follows Mamdani’s earlier arrangement with the NBA to screen two NBA Finals games on the same network of displays, a decision aimed at helping residents without access to cable television or streaming services participate in major sports moments, including the New York Knicks’ pursuit of a long-awaited championship.

“Whatever infrastructure we have, we should be using it to make it easier to be a part of the game,” Mamdani said in an interview. “We are going to be broadcasting a few games to hundreds of kiosks across the five boroughs. And it is going to be an opportunity for New Yorkers to really lose themselves in the World Cup, much the way we’ve all lost ourselves in this incredible run from the Knicks.”

World Cup screening plans were previously reported by Politico.

The initiative comes as attendance costs for the tournament have surged, with dynamic pricing pushing ticket prices out of reach for many fans. In some host cities, including the New York/New Jersey and Miami areas, entry-level tickets have approached $1,000 in the lead-up to the competition. The United States is co-hosting the tournament alongside Canada and Mexico.

To address affordability concerns, Mamdani’s office worked with the New York New Jersey Host Committee to secure 1,000 discounted tickets for local residents. The tickets were priced at $50 each and included free round-trip bus transportation.

“If we allow sports to become a luxury commodity, we also allow it to become divorced from its roots as an expression of working people,” Mamdani said. “It’s not just something to watch, but something to be part of. It’s time to ensure we don’t leave any New Yorkers behind when we talk about sports.”

Earlier this month, the mayor’s office also introduced New York City–themed soccer jerseys to mark the World Cup. The Brooklyn-made jerseys were sold at cost for around $50, significantly lower than standard national team jerseys, which can cost more than $100 at official venues. According to the mayor’s office, the initial batch of 1,500 jerseys sold out quickly, with additional production planned.

Mamdani attended the opening World Cup match at the New York/New Jersey stadium wearing one of the jerseys and shared a photo from the stands, highlighting that 1,000 residents had secured affordable tickets through a lottery system.

“We want these tournaments, these moments, to be within reach for working people,” he said. “Not just something people try to stream, but something they can truly experience together in person.”

Mamdani, a longtime fan of English Premier League club Arsenal, has faced some criticism over his sports-focused initiatives. James Dolan, owner of the New York Knicks, recently criticized city officials over security measures surrounding Madison Square Garden during NBA Finals-related events, calling the area restrictions excessive.

Despite the controversy, experts say the mayor’s emphasis on public access to sports may resonate widely.

“Sports traditionally weren’t regarded as something serious in policymaking,” said Lee Igel, a clinical professor at NYU Tisch Institute for Global Sport. “But sports matter to people everywhere, and leaders who recognize that can connect with the public in a meaningful way.” -Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien/Reuters