Fans Are Being Priced Out of the World Cup, and NYC's Mayor Says FIFA Has Enough Cash to Stop the Gouging

Fans are being priced out of the World Cup, according to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who says FIFA has enough revenue to prevent the “gouging.” Mamdani told BBC Radio 5 Live that first-round tickets range from $350 to $5,000, while hotels and basic transportation cost far more than expected. He cited rail fares of nearly $100 for travel to the New York/New Jersey Stadium, and said transport decisions were driven by avoiding losses rather than affordability. Mamdani argues FIFA’s host-city agreements leave supporters covering deficits, despite projected earnings of nearly $9 billion. BBC Sport calculated that attending all three group-stage matches for England could total around £6,500. To reduce costs, New York set up free city fanzones and secured 1,000 tickets at $50 each game, and launched a $26 meal deal at 900 venues. He also referenced distributing matches on LinkNYC kiosks and a partnership with the NBA for Finals games.