What you should know
- Free event will be one of the largest watch parties in the world,
- bringing together 50,000 people on the Great Lawn to watch the World Cup Final on July 19
- Central Park watch party will be presented by Global Citizen
- Announcement comes alongside opening of “FIFA Arena,” a temporary mini-soccer
- pitch in Central Park that will be open to the public
- throughout the tournament
NEW YORK — Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Governor Kathy Hochul, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, NYNJ Host Committee CEO Alex Lasry, Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans, and Central Park Conservancy President and CEO Betsy Smith today announced a free watch party in Central Park for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final on Sunday, July 19.
Tickets for the event — which will be one of the largest free FIFA World Cup 2026 watch parties in the world — will be distributed by Global Citizen through a lottery system. Individuals interested in attending can register here beginning Thursday, June 11 at 10 a.m. The lottery will remain open through July 16.
Doors for the watch party will open at noon ET and the Final match will begin at 3 p.m. ET. In addition to tickets available to the general public, 20 percent of tickets will be reserved for local nonprofit organizations and NYC Service volunteers.
The watch party will provide 50,000 people with a free place to gather and watch the World Cup Final. iHeartRadio will serve as the official media partner, with on-air personalities Charlamagne tha God and Elvis Duran emceeing the Watch Party. The event will also feature live entertainment and local food vendors.
Mayor Mamdani, Governor Hochul and FIFA President Infantino also joined community partners to cut the ribbon on “FIFA Arena,” a temporary mini-soccer pitch in Central Park. The pitch will remain open throughout the tournament and offer free clinics, tournaments and open-play opportunities for New Yorkers of all ages.
“You shouldn’t have to spend tens of thousands of dollars to be part of the World Cup. Under our administration, you don’t have to,” said Mayor Mamdani. “From a free watch party for 50,000 New Yorkers on the Great Lawn to fan festivals in every borough and investments that help small businesses share in the benefits of this tournament, we’re making sure the World Cup belongs to the people who make this city what it is. This is a once-in-a-generation event, and working-class New Yorkers deserve to experience it, celebrate it, and benefit from it.”
“The World Cup is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that New Yorkers of all ages deserve to enjoy and tune in to,” said Governor Hochul. “Over the next month-and-a-half, New Yorkers will experience the thrill of watching the World Cup in their hometown. If New Yorkers aren’t able to attend the World Cup, we’re bringing it to them, and for the Final game, New Yorkers will get to experience watching at the biggest watch party in the world in one of the greatest parks in the world.”
“The FIFA World Cup Final will be one of the most watched sporting events in the world, and we're thrilled that 50,000 people will be able to experience it together in the heart of New York City, free of charge,” said FIFA World Cup 2026™ NYNJ Host Committee CEO Alex Lasry. “This watch party creates an opportunity for residents and visitors to be part of a truly historic moment, regardless of whether they have a ticket to the match itself. Combined with the opening of FIFA Arena, we're creating free, accessible ways for people to come together, celebrate the game, and be part of the excitement of the tournament throughout the summer. We are grateful to Governor Hochul, Mayor Mamdani, Global Citizen, FIFA, and all of our partners for helping make this experience possible.”
Backed by a $6 million investment from Empire State Development and a $3.5 million allocation from New York City, the World Cup Final watch party will feature three multi-jumbo LED screens and food and beverage options. Global Citizen will administer ticketing and produce the event. Installed by FIFA and operated by Street Soccer USA, FIFA Arena will be open from June 10 through July 18, providing a free place to play throughout the tournament. Programming will include youth clinics, community tournaments and open-play sessions. A full schedule of events is available at https://www.streetsoccerusa.org/central-park/.
Today’s announcement builds on the Mamdani administration’s ongoing efforts to ensure every New Yorker can participate in the World Cup, regardless of income or ZIP code. In April, Mayor Mamdani, Governor Hochul and the FIFA World Cup 2026™ NYNJ Host Committee announced free fan events in all five boroughs, where people can watch matches, support local businesses and take part in interactive experiences.
Mayor Mamdani has also announced the “$26 for 2026” program, offering reliably priced food and drink options at participating restaurants across the city; the “NYC Neighborhood Passport” encouraging people to explore the city’s immigrant communities and cultural institutions; World Cup field days at 50 public schools; and a citywide event calendar and map highlighting free and low-cost ways to enjoy the tournament throughout the New York City.
“Over nearly half a century, the Central Park Conservancy has invested close to $2 billion in the restoration and care of the Park, making it one of the City's most successful public-private partnerships,” said Betsy Smith, Central Park Conservancy President and CEO. “The results are the beautiful and welcoming landscapes where this summer kids will kick a soccer ball, fans will eagerly watch the Finals, and millions more people will enjoy the glory of our 843 acres. We thank Mayor Mamdani, Governor Hochul, and FIFA for their collaboration on these wonderful programs.”
“At Street Soccer USA we work every day to strengthen communities through soccer from the bottom up,” said Street Soccer USA Founder and CEO Lawrence Cann. “We are proud to work with the City and State of New York and FIFA to make this Central Park field an inclusive and inspirational one that ensures everyone can participate in building the legacy of the 2026 World Cup.”
“For the past 14 years, Global Citizen has proudly called Central Park’s Great Lawn home. We are thrilled to present the biggest watch party for the biggest match in the world, welcoming 50,000 fans for a free experience in the heart of New York City,” said Global Citizen Co-Founder and CEO Hugh Evans. “As producers of the first-ever FIFA World Cup™ Final Halftime Show, we are honored to help create a day that brings together sport, music, and community while extending the impact of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund and its mission to expand access to quality education and sport for children around the world.”
###