An estimated 1.2 million soccer fans are expected to arrive in the New York City metropolitan area for the 2026 FIFA World Cup – and the city offers many things to do when players aren’t on the pitch.
“The World Cup isn’t just coming to MetLife Stadium. It’s coming to Corona and Flatbush, Astoria and Sunset Park, and every neighborhood that makes New York the most diverse, dynamic city in the world,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
From dining to pick-up games to fan events, here are five ways visitors and New Yorkers can experience the World Cup around the city.
Neighborhood Passport
The NYC Neighborhood Passport booklet allows participants to explore New York City and collect stamps from hundreds of cultural institutions, community organizations and public events. The experience works like a citywide scavenger hunt, encouraging visitors to check out the city’s diverse immigrant communities including Little Senegal, Little Colombia, Little India and others, through dance performances, film screenings, art exhibits, book talks, block parties and more.
Each stamp is also designed by a New York City-based artist with global roots, reflecting both the countries represented in the World Cup and the cultural richness of the city. You can pick up an NYC Neighborhood Passport booklet at any public library branch across the five boroughs, as well as at select events.
Find a full list of participating organizations and stamp locations at the back of the passport booklet, and here.
Free Fan Events
The fun does not stop at stadiums and arenas. Official fan zones across the city are bringing people together to share their love of the game. Be sure to check out these free events while watching the matches.
Queens: NYNJ World Cup 26 Queens Group Stage HQ
Location: STA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows
Date: June 11–27
Events: Daily programming and match viewings
Manhattan: NYNJ World Cup 26 & Telemundo Fan Village at Rockefeller Center
Location: Rockefeller Center
Date: July 6–19
Events: Daily programming; extended hours during Finals Week
The Bronx: NYNJ World Cup 26 Bronx Fan Zone
Location: Bronx Terminal Market
Date: June 13–14
Events: Matchday programming and local cultural programming
Brooklyn: Brooklyn Fan Zone
Location: Brooklyn Bridge Park
Date: June 13 – July 19
Events: Daily Programming and match viewings
Staten Island: NYNJ World Cup 26 Staten Island Fan Zone
Location: Staten Island University Hospital Community Park
Date: June 29–July 2
Events: Daily programming and evening match viewings
Eat around NYC neighborhoods
When in New York City, eat like a New Yorker. From flavors you may not have heard of before to dishes that may be hard to find in your own neighborhood, you can discover them here.
Try local dishes with roots from around the world through our food guide, which takes you on a tour of eight World Cup countries with thriving diaspora communities in the Big Apple.
City officials also launched the Five Borough Winners Special. Diners can enjoy meals featuring signature dishes and drink pairings for $26, while collecting limited-edition commemorative cups inspired by each borough. Visit here for the full list.
Watch Parties
The final watch party will be held at Central Park on July 19. The Great Lawn can welcome 50,000 fans to watch the big tournament together. Doors open at noon, and official kickoff is at 3 p.m. Be sure to get a ticket, as registration has already started.
Many more watch parties are popping up across the city, from community-recommended gatherings to celebrity-favorite viewing spots. You can find them here.
Pick-up Soccer Games
New York City offers plenty of places to play soccer, from scenic waterfront fields to neighborhood pitches with deep local roots. Pier 5 at Brooklyn Bridge Park is known for its skyline views, while Pier 40 Rooftop is one of Manhattan’s most beloved soccer spots. For a more local street-soccer feel, Nike Field at Sara D. Roosevelt Park remains one of the city’s recognizable neighborhood fields. NYC Footy created a map for soccer lovers to find peers to play a match spontaneously.
Through July 18, New Yorkers ages 18 and up can also play free overnight pickup soccer at participating fields across the five boroughs. Games may begin as early as 10:30 p.m. and continue as late as 8 a.m. Each location will feature up to three 7v7 pickup pitches with cones, goals and soccer balls. NYC Footy staff will be on site to organize teams, coordinate games for different skill levels and make the experience welcoming for all players.
Participating locations include:
- Hudson River Park’s Chelsea Waterside in Manhattan
- Astoria Park in Queens
- Calvert Vaux Park in Brooklyn
- Soundview Park in the Bronx
- Fairview Park on Staten Island
Players can sign up individually or as a team and check field-specific schedules at nycopenplay.com. Each field will be staffed and monitored by security personnel and Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP) officers.
