NYC residents have chance to buy 1,000 tickets for $50 - New Jersey miffed

• New York City has worked since March to secure a deal with FIFA that will allow the city to run an exclusive lottery for World Cup tickets
• Up to 1,000 tickets can be bought at a steep discount of only $50 if you are a New York City resident - exclusively
• New Jersey officials have lamented the deal that left New Jerseyans out of the lottery

New York has recently been listed by Casino Guru as one of the least friendly host cities for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the recent announcement confirming that New York City inhabitants, and they alone, could participate in a lottery to purchase 1,000 tickets for $50 is probably not doing much to burnish the city’s "everyone’s welcome" credentials.

Here is some context.

NYC FIFA World Cup lottery - the great equalizer

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on Thursday that NYC residents (and only they, mind you) now have a chance to purchase a thousand tickets at $50 each. This is a huge discount from the standard ticket pricing, which could hit four digits easily.

But perhaps more worthwhile than the lottery announcement by Mayor Mamdani is how New Jerseyans have reacted to the whole thing. Gov. Mikie Sherill hurried to criticize the lottery through a spokesperson and said that FIFA did not care about the costs for New Jersey residents.

"This is just another reason why Governor Sherrill is working hard to lower costs on our own," the spokesperson explained. However, Mayor Mamdani should be given credit because he reportedly reached out to FIFA President Gianni Infantino in early March and has been working hard to ensure that it can happen.

"We are making sure that working people will not be priced out of the game that they helped to create," Mayor Mamdani added.

"A World Cup is coming to our backyard, and we want to ensure working-class New Yorkers have the opportunity to be part of it. We sat down with the Host Committee to make certain this tournament belongs to the people who make this city what it is," the outspoken politicians said.

The lottery is already drawing excitement from sports fans, but it won’t be open from May 25 at 10 am and will eventually run out on May 30 at midnight. All winners will be revealed on Wednesday, June 3, and will receive their ticket in person by visiting the bus boarding location.

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