Hundreds Of Restaurants Offer $26 World Cup Special

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, NYC Tourism + Conventions and the FIFA World Cup 2026 New York New Jersey Host Committee said on May 22 that nearly 600 bars, restaurants and other food businesses had signed up for a citywide $26 promotion tied to the tournament. The program, called the “Five Borough Winners Special,” is billed by the city as New York’s official dining promotion for the World Cup. It is meant to give fans and residents a fixed-price option during the tournament while steering spending into neighborhood businesses across all five boroughs. The World Cup begins June 13 in the New York City-New Jersey host region and the final is scheduled for July 19, according to the city’s World Cup playbook. ### What is the $26 special, exactly? The city said participating businesses can offer “drink and meal specials” for $26 throughout the tournament. Separate program materials circulated by NYC Tourism say restaurants, bars and food businesses can structure that offer flexibly, including a $26 food-and-drink combination or another item they choose at that price. (nyc.gov) NYC Tourism’s business registration page describes the promotion as a citywide dining program meant to “showcase the flavors that define New York City.” The city said the goal is to give New Yorkers and visitors “reliably priced dining options” during the World Cup period. ### Who is running it? The May 22 announcement came from Mamdani, NYC Tourism + Conventions and the NYNJ Host Committee. Julie Coker, president and chief executive of NYC Tourism + Conventions, said in the city announcement that the program is intended to help visitors explore neighborhoods and support local businesses while they are in town for the tournament. (nyc.gov) (admintools.nyctourism.com) Mamdani said in the same announcement that “you do not need an expensive ticket to be part of the World Cup” and that the promotion would help residents and visitors find a predictable place to eat and drink. The city framed the dining offer as part of a broader package of World Cup programs aimed at small businesses. ### How big is the program? Nearly 600 businesses had already signed up as of May 22, the city said. (nyc.gov) That makes the promotion one of the larger city-backed hospitality tie-ins announced so far around New York’s World Cup planning. The participating venues are spread across all five boroughs, according to the city and NYC Tourism materials. Eater New York, citing the city rollout, reported the offers would run for about six weeks during the tournament window. (nyc.gov) ### Where do fans find the restaurants? NYC Tourism said participating businesses will be featured through its World Cup materials and on the “Welcome World Rewards” platform. (nyc.gov) The city said customers using that platform will be able to earn points while visiting participating businesses. The city also directed businesses to enroll through NYC Tourism’s WC26 toolkit, which is the same hub where program information is being organized. (nyc.gov) Patch and other local coverage said participating lists and details would be available through city tourism channels as the tournament approaches. ### How does this fit into New York’s larger World Cup plan? (nyc.gov) New York City’s World Cup playbook says the city and New Jersey will host eight matches beginning June 13, including the final on July 19. The dining promotion sits alongside other city-backed efforts, including free borough fan events, a neighborhood passport program, a digital map and an events calendar. The City Council said in an April 16 release that the metro area’s World Cup matches were expected to generate $3.3 billion in economic impact, though that estimate came from council leaders promoting a separate legislative package. (nyc.gov) The Mamdani administration has presented the dining program as one way to direct some of that activity toward small businesses outside the stadium area. ### What happens next? June 13 is the opening date for matches in the New York City-New Jersey host region, and the “Five Borough Winners Special” is set to run throughout the tournament. (nyc.gov) The city said more food businesses can still join through NYC Tourism’s WC26 toolkit, while diners will be able to look for participating venues across the five boroughs as the match schedule gets underway. (nyc.gov) (council.nyc.gov)