New York City offers $26 World Cup specials

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, NYC Tourism + Conventions and the FIFA World Cup 2026 New York New Jersey Host Committee said on May 22 that New York City will offer $26 meal and drink specials during the 2026 tournament at participating businesses across all five boroughs. The program, called the “Five Borough Winners Special,” is part of a broader city effort to push World Cup spending beyond stadium trips and official fan zones and into neighborhood restaurants, bars and food shops. The mayor’s office said nearly 600 businesses had already signed up. The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, and the New York-New Jersey region is set to host eight matches, including the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. ### What exactly is the $26 special? The City’s “Five Borough Winners Special” will offer $26 drink and meal specials at participating bars, restaurants and other food establishments, according to the mayor’s office. City officials said the pricing is meant to give New Yorkers and visitors a predictable option during the tournament, when demand is expected to rise across the region. (nyc.gov) Nearly 600 businesses across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island had already enrolled as of the May 22 announcement, the city said. The mayor’s office did not say in the release whether each venue must offer the same format, only that participating businesses would provide $26 specials during the tournament. ### Which businesses are part of it? (nyc.gov) NYC Tourism’s role is to connect visitors and residents with participating venues and related programming across the city, according to the city’s World Cup playbook. The mayor’s office said participating businesses in the special will also appear on the Host Committee’s Welcome World Rewards platform. The city has also told businesses that if they plan to offer specials or host World Cup events, they can submit them through an events portal and use a World Cup toolkit assembled with the host committee. (nyc.gov) That gives restaurants and bars a route to be listed as the city builds out its public-facing World Cup calendar and map. ### How does this connect to the wider World Cup push? The NYNJ Host Committee’s Welcome World Rewards program will let people check in at participating small businesses, earn points and qualify for prizes including merchandise, fan experiences and a chance to attend the World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium, the mayor’s office said. (nyc.gov) Businesses in the $26 special will also be featured on that platform. (nyc.gov) The May 22 announcement adds to several city affordability and neighborhood-outreach measures tied to the tournament. On May 21, Mamdani said the city and host committee had secured 1,000 World Cup tickets for New Yorkers at $50 each, with free round-trip bus transportation to MetLife Stadium. Earlier city announcements also promoted an “NYC Neighborhood Passport,” a public events calendar and borough-wide fan programming. (nyc.gov) ### Why is the city doing this now? New York City Council leaders said in April that the metro area’s eight matches were expected to generate about $3.3 billion in economic impact, including $1.7 billion in visitor spending, and argued that the benefits should reach small businesses across the five boroughs. The mayor’s office has framed the $26 special and related programs as part of that same effort to spread tournament traffic into neighborhood commercial corridors. (nyc.gov) Mayor Mamdani said in the May 22 release, “In New York City, you do not need an expensive ticket to be part of the World Cup. Our small businesses have some of the best seats in the house.” Julie Coker, president and chief executive of New York City Tourism + Conventions, said the goal was to get fans to “explore and experience as much of our great city as possible.” (council.nyc.gov) ### Where do fans and businesses go next? June 11, 2026 is the opening day of the World Cup, and July 19 is the date of the final at MetLife Stadium, according to city World Cup materials. Businesses that want to join the dining special can enroll through NYC Tourism’s World Cup toolkit, while fans can track participating venues and related programming through the city’s World Cup pages and the Welcome World Rewards platform. (nyc.gov)