As World Cup mania begins to grip New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has ordered five city parks to be kept open through the night until July 18, so nocturnal soccer lovers can get even more time on the field.
The parks will open for extra play time, allowing overnight pickup games from 10:30 p.m. continuing into the morning as late as 8 a.m.
The pickup games will be offered at pitches in each borough: the Chelsea Waterside Field in Manhattan’s Hudson River Park, Calvert Vaux Field near Bath Beach in Brooklyn, Astoria Park in Queens, Soundview Park in the Bronx and Fairview Park on Staten Island.
Each field will have space for up to three seven-on-seven matches, and parks enforcement patrol officers will be on site for security each night.
Each field will be equipped with goals, cones and soccer balls and will be staffed by partner organizations like NYC Footy.
“New Yorkers know: our public parks are where the real matches are at,” Mamdani wrote in a statement. “The best way to celebrate the World Cup is by pulling on a pinnie, getting onto the field and rooting for your fellow New Yorkers.”
The expanded field hours come after Mamdani ordered the lights be kept on for an extra hour at 50 fields that host a variety of sports through Labor Day.
Those who want to play have to be at least 18 years old, and teams or individuals can register at nycopenplay.com. Games will be suspended during severe weather, though officials said they will continue during light rain.
