New York City will convert streets outside 50 schools into car-free soccer pitches ahead of this year’s World Cup, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Monday.
Dubbed “soccer streets,” the free pop-ups will close streets to traffic so that kids can play soccer, make art and enjoy other activities, similar to a block party. The events began this month and will last through the last day of school on June 26, according to City Hall.
The city is partnering on the series with Street Lab, a nonprofit that hosts events in public space, and New York-based yogurt maker Chobani. Any city public school interested in a World Cup-themed block party can reach out to Street Lab to participate, Mamdani’s office said.
"The World Cup is coming to New York City, and we want every kid in this city to experience the joy of the game,” the mayor said in a statement. “Soccer Streets takes that energy directly into our neighborhoods — closing streets to cars, opening them to play and making sure this celebration isn't reserved for people who can afford a ticket.”
Kids play soccer during a recent soccer streets event in New York City.
The World Cup is slated to begin on June 11 and goes through July 19. MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey — which is temporarily being named New York-New Jersey Stadium for the event — is hosting eight matches throughout the tournament, including the final game.
Tickets to watch the games in person and public transit fares to get to the stadium are pricey. NJ Transit, which offers direct railroad service from Manhattan Penn Station to East Rutherford, is charging World Cup ticketholders $105 for a roundtrip ride to the games. Fares were originally going to be $150 before a private donor helped subsidize part of the cost.
The traffic-free soccer streets are part of the city transportation department’s Open Streets initiative that allows businesses, neighborhoods and schools to close off their adjacent streets and use them for public events.
Kids draw flags at a soccer streets event ahead of this year's World Cup.
"For so many schools, the street outside their door is the only outdoor space they have,” city Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn said in a statement. ”Soccer Streets shows what's possible when we give that space back to kids — for play, for learning, for community.”
Some schools have already begun using the program to participate in free World Cup-related festivities.
City and state officials also recently announced watch parties for the tournament in all five boroughs and some locations outside the city.
