New York mayoral candidate demands more affordable prices for the World Cup
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, who won the Democratic nomination with the promise of making the city more affordable, has raised his voice to demand that FIFA, the world’s governing body for soccer, reduce costs so that New Yorkers can attend the World Cup. In a petition published on Wednesday, coinciding with the first day that fans could request tickets through a pre-sale draw, Mamdani urged FIFA to reconsider its plan to set the prices of next year’s tournament based on demand, calling this practice “price gouging”.The politician, who has named his campaign “Game Over Greed”, also requested that 15% of the tickets be reserved at reduced prices for residents. The tournament will take place in 16 North American cities. Eight matches, including the final, will be played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, a short train ride from New York City. Mamdani added that many of his neighbors will not be able to afford to be present, accusing FIFA of “excluding the workers of the game they love”. In recent days, FIFA’s plan to adopt a “variable pricing” model for ticket sales, similar to that used by airlines or hotels, has generated controversy among some fans. As reported last week, tickets will start at $60 for group stage matches and increase to $6,730 for the final, although they could fluctuate depending on the demand-based pricing model. Mamdani also requested the governing body to establish a limit on ticket resale prices, something that, according to him, has been agreed upon in Mexico but not in the United States or Canada. A FIFA spokesperson stated that the pricing model adopted generally reflects the existing and developing practice in our co-hosts for major sporting and entertainment events on a daily basis, including football. We are focused on ensuring fair access to our game for existing fans, but also for future ones, and we are offering group stage tickets starting at $60, a very competitive price for a major global sporting event in the United States. He also added that it is important to highlight that, as a non-profit organization, the revenue that FIFA generates from the World Cup is reinvested to drive the growth of the game in FIFA’s 211 member associations worldwide. In fact, FIFA expects to reinvest more than 90 percent of its budgeted investments for the 2023-2026 cycle in the game to significantly boost the global development of football. Without FIFA’s financial support, more than 50 percent of FIFA’s member associations would not be able to operate. On Wednesday, online comments from fans were registered reporting difficulties in applying to participate in the presale draw that will take place from September 10 to 19. Applications during this period are not based on the order of arrival, which means that someone who applies at the last minute of September 19 has the same chances of success as someone who does so when the window first opens on Wednesday. Success in obtaining a presale schedule starting October 1st will give fans access to individual tickets, with specific tickets for teams and venues. Mamdani, who secured a resounding victory in the primaries based on promises such as freezing rents for New Yorkers and free buses, framed the fight for the World Cup as part of his broader battle against rising costs for workers. In a press conference on Wednesday, Mamdani quoted Pope John Paul II: “Of all the unimportant things, football is the most important.” The coverage of this news story included information from The Associated Press and PA.“As a lifelong soccer fan, I couldn’t be more thrilled. But, will working-class New Yorkers actually be able to watch any of the games?” Mamdani expressed.
Zohran Mamdani
