As was the case during the Knicks’ historic title run, New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani was in the nosebleed seats at Sunday’s World Cup final in nearby East Rutherford, New Jersey.
But to be clear, these weren’t the ‘cheap’ seats. It’s not known what Mamdani paid for a ticket at MetLife Stadium, but the reported ‘get in’ prices ranged from $6,400 to $9,500, depending on the ticket sale platform.
And just like Game 3 of the NBA Finals, when Donald Trump was on hand at Madison Square Garden, Mamdani stayed clear of the US President. This time, however, Mamdani avoided the standing-room-only section in favor of an actual seat.
The post did include a photo of Mamdani using a 1990s-era disposable camera as the pre-game festivities took place on the field below.
‘Over the past month, New York City has welcomed the world,’ Mamdani wrote from New Jersey.
‘From neighborhood watch parties to the stadium, we’ve celebrated the communities that make our city the global capital of the beautiful game.
New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani was in the nosebleed seats at Sunday’s World Cup final
Players of Spain celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup finale
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani poses with a World Cup Trophy alongside Ezequiel Cecchi, 49, after making a World Cup soccer tournament announcement at Harlem Tavern on May 21
‘Today, we close out a historic World Cup, proud of how New Yorkers showed up every step of the way.’
Fans were quick to remind Mamdani that his city did not host a single World Cup game during this year’s tournament.
‘Exactly ZERO matches were played in New York City,’ one critic wrote on X.
‘Didn’t know East Rutherford was in New York Mayor,’ another added.
New York City was involved in the World Cup festivities this year, with several media events taking place in Manhattan, where thousands of tourists stayed during the tournament.
Mamdani also set up World Cup watch parties around the city during the North American tournament in an effort to bring the excitement to fans who couldn’t afford the four-figure ticket prices.
The 34-year-old democratic socialist did take criticism during the tournament for wearing jerseys other than Team USA’s. In June, Mamdani opted to wear an Arsenal-themed custom kurta to celebrate Eid ahead of the start of the World Cup.
Mamdani was also present at the first World Cup game held at the New York New Jersey Stadium between Brazil and Morocco, but he opted to wear a New York City-themed shirt instead of a Team USA jersey.
