Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani Urges FIFA to Drop Dynamic Pricing for 2026 World Cup

Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist and front-runner in New York City's mayoral race, launched a petition Tuesday calling on FIFA to abandon plans to use dynamic pricing for ticket sales to the 2026 World Cup and to limit resale prices while reserving discounted tickets for local residents.

Mamdani said in a campaign video that FIFA’s move to set ticket prices in real time would price working-class New Yorkers out of matches, including the final scheduled at MetLife Stadium. He urged FIFA to reverse course, cap resale prices on official resale platforms and set aside 15 percent of tickets at a discounted rate for local residents. Mamdani, 33, directed viewers to sign a petition on his campaign website under the banner "Game Over Greed."

FIFA confirmed earlier this month that it will employ dynamic pricing for the 2026 tournament, with group-stage tickets starting at $60 and the most expensive ticket for the final listed at $6,730. Mamdani warned that tickets bought at low face value could be resold on an official FIFA platform with no price cap, saying in the video, "They’re going to figure out in real time how much they can get away with for charging a ticket. The tickets can be resold on an official FIFA platform with no price cap. That means you can buy a ticket for 60 bucks and sell it for $6,000."

FIFA has not publicly altered its policy since announcing the dynamic-pricing model. The organization did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Mamdani’s petition, and a spokesperson for the New York/New Jersey 2026 Host Committee also did not immediately comment when contacted.

MetLife Stadium, in the New York metropolitan area, is slated to host eight World Cup matches in 2026: five group-stage games, one match in the Round of 32, one in the Round of 16 and the final. FIFA’s ticketing plans and pricing model have drawn concern from supporters' groups and fan organizations in recent months; Football Supporters Europe wrote to FIFA in July expressing "serious concerns" after initial reports about dynamic pricing. The Athletic reported that FIFA could make more than $3 billion in ticket revenues from the 2026 tournament.

Mamdani framed his petition as an effort to ensure local access to what he called the "biggest sporting event in the world happening in your backyard." He said pre-sale for some ticket categories was scheduled to start the day after his announcement. It was not immediately clear whether Mamdani had raised the issue directly with FIFA officials or with representatives of the host committee.

The mayoral candidate’s announcement comes as he maintains a leading position in the city’s Democratic primary. A recent Siena Research/NY Times poll cited by his campaign showed Mamdani receiving 46 percent support if the race remains a four-way contest.

FIFA’s adoption of dynamic pricing for 2026 marks a departure from fixed-ticket pricing used in prior men’s World Cups. Supporters’ groups, consumer advocates and some politicians have raised concerns about potential volatility in prices and the impact on local fans, while FIFA and commercial partners have argued the model can maximize revenue and broaden access through different price tiers. FIFA’s ticketing platform and the host committee have said in past statements that they aim to distribute tickets through a mix of sales channels, but details on enforcement of resale caps and allocations for local residents remain central to ongoing public debates.

Mamdani’s petition seeks immediate policy changes from FIFA ahead of the tournament next summer, and organizers will face continuing pressure from elected officials, fan groups and civic advocates to clarify how many tickets will be reserved for locals and whether effective caps on resale will be instituted.