May 11, 2026 NEW YORK, NY The World Cup is coming to New York, but before the first whistle blows at MetLife Stadium, the beautiful game is taking over the asphalt.
In a bold—and potentially polarizing—move, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Monday that his administration is effectively evicting cars from blocks surrounding 50 public schools across the five boroughs. The mission? To transform transit corridors into "Soccer Streets."
The "Soccer Streets" Takeover: What You Need to Know
Partnering with the nonprofit Street Lab and yogurt giant Chobani, City Hall is launching a massive "pop-up activation" series. Through the end of the school year on June 26, students won’t just be hitting the books—they’ll be hitting the pavement for:
The Catch: A Mystery Schedule
While the program has technically been live since May 1, there’s a major catch for local drivers and parents: City Hall has not yet released the specific days or hours for these closures.
If you’re planning your morning commute or a school pickup, you might find yourself facing a "Road Closed" sign without warning. The administration frames this as a grassroots "reclaiming of public space," but for those navigating NYC’s already gridlocked streets, it may feel more like a fast-break headache.
World Cup Access for the 99%
Mayor Mamdani isn't backing down on the optics. With World Cup tickets reaching astronomical prices across the river in New Jersey, the Mayor is positioning "Soccer Streets" as the great equalizer.
"This celebration isn’t reserved for people who can afford a ticket," Mamdani stated, emphasizing that the program brings the tournament's energy directly to the kids who would otherwise be priced out of the historic event.
To sweeten the deal for the rest of the city, officials also confirmed five free "Fan Zones"—one in each borough—where New Yorkers can gather to watch the matches on the big screen without spending a dime on a stadium seat.
