NJ Gov. Mikie Sherrill expected to make World Cup announcement as NYC unveils free watch party
NEW YORK (WABC) -- New York officials have announced a free World Cup Final watch party for 50,000 fans in Central Park, while in New Jersey, Gov. Mikie Sherrill is expected to make a World Cup-related announcement Tuesday morning in Hackensack.
Details about Sherrill's announcement have not yet been released.
Gov. Kathy Hochul joined New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and other officials announced plans for a free watch party on Central Park's Great Lawn for the World Cup Final on July 19.
Officials say the event will allow up to 50,000 people to watch the championship match, which is expected to be one of the most-watched sporting events in the world.
Leaders said the World Cup is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that should be accessible to all New Yorkers, regardless of whether they can afford tickets to attend the match in person.
Tickets for World Cup matches have ranged from hundreds to thousands of dollars, prompting scrutiny and investigations by state attorneys general. Transportation costs and limited transit options to MetLife Stadium have also made attending matches difficult for some fans.
Officials say the free watch party is intended to give more people an opportunity to take part in the historic event.
Fans hoping to attend the watch party will need to secure a ticket through a lottery system. Registration for the lottery opens Thursday, June 11.
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