As the City gears up for the World Cup, the messaging from our leaders has been a bit confusing.
As the City gears up for the World Cup, the messaging from our leaders has been a bit confusing. The message started out optimistic; The World Cup will bring the world to New York and will be an opportunity to bring our communities together in celebration and be an economic boon.
Then it got ominous; The World Cup will bring the world to New York, so we need to manage the associated crowds and dangerous chaos by cancelling public events in our neighborhoods and warning people not to come into the city. And most recently, ridiculous; with transit officials urging New York & New Jersey Commuters to work from home whenever possible during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Suggesting that people work from home, during a “once-in-a-generation event” is not just ridiculous but downright anti-NYC! This is New York’s time to shine, and we need to speak with one voice and that voice should encourage all to live, work and visit the greatest region at an incredibly special time. FIFA will mean excitement in the Big Apple this summer.
With Mayor Mamdani announcing thirty-nine free live viewing parties, Governor Hochul expanding outdoor alcohol service throughout the tournament, and small businesses and neighborhood groups planning engaging and exciting public activities, NYC should be the place to be this summer. Whether you are at the stadium, in our streets, pubs or parks, the energy will be palpable.
Promoting “work from home” during the games, will deny workers from experience this memorable opportunity of welcoming the world to the New York area for the World Cup. And it won’t just be employees who hear the message – encouraging people to avoid the city will reach daily tri-state visitors and tourists as well. Encouraging employees and visitors to stay home during the World Cup will hurt small businesses the most in our city.
FIFA is expected to bring 1.2 million visitors to our area. If we tell the two million people who commute to New York City each day to Zoom-in, we will be taking a page from Paris during their summer Olympics- streets will be empty, businesses will suffer and promises of economic grandeur will go unfulfilled.
We have had eight years to plan for this event and eight games in New Jersey shouldn’t make New York City less safe for public gatherings or encourage people to work from home. Large events have the potential to help a city. The Super Bowl brought more people to our region during a slower time, boosting the economy.
The World Cup is coming during the peak tourism season where hotel occupancy is already high, any discouragement of visits to our city will result in an economic loss to our region. Each year, Queens welcomes over 100,000 fans to watch tennis and baseball on the same day and we don’t tell people to work from home.
When Ed Sheeran attracted over 88,000 to a mid-week performance at Met Life Stadium, we didn’t shut down the city or encourage people to stay away. When 93,000 people gathered in Met Life Stadium for a religious event we came to work. One million people from around the world come to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade each year, many on public transportation, and we don’t tell people to work from home, and we don’t discourage events.
We are the city that never sleeps because we can host multiple events in the greatest setting in the world. We are the city that in one month hosted a Papal visit, the UN General Assembly, the US Open, and countless other sporting events. After eight years of planning, saying “No” or “Stay Away” is the easy option. Finding a way to Yes is what we have done before and what we should be doing now.
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