New York metro area will host 8 matches expected to generate $3.3 billion in economic impact

Bill package also includes plan to create ‘Thierry Henry Way’ in Manhattan, ‘Pelé Way’ in Queens

NEW YORK, NY – Today, the New York City Council will introduce a package of legislation advancing a citywide strategy to prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and ensure the global tournament delivers meaningful economic opportunities for small businesses and New Yorkers across all five boroughs. The proposed bills would require the implementation of a cultural passport program to encourage visitation across the city, a calendar of activities, a plan to expand public bathroom access, an outreach and education program to spread awareness of common scams impacting tourists, and World Cup-inspired co-names for several thoroughfares and public places, including Thierry Henry Way in Manhattan and Pelé Way in Queens. The legislative package will be introduced during the Council’s Stated Meeting.

“With the World Cup coming to New York City this summer, we have a unique opportunity to drive economic activity and showcase our city to the world,” said Speaker Julie Menin. “This package ensures that the benefits don’t only stay in a few neighborhoods, but reach small businesses and communities across all five boroughs. By centering equity and accessibility, we can make this a moment that delivers for all New Yorkers.”

“As New York City prepares to host an event of this scale, we also have to be honest about the moment we’re in,” said Deputy Speaker Nantasha Williams. “There are real concerns around affordability, access, and whether everyday New Yorkers will feel included in what is being built around them. This legislation is about being intentional in how we respond to that. A cultural passport program creates a clear pathway to connect residents and visitors to institutions, small businesses, and community spaces across all five boroughs so the benefits of this moment are felt more equitably across the city.  If we are moving forward with something of this magnitude, then it has to be done with a clear focus on who benefits and how. That means expanding opportunity, supporting local economies, and ensuring communities see a real return from an event happening in their own city.”

“All eyes will be on New York during our World Cup matches and we are going to make sure that neighborhoods across the city can make the most of the moment,” said Majority Leader Shaun Abreu. “By helping New Yorkers and visitors find the watch parties, festivals, small businesses, and cultural corridors tied to the teams playing, we’ll spread the celebration and economic boost citywide. And to prepare for more people in the streets celebrating, we’re also investing in extra infrastructure to support crowds by extending bathroom hours and adding facilities in high-traffic areas.”

“New York City welcomes millions of visitors each year to experience everything our city has to offer and, in doing so, support our local economy,” said Deputy Leader Sandra Ung. “But for too many, that experience can be undermined by bad actors looking to take advantage of tourists unfamiliar with our city. With global events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, it is more important than ever that we are prepared.  By creating clear, multilingual educational materials that highlight common scams, provide safety tips, and offer straightforward guidance on how to report fraud, my legislation is about giving visitors the tools, information, and confidence they need to enjoy their time here safely. I’m proud to join Speaker Menin and my colleagues to advance this package of legislation to ensure New York City is ready to welcome the world, as well as make sure our city fully benefits from this incredible moment.”

“As Chair of the Council’s Economic Development Committee, I’ve been focused on the City’s preparations for hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” said Council Member Virginia Maloney. “I’m excited to introduce legislation naming Thierry Henry Way in Manhattan and Pelé Way in Queens honoring two global soccer icons who helped shape the modern game. Thierry Henry Way will be in the district I’m proud to represent running alongside Rockefeller Center, where hundreds of thousands of fans will gather for free viewing parties. It’s fitting that we’re connecting this global moment to our local communities and businesses ensuring that New Yorkers are a part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience whether in our stadiums or on our streets.”

“As we look ahead to the global stage of the FIFA World Cup and the excitement it brings to communities through events like Fan Fest, it’s only fitting that we honor one of the game’s greatest icons here at home,” said Council Member Shanel Thomas-Henry. “Co-naming this street ‘Pelé Way’ is a tribute not just to Pelé’s extraordinary legacy, but to the unifying power of soccer to bring people together across cultures, languages, and generations. In a district as diverse and vibrant as ours, this moment reflects who we are and the stories that shape our communities.”

The 2026 World Cup will be the largest edition of the tournament in history, expanding from 32 to 48 national teams and featuring 104 matches across 16 host cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for New York City, with significant potential for economic growth, tourism, and global visibility. The New York/New Jersey Host Committee has projected the eight matches will generate approximately $3.3 billion in total economic impact, including $1.7 billion in visitor spending, support for over 26,000 jobs, and $432 million in state and local tax revenue.

The legislative package being introduced today comes after an oversight hearing in February hosted by the Committee on Economic Development, chaired by Council Member Virginia Maloney,to examine the City’s preparation efforts leading into this summer’s tournament. The bills in the legislative package include:

  • Preconsidered Introduction, sponsored by Council Member Virginia Maloney, would co-name several thoroughfares and public places, including Thierry Henry Way in Manhattan and Pelé Way in Queens.
  • Preconsidered Introduction, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Dr. Nantasha Williams, would require the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) to develop and implement a cultural passport program in consultation with the Department of Small Business Services (SBS), the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA), and New York City Tourism + Conventions. The goal of the program would be to encourage visitation to participating sites in each borough.
  • Preconsidered Introduction, sponsored by Majority Leader Shaun Abreu, would require the City to publish a calendar of 2026 World Cup activities, including viewing parties, recreational events, performances, street festivals, and other cultural programming. It would also require SBS to create a map of neighborhoods within the City with a significant concentration of residents or businesses sharing a cultural connection to a participating nation, and to conduct outreach to small businesses to help them maximize economic engagement during the World Cup.
  • Preconsidered Introduction, sponsored by Majority Leader Shaun Abreu, would require the City to develop a plan to expand access to public bathrooms during the 2026 World Cup, including details of installing temporary public bathrooms, increasing frequency of bathroom maintenance, and promoting a list of public bathrooms.
  • Preconsidered Introduction, sponsored by Deputy Leader Sandra Ung, would require the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) to create an outreach and education program to spread awareness of common scams targeting and impacting tourists.
  • Preconsidered Resolution, sponsored by Council Member Shanel Thomas-Henry, would celebrate the arrival of the 2026 World Cup in the City of New York.

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