NYC launches World Cup ‘neighborhood passport’ to help fans explore the city
Graphic courtesy of Team Wonder. Photo of Mayor Mamdani announced “Soccer Streets,” courtesy of Kara McCurdy, Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr
New York City is launching a “neighborhood passport” to help New Yorkers and visitors explore the five boroughs and find affordable ways to experience this summer’s FIFA World Cup. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the initiative on Thursday, which will allow participants to collect stamps from hundreds of community organizations and public events across the city while encouraging exploration of immigrant neighborhoods, cultural institutions, and small businesses. NYC Tourism + Conventions will also launch a new calendar and interactive digital map to help users discover low-cost events, promotions, and activities during the tournament.
“The World Cup isn’t just coming to MetLife Stadium. It’s coming to Corona and Flatbush, Astoria and Sunset Park, and every neighborhood that makes New York the most diverse, dynamic city in the world,” Mamdani said.
“Whether you’re arriving at JFK for the first time or you’ve lived in the five boroughs your whole life, we want every New Yorker and every visitor to experience the full breadth of this city during the World Cup,” he added.
Starting June 11, the passports will be available at every public library across the city. Each special stamp has been designed by NYC-based artists with roots in India, Colombia, Iran, Korea, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Vietnam, Ghana, Mexico, and Argentina, reflecting both the countries participating in the World Cup and the cultural diversity of the five boroughs.
Featured events include dance performances, film screenings, art exhibits, book talks, block parties, and much more, which will motivate participants to venture to all five boroughs in order to collect the stamps. Locations were selected to highlight immigrant communities, including Little Senegal in Harlem, Little Colombia and Little India in Queens, among others.
Participants include the American Museum of Natural History, El Museo del Barrio, the New York Botanical Garden, the Museum of the City of New York, and the Bronx Museum. A full list of participating organizations and stamp locations is available here.
The Mamdani administration and Team Wonder are also launching “Already Home,” a nationwide storytelling campaign inviting soccer fans and non-fans to share what the World Cup means to them.
Participants will be able to submit video or audio recordings, which will become part of a national collection spanning cities including Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Seattle, Albuquerque, and El Paso.
NYC Tourism + Conventions’ interactive events map will launch on May 27. Businesses and organizations can submit events and promotions for consideration free of charge.
Last month, the City Council introduced a package of legislation to support local businesses during the nearly six-week tournament at MetLife Stadium, which includes five group-stage matches on June 13, 16, 22, 26, and 27, a round of 32 match on June 30, a round of 16 match on July 5, and the final on July 19, as 6sqft previously reported.
One bill included the creation of a “cultural passport program” to encourage exploration of local businesses and institutions. Another aimed to establish a centralized events calendar to help attendees find festivals, parties, and cultural corridors tied to participating teams.
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