​Just before the United States suffered a crushing 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani found himself at the center of social media chatter for an unrelated soccer post. Mamdani shared a video touting NYC Open Play, the city’s overnight pickup soccer initiative, and wrote, “Now presenting 24/7 soccer fields in the city that never sleeps. Find your next late-night game at nycopenplay.com.” The post’s timing quickly drew attention, with many joking that the mayor was urging New Yorkers to get back on the pitch after the U.S. was eliminated, even though he posted it before the match.
Yet the reactions, while focused on the USMNT’s loss, did not render the initiative new. Mamdani officially launched NYC Open Play on June 12 as part of New York City’s World Cup festivities, offering free overnight pickup soccer in every borough through July 18. The program, devised in partnership with New York City FC, NYC Footy, NYC Parks, and the Hudson River Park Trust, enables adults 18 and older to play pickup soccer throughout the night at designated fields citywide.
At the announcement, Mamdani explained that some of the world’s best soccer isn’t confined to stadiums but also thrives on neighborhood fields. He emphasized his desire for every New Yorker to have an opportunity to participate in the World Cup excitement, whether by playing or cheering others on. Each participating location features multiple small-sided pitches with goals, cones, and soccer balls, while NYC Footy staff organize teams across the night. New York City FC backs the initiative with youth clinics, community programming, and rotating giveaways.
The fields hosting the program include Chelsea Waterside in Manhattan, Astoria Park in Queens, Calvert Vaux Park in Brooklyn, Soundview Park in the Bronx, and Fairview Park on Staten Island. Games typically begin around 10:30 p.m. and can run into the early morning hours, with security personnel stationed at each site.
Sunday’s post wasn’t Mamdani’s only major soccer-related announcement from City Hall that week. He also revealed that NJ/NY Gotham FC would relocate to Etihad Park starting in 2028, sharing the venue with New York City FC. “Their new stadium, Etihad Park, the first dedicated soccer stadium anywhere in the five boroughs, matches Gotham FC’s standard of excellence,” Mamdani said. “For decades to come, the people will now be able to watch Gotham FC show off the world’s game in the world’s borough.”
Read on for the broader reactions to Mamdani’s tweet. Fifty Cent commented that he and the mayor “don’t have beef” and suggested Mamdani focus on Taylor Swift’s wedding instead. And though not every reaction centered on the tweet itself, Mamdani remains one of his city’s most visible voices in the ongoing conversation about how New York embraces soccer, community programming, and the World Cup’s enduring impact on urban life.