Mayor Mamdani watched World Cup semifinal triumph in a New York prison

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani chose an unconventional venue to watch the 2026 World Cup semifinal: Rikers Island jail. Instead of attending a public viewing area, Mamdani joined inmates to watch Argentina's victory over England.

The event took place in the gymnasium of the Rikers Island correctional facility, where over 100 inmates, recognized for their good conduct, watched the match on a specially installed screen. "The World Cup has been a magical moment for the entire city," Mamdani stated, highlighting that the inmates are integral members of New York. "They are New Yorkers and will continue to be New Yorkers when they leave Rikers. I wanted to make sure we could celebrate this moment together."

“

The World Cup has been a magical moment for the entire city. They are New Yorkers and will continue to be New Yorkers when they leave Rikers. I wanted to make sure we could celebrate this moment together.

During his visit, Mamdani interacted with the inmates, even joking about his preference between Argentina and England. The participants were treated to a special menu that differed from the usual fare, featuring salmon, penne alla vodka, and chicken parmigiana. Inmates expressed their appreciation for the elevated meal, with one, Thomas McCoy, noting it had been a long time since he had "real food like that" after 21 months of incarceration.

According to correctional authorities, nearly 90 World Cup-related activities have been organized since the tournament began, involving approximately 4,500 of the roughly 6,600 inmates housed at Rikers Island. New York City is also set to host the World Cup 2026 final on July 19 at the New York/New Jersey Stadium.

“

We had the privilege of having food that we really don't usually have and, you know what I say, I've been locked up for 21 months, so it's been a long time since I've eaten real food like that.