STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani wants to test out a cornerstone of his campaign for the FIFA World Cup, according to a recent report.
In the five weeks that the event will take over New York City and the nearby MetLife Stadium come summer 2026, Mamdani is seeking to make all city buses free to riders, according to The New York Times.
The pilot program would last from mid-June to mid-July as over 1.2 million guests are anticipated to come for the cup’s matches, according to the media outlet.
In order for the program to be implemented, however, Mamdani needs help from New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul and Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chief Executive Officer Janno Lieber.
Contrary to popular belief, “It [the MTA] is the state-led authority, not the city, that sets policies involving bus fares,” according to The Times.
A 2023 free bus pilot program showed that all free routes had bolstered ridership and less attacks on drivers compared to routes where riders paid.
Mamdani’s ambitious plan to make buses free made him point to the Staten Island Ferry during his mayoral campaign, which has been free for riders for almost three decades.
“When people say buses can never be free, don’t ask them to take a hike. Ask them to take the ferry,” Mamdani said in a May 2025 campaign video.
The mayor argued that the cost to make New York City buses free to riders would cost about $700 million annually — roughly $300 million less than the prediction offered by the MTA.
The money to pay for the routes would come from taxes, to which Mamdani has been vocal about taxing the richer New York City residents.