This year’s 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to turn New York into one of the tournament’s biggest stages.
With eight matches (including the final) scheduled just across the Hudson at MetLife Stadium the region is preparing for an unprecedented surge of global visitors and soccer fans.
Organizers estimate that more than a million people could travel to the New York–New Jersey area during the tournament, transforming the city into a month-long hub of celebrations tied to the world’s most popular sport.
With matches taking place only a short train ride from the boroughs, officials are already proposing plans to ensure the city can handle the influx, while also making the experience enjoyable for both residents and visitors.
City and state agencies, along with the New York–New Jersey World Cup host committee, are coordinating transportation upgrades, public safety strategies, and fan programming meant to spread the festivities beyond the stadium itself.
And one new proposal in particular is set to turn the city into quite the party, even more than usual.
🍻 Proposed Bill: Outdoor Drinking in Designated Fan Zones
A new bill introduced by Tony Simone, a Manhattan state assemblymember, would allow cities and towns across New York to temporarily permit outdoor alcohol consumption during the tournament.
The proposal, known as Bill No A10339, would create special “entertainment zones” where fans could gather to watch matches on big screens and purchase drinks to enjoy outside. The measure is part of the Hospitality and Open Space Transformation Act, or the HOST Act.
If passed, the law would give municipalities the option to opt in and designate specific areas for outdoor viewing and celebrations during the tournament, which runs from June 11th through July 19th, 2026.
⚽ How the Plan Would Work
Under the proposal, alcohol could only be sold outdoors by businesses that already hold liquor licenses. That means:
- No new liquor licenses would be issued under the plan
- Existing age restrictions would remain in place
- Standard enforcement by authorities would continue
Bars and restaurants within designated zones could sell drinks outdoors during matches, helping accommodate the large crowds expected during the tournament. The bill may also allow bars to extend operating hours to accommodate games played in different time zones, particularly matches taking place overseas.
Importantly, the measure would apply only during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making it a temporary policy tied specifically to the event.
Currently, drinking on public streets—or even possessing an open container of alcohol—is illegal in New York City under New York City Administrative Code Section 10-125.
The law broadly prohibits anyone from consuming alcohol or carrying an open alcoholic beverage in a “public place,” which includes streets, sidewalks, parks, beaches, parking areas, and even the interior of a parked vehicle on a public road.
The only exceptions apply to locations with proper liquor licenses or special permitted events such as block parties or festivals. The proposed World Cup legislation would temporarily carve out limited exceptions by allowing designated entertainment zones where licensed businesses could legally sell alcohol for outdoor consumption during the tournament. ⚽🍻
