Zohran Mamdani, the New York City mayor, has faced criticism after reports surfaced that he attended a Brazil vs Morocco World Cup match from a luxury suite without paying for his ticket.
The mayor was at MetLife Stadium alongside New York Governor Kathy Hochul, while fans spent thousands of dollars to watch the match.
Tickets for the match were among the most expensive of the opening weekend, with some resale listings reaching around $1,600 on game day.
The mayor's office defended his attendance, citing a contractual obligation with the New York and New Jersey 2026 World Cup Host Committee to attend certain matches.
However, social media users have questioned why Mamdani accepted complimentary access when regular fans faced high ticket prices.
