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FIFA partnership to award $250,000 in NYC community grants
The Association for a Better New York’s “World Cup for All” initiative will benefit fan engagement and youth programs
The men’s soccer World Cup is coming to North America this year, with the first game in New Jersey scheduled for June 13. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
As New York City gears up to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer (with our neighbors in New Jersey), nonprofits are ensuring the festivities will benefit local corridors and communities.
With the games expected to generate around $3 billion and bring in a million visitors, the Association for a Better New York – a 50-year old coalition of more than 250 diverse nonprofit, government and corporate member organizations – will award up to $250,000 to community-based organizations tied to the World Cup.
“The 2026 World Cup is a once-in-a-generation moment for New York City, and our responsibility is to make sure it shows up in neighborhoods across all five boroughs," New York City’s World Cup Czar Maya Handa said in a statement.
As part of the “World Cup for All” initiative made in collaboration with the FIFA World Cup 2026 New York/New Jersey host committee, ABNY announced Thursday it will award $5,000 to $15,000 grants to New York City nonprofits for community fan engagement activities and youth recreation programming. From now until June, the organization will also convene monthly meetings with 40 civic leaders, specializing in open space, infrastructure, tourism, local economic development, and transportation to create a forum with tournament organizers and government agencies.
Applications for the “World Cup Community Grant Program” are now open, with eligible organizations encouraged to apply online by March 13, 2026. Priority consideration will be given to projects that serve historically underserved populations, in addition to those centering on local community outreach and engagement, and are free to the public.
“By supporting grassroots fan engagement and youth programming, this grant program helps extend the excitement and economic impact of the World Cup to every neighborhood, creating lasting benefits well beyond the final match,” Julie Coker, President and CEO of New York City Tourism and Conventions, said in a statement.