On Thursday, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani confidently strolled across the City Hall lawn, took a seat, and acknowledged he hadn’t had much time to delve into research for his World Cup predictions this summer.
This admission shouldn’t come as a shock, given that Mamdani manages the largest municipal government in the United States, which grapples with soaring rents, ongoing concerns regarding ICE, and various financial challenges that surfaced upon his election.
Yet, Mamdani’s passion for soccer sets him apart in American politics. His dedication to the sport transcends mere fandom, evidenced by his active participation in public policy discussions and cultural events. He celebrated Eid al-Adha in the Bronx dressed in an Arsenal-themed kurta and has actively opposed FIFA’s dynamic pricing strategy, even hosting a viewing party for the Africa Cup of Nations final at a municipal court.
Mamdani’s ties to African football are set to deepen. In a recent game of the Guardian’s World Cup Bracketology, he made an audacious prediction: he foresees Morocco triumphing over France in the championship match.
Prior to sharing his choices, I inquired whether he was basing his selections on emotion (what he hopes for) or logic (what he believes is probable). His answer was a blend of both. Some decisions came easily, while others required intense contemplation, particularly the final match, which he ultimately predicted would see Morocco emerge victorious. This outcome seems unlikely to many, but as he noted, “the heart wants what it wants.”
If his forecast proves accurate, it would mark a historic moment as Morocco would become the first African nation to claim the World Cup title and reach the final. His predictions are filled with unexpected turns, including Haiti advancing to the Round of 32, Brazil being eliminated by Japan at the same stage, and the U.S. making it to the quarter-finals before succumbing to England.
Four years ago, Morocco made history as the first African team to reach the World Cup semi-finals. At that time, Mamdani was serving as a New York state assemblyman for a Queens district and joined his community in Astoria to celebrate after Morocco defeated Portugal in the quarter-finals. He shared videos of the festivities on Steinway Street, a vibrant hub for North African communities in the city.
The Atlas Lions are gearing up for this summer’s tournament, currently ranking seventh in FIFA’s standings, with aspirations to surpass their previous performance in Qatar.
Mamdani is likely to attend Morocco’s opening match against Brazil on June 13 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Recently, he unveiled a plan to offer $50 tickets to city residents for seven of the eight matches at the stadium. These tickets, approximately 150 per game for a total of 1,000, will be allocated through a random drawing.
The mayor announced this ticket initiative during an event in May where he appeared alongside U.S. Men’s National Team players Tim Weah and Mark McKenzie, both New Yorkers. Mamdani is optimistic about the Americans’ chances in the tournament, predicting they will top Group D and defeat Canada and Belgium before facing England in the quarter-finals.
In a March press conference discussing the city’s transportation plans for the World Cup, Mamdani withheld his choice for the tournament winner but humorously pointed out which team he believed would not succeed. “It’s not going to be Portugal,” he joked with reporters. In his bracket, he has Portugal getting knocked out by England in the Round of 32.
Born in Uganda, Mamdani has shared how attending the 2010 World Cup in South Africa shaped his love for soccer. He was at Soccer City in Johannesburg supporting Ghana during their quarter-final match against Uruguay and recounted crying in the stands after Luis Suárez’s infamous handball altered the game’s outcome.
This year, he anticipates Ghana moving on to the knockout stage as the third-place finisher in Group I, only to be eliminated by Colombia in the Round of 32.
