New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani walked confidently across the City Hall lawn on Thursday, sat down, and admitted that he had not had time to do much research into who he thought was going to win this summer’s World Cup.
On the face of it, this should come as no surprise. Mamdani oversees the municipal government of the United States’ largest city – one facing record-high rents and continued fears over ICE, and which faced a budget crunch among myriad other issues upon his election to office.
However, Mamdani is also an avid soccer fan – a rarity in American politics, made especially so by his strong, repeated engagement with the sport as both a matter of public policy and cultural force. He attended Eid al-Adha prayers in the Bronx wearing an ***** nal-branded kurta. He has campaigned against Fifa’s dynamic pricing policy, while also hosting a watch party at a municipal court for the Africa Cup of Nations final.
Related: Morocco World Cup 2026 team guide
Mamdani’s connection to African football will get even stronger now. Playing the Guardian’s World Cup Bracketology game, Mamdani offered his prediction of how he sees the tournament playing out: he sees Morocco beating France in the final.
On the face of it, this should come as no surprise. Mamdani oversees the municipal government of the United States’ largest city – one facing record-high rents and continued fears over ICE, and which faced a budget crunch among myriad other issues upon his election to office.
However, Mamdani is also an avid soccer fan – a rarity in American politics, made especially so by his strong, repeated engagement with the sport as both a matter of public policy and cultural force. He attended Eid al-Adha prayers in the Bronx wearing an ***** nal-branded kurta. He has campaigned against Fifa’s dynamic pricing policy, while also hosting a watch party at a municipal court for the Africa Cup of Nations final.
Related: Morocco World Cup 2026 team guide
Mamdani’s connection to African football will get even stronger now. Playing the Guardian’s World Cup Bracketology game, Mamdani offered his prediction of how he sees the tournament playing out: he sees Morocco beating France in the final.
4 months ago
