Welcome World Rewards Program: How to Earn Free World Cup Tickets & Prizes in NYC 2026

Published 2026-06-15 · WorldCup.NYC Editorial

Here's a question worth asking: what if exploring New York City's neighborhoods during the World Cup could win you a ticket to the Final at MetLife Stadium? That's the premise behind the Welcome World Rewards Program — a free digital platform launched by the FIFA World Cup 2026 NYNJ Host Committee that rewards fans for checking in at participating small businesses across New York and New Jersey.

What Is the Welcome World Rewards Program?

It's a check-in rewards system built around neighborhood exploration. Participants sign up, visit participating small businesses across the region, and earn points by digitally checking in at each location while physically present (it's geofenced — you have to actually be there). Those points accumulate into prize eligibility including:

• World Cup Final tickets at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19
• FIFA World Cup match tickets as a guest of the NYNJ Host Committee
• Concert tickets to events at MetLife Stadium and Sports Illustrated Stadium
• VIP fan experiences and exclusive NYNJ Host Committee events
• Official merchandise and sports memorabilia
• Local sporting event tickets across the NYC metro region

How to Sign Up and Earn Points

1. Sign up at nynjfwc26.com/destination or by scanning a QR code at any participating business.
2. Find participating businesses on the platform map — restaurants, shops, cultural institutions, and community events across both states.
3. Visit in person and check in digitally within the geofenced area of the business. The app registers your location — remote check-ins don't count.
4. Earn points per check-in. Attending World Cup Community Initiative events in NJ also earns points.
5. Accumulate milestones to unlock prize eligibility tiers. New rewards are added throughout the tournament.

Strategy: Maximizing Your Points

The program runs through July 19 — the day of the Final. That's five weeks to accumulate check-ins. A few tips:

• Visit the platform map before planning any outing and route your day to hit multiple participating businesses in the same neighborhood
• Prioritize community events in NJ — these may earn bonus points and are often held in clusters on the same day (Flag Cities, Passport to Paterson, etc.)
• The $26 Five Borough Winners Special restaurants are cross-listed on the platform — eat your way to points
• Cultural institutions including AMNH are participating — combine a museum visit and match screening with a check-in

Is It Worth It?

For visitors already planning to explore the city, absolutely — you're spending money at local businesses anyway, and the check-in takes 10 seconds. For locals who want a structured excuse to discover neighborhoods and local businesses they might not otherwise visit, it's a genuinely good hook. And the top prize is a World Cup Final ticket at MetLife Stadium on July 19 — there's no equivalent way to earn one outside of buying at market price.