NYC Mayor Predicts Morocco Will Win 2026 World Cup

When New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani sat down to predict the 2026 World Cup winner, he went with his heart over his head and picked Morocco to make history.

Mamdani, a rare avid soccer fan in American politics, filled out a tournament bracket for The Guardian and made a bold call: Morocco will beat France in the final. If he's right, it would mark the first time an African country has ever won or even appeared in a World Cup final.

The mayor's love for soccer runs deep and shapes how he leads America's largest city. He's shown up to Eid prayers wearing an Arsenal-branded kurta, hosted watch parties at municipal courts for the Africa Cup of Nations final, and campaigned against FIFA's controversial dynamic pricing policies that make tickets unaffordable for regular fans.

"The heart wants what it wants," Mamdani said when making his final selection between Morocco and France. His bracket included other surprises too: Haiti advancing deep into the tournament, Brazil falling to Japan early, and the United States reaching the quarterfinals before losing to England.

Morocco gave him reason to believe. Four years ago in Qatar, the Atlas Lions became the first African team to reach a World Cup semifinal, sparking massive celebrations in New York's North African communities. Mamdani joined his Queens constituents on Steinway Street in Astoria after Morocco beat Portugal in the quarterfinals.

The mayor, who was born in Uganda, traces his soccer passion to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. He was at Soccer City in Johannesburg when Ghana faced Uruguay in the quarterfinals and says he cried in the stadium after Luis Suarez's infamous handball changed the game's outcome.

Why This Inspires

Mamdani isn't just making predictions from the sidelines. Last month, he announced a program making 1,000 tickets available to New York City residents for just $50 each through random draw. Those affordable seats will let everyday New Yorkers attend seven matches at MetLife Stadium in nearby New Jersey, including Morocco's tournament opener against Brazil on June 13.

The initiative reflects Mamdani's belief that soccer belongs to everyone, not just those who can afford premium prices. At the announcement event, he stood alongside USMNT players Tim Weah and Mark McKenzie, both native New Yorkers, reinforcing the connection between the global game and local communities.

Whether Morocco actually wins remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: this World Cup will have a mayor cheering loudly for an underdog story that could inspire a continent.