New York City has introduced a free "NYC Neighborhood Passport" initiative ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, transforming the five boroughs into a citywide scavenger hunt. Participants are encouraged to collect stamps from various locations across the city, with the goal of discovering immigrant communities that reflect the countries competing in the tournament. The program, launched on June 11, aims to deepen residents' connection to the city's diverse cultural fabric.
The passport, designed by City Hall's in-house team and illustrator Arsh Raziuddin, is a 32-page booklet styled like a classic US passport. It guides users to over 60 locations, including libraries, museums, cultural institutions, and neighborhood events. While some destinations are well-known landmarks such as Carnegie Hall and the American Museum of Natural History, others highlight lesser-known sites like Little Caribbean NYC, the Lewis Latimer House, and Historic Richmond Town.
The initiative emphasizes exploring immigrant communities that have shaped New York City for generations. The passport's introductory pages state, "Every country playing in the World Cup already has a home in immigrant communities that have been building NYC for generations." It invites participants to "discover the vibrant humanity and cultural abundance of NYC’s 300+ neighborhoods."
Beyond stamp collecting, the passport includes journal pages for participants to document their experiences, noting "Who I met and what I did, saw, ate, and learned." It also provides information about the 48 countries competing in the World Cup and their impact on the city's culture, highlighting that over 3 million immigrants in New York City mean all participating nations have a presence within the city.
The program is a collaboration between Mayor Eric Adams' administration and Team Wonder as part of the city's broader World Cup festivities. World Cup Czar Maya Handa noted that affordability was a key consideration in the program's design.
Each collectible stamp was created by a New York City artist with international roots, representing countries such as India, Peru, Nicaragua, Ukraine, Argentina, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Poland. The random distribution of these stamps adds an element of surprise and discovery for participants.
The passport challenge has gained traction on social media, with users sharing their progress and encouraging others to explore. TikTok users like Debbie (@daaliart) and @its_mabster have showcased their passports, expressing enthusiasm for collecting stamps and venturing into new neighborhoods. Another user, @andreas_journey, described the passport hunt as a "super fun thing to do in New York this summer."
In addition to cultural exploration, the passport offers an introduction to soccer culture for those unfamiliar with the sport. Participants can use library stops to find books on soccer history and rules, and learn about countries competing in the World Cup that have established communities in New York City or are playing matches in the New York-New Jersey region.
The initiative encourages New Yorkers to look beyond their immediate surroundings and engage with the diverse communities that make up the city, framing the passport as an opportunity to discover overlooked parts of Gotham and embrace the spirit of the World Cup.