New York City is gearing up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — the biggest in its 96-year history — by doing what New York does best: making art. Mayor Zohran Mamdani just announced a citywide mural project that’ll splash some serious color across all five boroughs.
Twelve murals, to be exact. Each designed by a local artist, these vibrant tributes to the beautiful game are a collaboration between the Groundswell Community Mural Project, the Department of Parks & Recreation, and a couple of other city departments. Because apparently, even art needs a good committee.
Your Chance to Be a World Cup Artist
Here’s the kicker: You don't just get to admire these murals; you get to help create them. New Yorkers can join “community paint days” at each site. The first one already kicked off in Laurelton, Queens, with Mayor Mamdani himself getting in on the action. Peach Tao's design is taking shape there, and it's just the beginning.
We're a new kind of news feed.
Regular news is designed to drain you. We're a non-profit built to restore you. Every story we publish is scored for impact, progress, and hope.
Start Your News DetoxMayor Mamdani says these murals will "belong to the neighborhoods that helped create them," hoping kids will look at these walls long after the final whistle blows and remember what their families helped build. It’s a nice thought, especially when you consider the actual World Cup final match will be held across the river in East Rutherford, New Jersey (though it’s been rebranded as New York/New Jersey Stadium for the event, because details).
NYC cultural affairs commissioner Diya Vij added that the murals will be a visual representation of how the city is celebrating, bringing neighbors and new New Yorkers from around the globe together. Which, if you think about it, is both impressive and slightly terrifying for anyone trying to navigate the subway during the tournament.
So, if you've ever secretly wanted to add "public art contributor" to your resume, now's your chance. Just try not to get paint on the mayor. Or yourself, for that matter.
Mural Locations and Lead Artists:
- Bronx: Walton Playground (Angel Garcia), Franz Sigel Park (VASH)
- Brooklyn: Callahan-Kelly Playground (Miki Mu), Garden Playground (Yolande Delius)
- Manhattan: St. Nicholas Park (Viktoriya Basina), Coleman Playground (Misha Tyutyunik), Lily Brown Playground at Fort Washington Park (Vincent Ballentine)
- Queens: Montbellier Park (Peach Tao), Emerald Playground (Carlos Mateu), Steinway Playground (Colleen Kong-Savage)
- Staten Island: Prall Playground (Mimi Ditkoff), Arrochar Playground (Lina Montoya)
