New York - Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura today announced that the City's NYC Open Play pilot - which offers New Yorkers the opportunity to play late-night soccer at fields across all five boroughs - will continue through September 2027. The pilot program was immensely successful, drawing more than 4,500 participants over the course of a month.
Initially launched during the 2026 FIFA World Cup and supported by the New York New Jersey Host Committee, the pilot program kept one soccer field in every borough open for late-night pick-up soccer throughout the summer. Following strong participation throughout the summer pilot, Open Play will return from October through November 2026 and again from April through September 2027, with extended play available from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. The expansion offers New Yorkers the opportunity to play soccer late into night throughout this fall and next summer, including through the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup. New Yorkers can sign up for a late-night field at https://nycopenplay.com/.
"This summer, we proved that the people's game will always belong to the people. Long after the sun had set, our late-night soccer fields came alive with energy and enthusiasm as nurses, students and delivery workers passed, saved and scored," said Mayor Mamdani. "The World Cup may be over, but our commitment to a city where every New Yorker can find joy for free continues. That is why we're keeping the lights on at fields across the city and extending this program through next summer and the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup."
"The strong participation we saw during the summer pilot showed us that there is a real demand for late-night play. We're excited to bring Open Play back and continue creating more opportunities for New Yorkers to enjoy their neighborhood parks," said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. "Parks are places where New Yorkers can come together, stay active, and build community, and that should be possible beyond traditional recreation hours."
"The measure of a successful World Cup is not only what happens during the tournament, but what continues long after it ends," said Alex Lasry, CEO of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ New York New Jersey Host Committee. "Open Play gave thousands of New Yorkers greater access to the game during an extraordinary summer for soccer across our region, and its continuation is exactly the kind of lasting impact we hoped the World Cup would inspire. We're proud to have supported the program and to see the City build on its success, creating more opportunities for New Yorkers across all five boroughs to play and connect through the game."
New Yorkers ages 18 years and up will be able to play pickup soccer free of charge from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at five participating fields across the five boroughs:
- Soundview Park in the Bronx
- Calvert Vaux Park in Brooklyn
- Harlem River Park in Manhattan
- Astoria Park in Queens
- Fairview Park on Staten Island
NYC Parks will continue to manage field permits and lighting.
During the summer pilot, 4,531 participants took part in 696 field bookings, with each booking bringing an average of six to eight players to the field. Calvert Vaux Park in Brooklyn was the most utilized location throughout the six-week program, welcoming 1,448 players. Participation peaked between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., informing the schedule for the extended pilot.
Onsite play will be facilitated by NYC Footy, and New Yorkers can continue to sign up online on our website https://nycopenplay.com/. NYC Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP) officers will provide a dedicated presence at each site.
