A promotional video from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has taken over social media feeds, showing the mayor juggling a soccer ball and touring a local restaurant while promoting a citywide dining deal tied to the World Cup. The video has elicited massive reactions ranging from support to outrage over its tone.
The video, posted to social media, shows Mamdani in a black suit jacket layered over a red ‘New York’ soccer jersey, standing outdoors against a brick wall before cutting to a restaurant decorated with a ‘BOING!’ sign and live mariachi-style musicians.
He holds up a tray of colorful, borough-themed commemorative World Cup cups, each featuring a soccer ball design alongside New York City skyline elements. The video also shows a spread of food, including tacos and fries, with bold yellow text reading “for just $26.”
The promotion is known as the “Five Borough Winners Special,” which is a real ongoing promotion where diners can get $26 drink and food specials at more than one hundred participating bars, restaurants, and food establishments city-wide from June 11 through July 19 during World Cup soccer matches that will be held at MetLife Stadium.
The program, a collaboration between the Office of the Mayor, NYC Tourism + Conventions, and NYNJ Host Committee, features almost 150 businesses in Queens alone, with hundreds more participating in all other boroughs. Businesses are allowed to sell the deal as a prix fixe menu, or a food and beverage combo, or just a stand-alone special.
Internet Reacts to New York City Mayor’s $26 Dining Promo
The video sparked debate online, with some praising Mamdani’s approach while others felt the marketing-style delivery missed the mark.
One commenter wrote, “You should quit as mayor and join a marketing firm. You good!!” while another was more pointed, saying the mayor was “marketing to us like we’re in kindergarten” and arguing that serious political issues were being presented as lighthearted entertainment.
Some focused on the price point itself, with one person writing, “26 bucks for a fast food meal? What a joke. I remember when you could get most value meals around 5 bucks. Anything over 10 is already robbery.”
Others were more lighthearted or supportive. “Y’all can we borrow him for 2 months in Mississippi?” one commenter joked, while another predicted, “This guy’s re-election is going to be the surest thing ever.” A further comment read, “You can’t love this man enough with everything he is doing for NYC. Every city deserves this.”
The video’s high-energy presentation, paired with Mamdani’s soccer-themed branding, has made it a talking point well beyond the program’s original promotional intent. Supporters see it as an accessible, community-focused initiative aimed at helping local restaurants benefit from World Cup tourism, while others view the style of the video itself as the bigger story, sparking debate over how city officials should communicate with residents.
