World Cup Opens at MetLife Today — Brazil-Morocco First NY/NJ Match, Eight Group-Stage Games Across 35 Days; NYC Early Voting Begins Same Day Ahead of Jun 23 Primary

NY/NJ FWC kicks off in earnest Saturday Jun 13: Brazil-Morocco at MetLife Stadium is the region's first match in a slate of eight group-stage games through Jul 19. NYC fan zones (Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx + 100+ free borough watch parties), Mamdani-Hochul-Lieber match-day transit plan (eight Gridlock Alert Days, 42nd St bus-only, Sixth Ave bus lanes), and the $130K Know Your Rights canvass all go live today. Parallel civic moment: NYC early voting opens for the Jun 23 Democratic primary — first cycle where Mamdani's endorsement slate (Lander in NY-10, Valdez in NY-7, Avila Chevalier in NY-13) is tested at the ballot box. $50 NYC City Store jerseys went on sale yesterday; $26-for-2026 restaurant-week specials live across 588 restaurants.

• Juneteenth Fri Jun 19 — Federal Holiday, Mamdani Reception Was Tue Jun 16 at Gracie; Schools/Many City Offices Closed, Alternate-Side SuspendedNYC Mayor's Office | NYC.gov | NY1 · June 19, 2026
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• Mamdani Reveals Final State-Legislature Endorsement Slate to Hellgate Wed Jun 17 — Five Candidates, Three DSA + Two WFP, All Open Seats, Capping the Primary CycleHellgate NYC | City & State NY | Queens Eagle | QNS · June 17, 2026