Video from a Rikers World Cup watch party shows New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani greeting incarcerated people as they watched the England-Argentina World Cup semifinal, and public records reviewed by Fox News Digital indicate at least one attendee was a convicted gun felon awaiting sentencing.
The event has prompted questions about how inmates were selected for these reward-based viewings, what city officials knew about attendees’ criminal histories and how the screenings fit into broader oversight of the jail system.
What happened at the Rikers World Cup watch party
Video of the July watch party, reviewed by multiple outlets, shows Mamdani speaking with and greeting inmates as more than 100 people watched the match. City officials have described the screenings as programmatic activities intended to reward good behavior and reduce tensions in the facility.
Mayor Mamdani’s office promoted World Cup-related programming for New Yorkers, and the Mayor’s Office framed the Rikers viewings as part of those efforts. The city said the events were held across multiple facilities and were intended as behavior-based incentives rather than blanket privileges.
Who attended and known criminal records
Queens County court records reviewed by Fox News Digital identify Thomas McCoy, 52, of Brooklyn, as one attendee. Those records show McCoy was found guilty in May of two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a loaded firearm and related misdemeanor drug counts; he was remanded without bail after the verdict and is scheduled to be sentenced July 22, according to the court documents and reporting.
McCoy told The Associated Press that he had been incarcerated for 21 months and described the watch party as a rare moment of good food and camaraderie. The AP’s account corroborates reporting about the event and McCoy’s presence at the screening.
Separately, an inmate identified in reporting as Ralph Veal is awaiting trial in Manhattan after pleading not guilty to multiple felony counts of third-degree grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, the reporting notes. Where court files were cited, those characterizations are attributed to the public records and news reporting; Fox News Digital has noted it has reviewed Queens County court records in connection with McCoy’s case.
Reporters and advocates caution that not all attendees’ records have been independently verified for every screening. It remains accurate to attribute criminal-history claims to the specific court records or reporting that identified them rather than to generalize about all participants.
Rikers World Cup watch party: city response and transparency questions
The Mayor’s Office issued a news release highlighting the watch parties among other World Cup programming and quoted Mamdani saying, “These are New Yorkers, and they will be New Yorkers when they get out of Rikers.” Correction Commissioner Stanley Richards defended the programming, saying, “Programs like this equal safety in our jail.”
At the same time, reporters, public advocates and some council members have pressed for more transparency about the selection criteria used to determine which incarcerated people could attend. Fox News Digital has submitted public records requests seeking the identities of inmates selected for the watch parties, the eligibility criteria used and related documentation that would show whether people charged with or convicted of violent felonies were eligible or participated.
It is not yet confirmed whether Mayor Mamdani was briefed on the criminal histories of attendees before his visit; the Mayor’s Office has been asked for clarification. The Associated Press independently reported on the watch parties and interviewed attendees, providing corroboration of some on-the-ground details in addition to the Fox News reporting.
Safety, oversight and program context
The World Cup screenings were among roughly 90 watch parties the city said were held at Rikers during the tournament. The Mayor’s Office reported that about 4,500 of the jail’s roughly 6,600 inmates participated across events as a reward for good behavior.
Rikers remains under federal oversight after a judge ordered reforms and an independent remediation manager was appointed to oversee changes. The facility has a long history of scrutiny over violence, staffing shortages and federal findings that officials failed to remedy unconstitutional conditions.
Mamdani named Stanley Richards as correction commissioner earlier this year. Supporters of expanded programming argue that structured activities can reduce tensions and improve safety inside jails. Critics say that when publicity highlights individual attendees, the city should provide clearer records about selection processes and ensure accountability when people with serious charges or convictions are included.
By the numbers
• Roughly 90 watch parties were held at Rikers during the World Cup, the city said.
• The Mayor’s Office reported about 4,500 of the jail’s roughly 6,600 inmates participated across the events as behavior-based incentives.
• More than 100 inmates attended the England-Argentina semifinal where Mamdani greeted attendees on camera, according to video and reporting.
What comes next
Thomas McCoy is scheduled to be sentenced July 22. Fox News Digital and other outlets have sought court records and related documentation that could clarify which inmates were selected for the watch parties and the criteria used to determine eligibility.
Because the jail system is subject to federal oversight and an independent remediation manager, any findings about selection processes, safety implications or briefing practices could draw scrutiny from court-appointed monitors and oversight officials. Public records requests and follow-up reporting are likely to determine whether the selection practices and briefings for city officials followed established policies or whether additional oversight or policy changes are recommended.
Source: Fox News Digital — Convicted gun felon awaiting sentencing earned spot at Rikers World Cup watch party with Mamdani; reporting referenced from The Associated Press and Queens County court records reviewed by Fox News Digital.
