The Best Broadway Shows to See During the 2026 World Cup

Beyond the World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium, the greatest live entertainment in the world happens just across the river in the Theater District of Manhattan. Seeing a Broadway show is an electrifying experience, featuring the absolute pinnacle of acting, staging, and musical talent. However, navigating the Broadway ticketing ecosystem can be confusing and expensive for first-time visitors.

How to Get Tickets

If there is a specific, massive hit show you absolutely must see (like Hamilton, The Lion King, or Wicked), you must buy your tickets online months in advance through official vendors like Telecharge or Ticketmaster. Do not expect to walk up to the box office on a Friday night in July and buy tickets to the hottest show in town. If you wait until you arrive, you will be forced to use secondary resale markets (like StubHub or SeatGeek), where prices are heavily inflated.

Securing Discounted Tickets

• The TKTS Booth:

  If you are flexible on what show you want to see, head to the famous red TKTS booth in Times Square (under the red stairs). They sell same-day tickets for dozens of shows at 20% to 50% off. The lines can be long, so download the TKTS app to see what is available before you queue.

• Digital Rush and Lotteries:

  Almost every Broadway show offers heavily discounted tickets via digital lotteries or digital rush through apps like TodayTix. You enter the lottery the day before the performance, and if you win, you can buy incredible seats for as little as $35 to $45.

• Off-Broadway Options:

  Do not ignore "Off-Broadway" shows. These are simply shows in smaller theaters (fewer than 500 seats). They are often edgier, highly intimate, and significantly cheaper than the mega-musicals on Broadway proper.

A Broadway show typically starts precisely at 7:00 PM or 8:00 PM. Eat dinner in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood (just west of the Theater District) beforehand to avoid the overpriced tourist traps directly in Times Square.