Stay in hostels
Where: HI NYC Hostel ($60-80/night), Generator NYC ($50-70/night), Pod Times Square ($80-120)
Why: Common rooms, rooftop bars, organized events, easy to make friends
Tip: Book 6-8 bed dorm (more social than 4-bed or private)
Sports bars on match days
Where: Smithfield Hall (Midtown), Jack Doyle's (Times Square), The Stumble Inn (UES)
Why: International crowd, everyone talks during World Cup matches
Tip: Wear neutral colors or ask 'who should I root for?' - instant conversation
Join walking/food tours
Where: Free Tours by Foot, NYC Food Tours (pizza, bagels, dumplings)
Why: Meet other travelers, share experiences after
Tip: Suggest grabbing drinks/dinner after tour with group
World Cup fan meetups
Where: Reddit r/NYC, Facebook World Cup groups, Meetup.com
Why: Find fellow travelers for NJ Transit rides to MetLife, watch parties
Tip: Post: 'Solo traveler, anyone taking NJ Transit to MetLife Stadium June 14?'
NJ Transit to MetLife Stadium
Where: 45-60 min train ride packed with fans from Penn Station
Why: Trapped with fans for 1 hour - easy conversations
Tip: Ask fellow passengers about their team, where they're from, travel tips
Hostel events
Where: HI NYC has weekly pub crawls, Generator NYC has rooftop parties
Why: Instant group, no pressure
Tip: Even if staying in hotel, join hostel events (drop-in $10-20)
Brooklyn Smorgasburg (Saturdays)
Where: Williamsburg waterfront, 100+ food vendors
Why: Easy to start conversations while waiting in line, shared tables
Tip: Go solo, sit at communal tables, chat with neighbors
Central Park (Sheep Meadow)
Where: Sunbathing, picnics, frisbee
Why: Easy to join pickup games, chat with fellow sunbathers
Tip: Bring book/frisbee, people will approach you