More than a hundred prisoners at the Rikers Island prison complex (New York) had the opportunity to watch the semifinal match on Wednesday FIFA World Cup (2026 World Cup) between the national teams of England and Argentina as a reward for exemplary behavior. Joined the joint viewing for a short time Mayor of the city Zohran Mamdani, reports Associated Press (AP).
Prisoners in beige uniforms sat at tables in front of a large projection screen set up in the prison complex's gymnasium. They were offered a rare treat – freshly prepared meals from the catering company. The menu included salad, salmon, penne pasta with vodka sauce, chicken Parma and Snapple drinks.
Before the start of the match, Mamdani discussed the progress of the tournament with the prisoners. One suggested Argentina would beat England and face Spain in the final, to which the mayor replied: “You never know.”
“The World Cup was a magical event for the whole city. These people are New Yorkers, and they will remain New Yorkers after they are released from Rikers Island,” the mayor said.
Since the tournament began last month, about 90 group viewings of matches have been held at the prison complex, according to the AP. Approximately 4,500 of the 6,600 prisoners held on the island took part.
“Programs like this contribute to safety in our prison. We give them [заключенным] understand that we see, hear and value human dignity,” said the head of the city Department of Corrections, Stanley Richard.
Rikers Island is one of the largest prison complexes in the world. It is located on a 413-acre (167-hectare) island between Queens and the Bronx and can accommodate approximately 7,000 people.
Founded in 1935, Rikers Island has gone by many unofficial names throughout its history, including “Gladiator High,” “Torture Island” and “The Furnace.” The latter is due to the fact that the concrete floors and steel doors here become very hot in hot weather. Former New York City Council Chairman Corey Johnson previously called the complex “a symbol of cruelty and inhumanity.”
Serious systemic problems related to conditions of detention, mistreatment and high levels of violence among prisoners continue to this day. Because the situation has not improved significantly in recent years, a federal judge appointed an outside administrator to help reform the institution.
On Tuesday, Nicholas Deml, formerly head of the Vermont Department of Corrections, presented a report with a plan for change. The document, in particular, described a case when inspectors arrived at one of the residential blocks and found that the room was filled with smoke from a fire started by prisoners.
Another episode describes how prisoners walked unhindered through an unlocked door and started a massive brawl.
“Violence remains endemic, basic detention procedures remain precarious, and conditions that violate prisoners’ constitutional rights persist,” the report said.
Since being elected, Mamdani has vowed to implement the 2019 law to close Rikers Island. However, he admitted that it would most likely not be possible to complete this process by the deadline, which is scheduled for 2027.
