Booklet Printing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup: Producing the NYC Neighborhood Passport

As millions of visitors arrived in New York City for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, city leaders and tourism organizations launched new initiatives to help fans experience all five boroughs beyond the stadiums and major attractions.

One of those initiatives was the NYC Neighborhood Passport, a pocket-sized guide designed to encourage exploration of New York City’s diverse neighborhoods, cultures, and communities. To bring this ambitious project to life, Team Wonder partnered with Bestype to manage the prototyping, production, binding, packing, and distribution of the publication.

From initial concept through final delivery, this project demonstrates how a trusted partner for printing services in NYC can help organizations execute large-scale public engagement campaigns under demanding timelines.

About Team Wonder

Team Wonder is a collective of planners, designers, strategists, and researchers who work at the intersection of cities, culture, and community engagement. Their work combines data, participatory design, and creative storytelling to help transform urban environments in meaningful ways.

Working alongside Mayor Mamdani and NYC Tourism + Conventions, Team Wonder helped launch a series of initiatives designed to welcome visitors during the FIFA World Cup while encouraging both tourists and residents to discover neighborhoods throughout all five boroughs.

At the center of this effort was the NYC Neighborhood Passport.

The Project: NYC Neighborhood Passport

The NYC Neighborhood Passport was conceived as an interactive guide that would inspire exploration beyond traditional tourist destinations. Compact and easy to carry, the booklet encouraged visitors to discover local businesses, cultural institutions, landmarks, and communities throughout New York City.

To ensure the publication was accessible to a diverse audience, four language versions were produced:

• English / Spanish
• English / Chinese
• English / Arabic
• English / Haitian Creole

Before production began, Bestype worked closely with Team Wonder to develop two rounds of printed prototypes, allowing the team to evaluate format, usability, design, and content before final approval.

Once the content was finalized, production moved quickly. The first wave of passports needed to be printed, bound, packed, and distributed within just two weeks.

Job Specifications

NYC Neighborhood Passport

• Finished Size: 3.5” × 5”
• Open Size: 7” × 5”
• 32 Pages + Cover
• Full Color Printing
• Printed Two-Sided Throughout
• Cover: 100# Silk Cover Stock
• Interior: 80# Uncoated Text Stock
• Rounded Corners
• Saddle-Stitch Binding

The compact format made the booklet easy to carry while still providing ample space for maps, recommendations, and neighborhood information.

Combining Indigo Printing and Offset Printing

Meeting the project schedule required a strategic production approach.

To accelerate the approval process and begin fulfillment immediately, the initial short run was produced using our HP Indigo digital offset press.

Indigo Printing for Speed and Flexibility

Indigo printing offers exceptional image quality while allowing fast turnaround times and efficient short-run production. This made it the ideal solution for the first phase of the project, enabling Team Wonder to review finished pieces and begin deployment quickly.

The Indigo press also allowed for rapid production of multiple language versions without the setup costs associated with traditional offset manufacturing.

Offset Printing for High Volume Production

Once quantities increased, production transitioned to our Heidelberg offset press.

For larger quantities, offset printing provides significant efficiencies while maintaining exceptional color consistency and print quality. By combining Indigo printing and offset printing within a single production workflow, Bestype was able to balance speed, quality, and cost-effectiveness.

This hybrid approach is frequently used for large-scale booklet printing projects that require both rapid prototyping and high-volume manufacturing.

Packing and Distribution Across New York City

Printing was only one component of the project.

After production and binding were completed, each version required organized fulfillment and distribution.

Packing Requirements

• Bundled in cartons of 100
• Sorted by language version
• Palletized for shipment
• Prepared for distribution to multiple destinations

The finished passports were delivered to:

• JFK International Airport
• LaGuardia Airport
• Public libraries throughout all five boroughs

Managing these logistics ensured the passports would be available where visitors and New Yorkers could easily access them before and during the World Cup.

Why Local Printing Matters for Time-Sensitive Projects

Major events such as the FIFA World Cup operate on fixed deadlines. There is little room for production delays, shipping disruptions, or communication breakdowns.

Working with a local provider specializing in printing NYC offers several advantages:

• Faster prototype development
• Easier project collaboration
• Better quality control
• Flexible production scheduling
• Simplified logistics and distribution
• Faster response to last-minute changes

For public agencies, tourism organizations, nonprofits, and event planners, having a local production partner can make the difference between meeting a deadline and missing an opportunity.

The Result

Bestype managed every phase of the NYC Neighborhood Passport project—from prototype development and press production to binding, packing, and final distribution.

The first wave of deliveries was successfully completed on June 5, 2026, one week before the start of the FIFA World Cup. This gave Team Wonder and NYC Tourism + Conventions ample time to distribute the passports throughout the city and place them directly into the hands of visitors and soccer fans.

By combining booklet printing, Indigo printing, offset printing, multilingual production, and complex fulfillment services, Bestype helped bring an important public engagement initiative to life during one of the largest sporting events in the world.

Looking for Booklet Printing in NYC?

Bestype provides comprehensive printing services for agencies, nonprofits, tourism organizations, educational institutions, and businesses throughout New York City.

Our capabilities include:

• Booklet printing
• Saddle-stitch booklet production
• Indigo printing
• Offset printing
• Multilingual printing projects
• Prototype development
• Fulfillment and distribution
• Custom printing solutions

Whether you need a few hundred booklets or hundreds of thousands of pieces distributed across multiple locations, our team can help bring your project from concept to completion.