Mayor Adams says he’ll pay for World Cup trip to Qatar

Mayor Adams brushed off questions about his upcoming trip to Greece and Qatar on Tuesday, promising that he’d foot the bill for at least one leg of the journey.

Adams plans to depart Wednesday for the 2022 Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism, which is being held in Athens. After that, he’ll jet to Doha, Qatar — a trip his public schedule describes as “intended to learn more about the 2022 World Cup” — given that New York City and New Jersey will serve as hosts to the event in 2026.

Asked why he needed to go to Qatar himself to assess the situation when an aide could easily go in his stead, Adams responded that he’s an “on-the-ground person.”

“You have to be on the ground to see what’s going on,” he said. “I do it in the subway system, I do it in my schools, I do it in homeless shelters, I do it in NYCHA. This is nothing new. Why is it surprising that I go on the ground to inspect what is happening?”

Adams also made sure to note that the Qatar portion of his sojourn will be paid for out of his own pocket.

“When I do my dime, I can do my time — and I don’t wanna hear anyone whine,” he quipped.

“We’re getting ready to have the World Cup here. It’s a huge undertaking,” the mayor added. “Since I’m in the region already to deal with the antisemitism, I’m taking a quick flight — on my dime — to go inspect what is happening there so that we can prepare.”

The tab for the Athens trip is being picked up by the summit, Adams said.

Asked which games he plans to take in at the World Cup, Hizzoner said he’s not sure.

“Whatever one is playing. I don’t keep up with all the games,” he said. “I just want to make sure that we can do it right when they come here.”