World Cup 2026 Fan Events

The list of World Cup fan events is always a bit overwhelming, and this WC26 is even more so with so many entities looking to capitalize on a World Cup in the land of capitalism. The following is my attempt to summarize the larger events in host cities surrounding USMNT matches.

Los Angeles

June 10 - Wednesday

6PM - FIFA Countdown Concert

June 11 - Thursday

9AM - 8PM - US Soccer House

10AM - 4PM - FIFA FanFest Los Angeles

5PM-11PM – American Outlaws Night-Before

6PM-close - American Outlaws Bar Crawl

6PM - SAMMERS Welcome Party

June 12 - Friday

10AM - 10PM - US Soccer House

11AM - 9PM - FIFA FanFest Los Angeles

Noon - SAMMERS Pre-game Party

1Pm-5PM - American Outlaws Pre-game

6PM -USA vs Paraguay (2PM Gates/4:30PM Opening Ceremony) - Match Information

10PM - 2AM - Sports Illustrated Beyond the Pitch Concert

June 13 - Saturday

10AM - 10PM - US Soccer House

11AM - 9PM - FIFA FanFest Los Angeles

7:30PM - Shakira Concert

Seattle

June 17 - Wednesday

9AM - 10PM - Victory Hall

10AM - Seattle Center Fan Celebration

9AM-6PM - Seattle Soccer House

Noon-4PM - The Barge

June 18 - Thursday

7AM - 9PM - Victory Hall

8AM-8PM - Seattle Soccer House

9AM - Seattle Center Fan Celebration

Noon-8PM - Waterfront Watch Party

5-11PM – American Outlaws Night-Before

5PM – SAMMERS Welcome Party

June 19 - Friday

8AM - Scuffed Podcast Watch Party

8AM - MN - Victory Hall

8-10:30AM- American Outlaws Pregame

8:30PM - Men in Blazers - Match Day Live

9AM-8PM - Waterfront Watch Party

9AM-8PM - Seattle Soccer House

10:30AM - Seattle Center Fan Celebration

Noon – USA vs Australia (9AM Gates) - Match Information

3PM - SAMMERS Post-game Party

5-11PM - Insomniac - Tiesto

June 20 - Saturday

7AM - 9PM - Victory Hall

9AM-7PM - Seattle Soccer House

10AM - Seattle Center Fan Celebration

7:00 – DJ Diesel Block Party

Los Angeles

June 24 - Wednesday

10AM - 8PM - US Soccer House

6-11PM – American Outlaws Night-Before

TBD – Sammers Welcome Party

June 25 - Thursday

10:30AM - FIFA Fan Zone Los Angeles

Noon - 10PM - US Soccer House

TBD - SAMMERS Pregame Party

1-6PM - American Outlaws Pregame

7PM -USA vs Turkiye (4PM Gates) - Match Information

June 26 - Friday

10AM - 8PM - US Soccer House

10:30AM - FIFA Fan Zone Los Angeles

Bay Area

June 30 - Tuesday

Coming Soon

July 1 - Wednesday

Coming Soon

July 2 - Thursday

Coming Soon

World Cup Fan Event History: My Experience

2026 will be the ninth time I have been in country for the World Cup. Some of my memories may have lapsed, and I’m sure we missed major events at earlier World Cups, but this overview should provide a sample of the fan events currently being planned for World Cup 2026.

1994—Although we had to cancel our trip and did not attend a match, we did visit Atlanta the week before the tournament opened. As the headquarters of a major sponsor, Coca-Cola, World Cup advertisements and merchandise were present throughout the city. We were unaware of any plans for watch parties around the USMNT matches. Two years later, there were no organized fan events targeting the US matches at the Olympics.

1998—During the group stage, the central fan site in Paris was sparsely attended, and many bars did not even show the games. There were no US Soccer-organized events for fans. Some US matches were played in stadiums with sponsor-driven fan zones that showed broadcasts of other matches.

2002 – Again, there were some sponsor-related activities in host cities and at stadiums on game days. However, there were no US Soccer or supporter-organized events.

2006 – Although there were many opportunities to watch matches in the bars and US fans spontaneously congregated together in host cities on gamedays, there were still no US Soccer-organized events.

2010 –US fan activities were once again dependent on random gameday meetups, which varied from tail-gate-type activities in Rustenburg to entertainment district gatherings in Pretoria.

2014 – This was the first World Cup with large FIFA-organized Fan Fests, and US Soccer organized night-before and pregame parties. These parties drew large crowds of US fans and many celebrities.

2018—With the USMNT failing to qualify, there were no US Soccer-related activities. However, there were large FIFA Fan Fests in the host cities and gatherings around the US broadcast locations.

2022—In Doha, there was one central official FIFA Fan Fest. It was often crowded, with long lines to enter. US Soccer organized night-before events in coordination with Budweiser for each US match. Although there were no official supporter group-organized events, small groups of fans organized pregame gatherings, pregame events, and stadium meetups.