New York to highlight its five Boroughs during FIFA Men’s World Cup

As North America prepares to welcome the FIFA Men’s World Cup, New York City Tourism + Conventions released activities and experiences for visitors to enjoy in NYC this summer.

With eight World Cup matches including the Final at New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium), plus viewing parties, soccer/football activations and a windfall of new destination offerings across the City’s five boroughs, the travel sector can highlight to potential visitors what should not be missed out on the upcoming celebrations.

“The six-month countdown is officially on, and New York City cannot wait to welcome visitors from around the globe for the FIFA World Cup,” said Julie Coker, President and CEO of New York City Tourism + Conventions. “From football matches, official viewing events and local celebrations to new openings and cultural offerings across all five boroughs, there will be so much to see and do this summer, no matter your budget. No place does big events on a world stage quite like NYC.”

“We are preparing to deliver a fan experience unlike anything seen in World Cup history—one that will be felt across every borough of New York City,” highlighted Alex Lasry, CEO of the FIFA World Cup 26 New York New Jersey Host Committee. “From our FIFA Fan Festival in Liberty State Park to our Queens Fan Zone and Rockefeller Center Fan Village, these experiences will bring the World Cup far beyond the stadium, creating accessible and memorable ways for fans to come together and experience the world’s biggest matches.”

Visitor information and activities include:

Key Dates

• Group Stage Matches:

  • June 13 at 6pm ET: Brazil vs. Morocco

  • June 16 at 3pm: France vs. Senegal

  • June 22 at 8pm: Norway vs. Senegal

  • June 25 at 4pm: Ecuador vs. Germany

  • June 27 at 5pm: Panama vs. England

• Round of 32 Match: June 30 at 5pm

• Round of 16 Match: July 5 at 4pm

• Final Match: July 19 at 3pm

Fan zones & viewing events

• FIFA Fan Festival™ NYNJ will be held at Liberty State Park in New Jersey throughout the tournament from June 11–July 19, with live match screenings, music, celebrity appearances, family-friendly programming and more. Early bird tickets are now on sale for June 11–16 ($10 with fees; children 12 and under can enter for free with an adult).

• The NYNJ World Cup 26 Fan Zone Queens will take place at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center’s Louis Armstrong Stadium from June 17–28. In addition to live match broadcasts, the Fan Zone will include entertainment, games, local food vendors, official merchandise, VIP hospitality experiences and more.

• From July 4–19, fans can enjoy the New York New Jersey World Cup 26 & Telemundo Fan Village at Rockefeller Center. The Fan Village will transform the iconic Rockefeller Center Rink into a football pitch serving as a centerpiece for live match broadcasts, an interactive fan festival across Rockefeller Plaza and a Champions’ Garden celebrating the eight nations that have won the FIFA World Cup.

• Bars and restaurants across the five boroughs will be screening matches live throughout the tournament. Visit Clinton Hall in the Bronx, FancyFree in Brooklyn, The Football Factory at Legends in Manhattan, Rivercrest in Queens and Ralph’s Sports Bar in Staten Island, and see this soccer bar roundup for more inspiration.

Sports-inspired cultural offering

• Beginning May 15, visitors can celebrate the science, culture, and community of sport at the American Museum of Natural History. The museum will launch a series of programs and experiences to engage FIFA World Cup fans, starting with a new special exhibition in the Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals’ Meister Gallery which will present a collection of championship rings, trophies, medals, and jewelry from legendary athletes and teams. The museum will open two additional galleries featuring family-friendly, interactive soccer experiences, viewing spaces and large-scale media showcasing iconic moments in global sports history.

• Starting in mid-May and running through mid-July, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) on Manhattan’s Upper West Side will celebrate the global spirit of the world’s game with a museum-wide experience designed especially for children ages 0–6 and their families. Blending art, movement, music and play, CMOM will offer hands-on activities inspired by the 48 participating nations, soccer-themed story-times and cultural explorations that introduce young children to teamwork, creativity and belonging through the universal language of play.

• The Whitney Museum of American Art will host World Cup-themed Free Friday Nights and Free Second Sundays throughout the tournament. Visitors can enjoy DJ sets inspired by global music traditions, art-making activities, tours and refreshments, all culminating in a special West Side Fest celebration (July 10–12) ahead of the Final match weekend. These activities will take place during the Whitney Biennial 2026, featuring artists from tournament host cities and countries around the world, shown alongside iconic American works by Hopper, Warhol and Basquiat.

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