Downtown NYC is embracing World Cup fever, and there are all manner of soccer-themed and adjacent events filling up the calendar over June and July. If you want a round-up of what’s happening and when, look no further — we’ll keep this page updated as and when we get the word on events, watch parties and more. (And if you’re a business planning a watch party, let us know!)
May 26: USA squad announcement at Pier 17
With the tournament drawing close, so too is the deadline for the participating teams to finalize their squads. As per FIFA, final 26-member squads will be “considered official [when] confirmed by FIFA on 2 June.” The USA, however, isn’t waiting around: there’s a glitzy roster reveal event happening on May 26, and it’s right here in NYC.
The event is taking place at Pier 17, and it kicks off at 1 p.m. with what the venuedescribes as “a festival of all things US Soccer.” The actual squad announcement begins at 3 p.m., with each player given an individual introduction over the course of the next hour. The whole thing is free, and you can register via the US Soccer website.
June 11–27: Six Coasts Governors Island watch parties
If you fancy heading across the water for your watch party action, then Six Coasts on Governors Island is promising to provide “a waterfront location for World Cup fans, hosting more than 15 matches with panoramic views of [the New York] skyline.” The venue is showing a selection of featured matches, all of which are listed on their site. You can get there via ferry from both Manhattan and Brooklyn; hours of operation during the World Cup watch parties are 11 a.m.–10 p.m. on Thursdays and Sundays, and 11 a.m.–11p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
June 11 onwards: The Hungry Pearl watch parties
In addition to the usual 8 a.m.–8 p.m. weekday opening hours, all 16 vendors at the Hungry Pearl food hall (100 Pearl St.) will be open on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the tournament, hosting watch parties with drink specials, vendor food specials and a selection of giveaways and prizes. Opening hours are 12 p.m.–9 p.m. Saturdays and 12 p.m.–8 p.m. Sunday. Check availability via Eventbrite.
June 12 onwards: PAC NYC watch parties
It’s nice to see the Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) getting into the sporting spirit! The center plans to show a bunch of games throughout the tournament, all of which will be open-air screenings on the venue’s terrace (weather permitting). There’ll also be food and drinks from Metropolis by Marcus Samuelsson, so if you fancy something classier than a pint and some wings with your football, this could be the spot for you.
The screenings start with Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, at 3 p.m. on June 12, and a full schedule of matches to be shown is available at PAC NYC’s website. Admission requires one drink purchase.
June 12 onwards: Battery Park watch parties
As part of its usual free summer event programming, this year Battery Park will be hosting a number of free watch parties for World Cup games. As per the official announcement, the first of these events will be on June 12, for the USA–Paraguay game, and will feature “a family-friendly tailgate and a performance by the Queer Big Apple Corps Marching Band.” Heck yes.
More details on additional parties as we get them; as of now, the only information available is that “additional screenings will take place from July 5–19…covering matches from the Round of 16 through the Final with accompanying activities.”
June 13: Stone Street opening weekend takeover
In which Lower Manhattan’s most historic cobblestone walkway embraces World Cup fever and celebrates the tournament’s opening weekend. As per the official Stone Street Instagram account, the event kicks off at 2 p.m. and will be co-presented by local institution Beckett’s Sports Bar and Casamigos.
June 28–July 19: Match Day Live at Brookfield Place
From June 28 through the final on July 19, Brookfield Place is transforming its Winter Garden into a soccer utopia. The site will feature a 36-foot LED screen, on which there’ll be screenings of every match kicking off before 5 p.m., along with an on-site soccer pitch, a video game arcade and a digital target practice setup. The absolute best part, though, sounds like the “Work From Bar” experience, which frankly is a practice that should be encouraged at all times.*
The site will be open from 11 a.m.–7 p.m. daily; more details are available at Brookfield Place’s website.
* Within reason, obviously.
Tom Hawking is a Brooklyn-based writer, editor and football fanatic. Find him at his website.
photo: iStock
