FIFA World Cup Final Watch Party in Central Park
Crowd of people gathered to watch a large outdoor screen in the park
Watch the World Cup Final on the Great Lawn for free.
On July 19, 2026, Central Park's Great Lawn hosts one of the largest free FIFA World Cup Final watch parties in the world. Up to 50,000 people can watch the Final on three large LED screens, with live entertainment, local food vendors, and DJs throughout the afternoon.
Doors open at 12:00 PM. The Final kicks off at 3:00 PM.
How to Get Tickets
Admission is free, but tickets are required and distributed by lottery through Global Citizen. The lottery opens Thursday, June 11 at 10:00 AM and closes July 16. Twenty percent of tickets are reserved for local nonprofit organizations and NYC Service volunteers.
What to Expect
The event is produced by Global Citizen and emceed by Charlamagne Tha God and Elvis Duran, with iHeartRadio as the official media partner. Expect a full afternoon of programming on the Great Lawn before the match, with live entertainment and DJs building up to kickoff.
The Final broadcast includes the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show, an 11-minute performance co-headlined by Madonna, Shakira, BTS, and Justin Bieber, with Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, and the PS22 Chorus with Coldplay also performing, plus Sesame Street and Muppets characters.
Getting There
The Great Lawn is at mid-park, accessible from multiple entry points. The nearest subway stops are 72nd Street (B/C on the west side) and 68th Street–Hunter College (6 on the east side).
Before the Match
If you're making a full day of it, the park is at its quietest in the morning. Our Central Park World Cup itinerary builds out the hours before gates open. The no-ticket World Cup guide shows how to pair the watch party with free events and fan zones across the city.
A guided bike tour covers the park's most iconic landmarks in two hours and wraps up well before you need to be at the Great Lawn. Pick up a grab-and-go picnic near the park's west side entrance and settle in early.
This page is part of our complete Central Park World Cup guide.