June 8th, 2026 - New York State and New York City officials announced today that the Great Lawn will host a free watch party for the FIFA World Cup Final on Sunday, July 19. Presented by Global Citizen, the event will accommodate up to 50,000 people and is expected to be among the largest free World Cup watch parties held anywhere in the world.
Tickets will be distributed through a lottery administered by Global Citizen. Registration opens Thursday, June 11, at 10 AM and closes July 16. Twenty percent of tickets will be set aside for local nonprofit organizations and NYC Service. Doors open at 12 noon, with the Final match starting at 3:00 PM.
The event is backed by a combined $9.5 million from Empire State Development and New York City. Charlamagne Tha God and Elvis Duran will emcee, and the program will include live entertainment and food vendors.
Announced alongside the watch party, a temporary mini-soccer pitch called FIFA Arena opens in Central Park on June 10 and runs through July 18, offering free clinics, open play, and community tournaments throughout the tournament.
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