New Jersey World Cup Community Initiative Grant Awardees

The festival features two stages of live music, 8 blocks of food and art vendors, as well as Hoboken businesses. This year the mainstage featured a Freestyle festival with Cynthia and George Lamond headlining.

Join us for an Ivy Hill based soccer tournament between 13 team teams at 5 Manor Dr., Newark, NJ 07106.

Summer Fun is a series of 18 free concerts and 5 outdoor movie screenings around the city throughout the summer, highlighting local artists and cultures. This long-running series attracts both visitors and residents.

Freedom to Play is an inclusive World Cup-inspired community experience presented by The McCovic Foundation in partnership with the NAACP Metuchen Edison Piscataway Area Branch during the Juneteenth Freedom Day Experience in Edison, New Jersey.

The activation will feature adaptive and traditional soccer activities, youth clinics, cultural engagement, and family-friendly programming designed to promote unity, accessibility, wellness, and global connection through the power of play.

Our eight-part business empowerment webinar series is designed to equip entrepreneurs and small businesses with the practical tools, strategies, and insights needed to compete and grow in today’s marketplace.

Each Flag Cities events will feature:
• Live soccer matches broadcasts on massive LED screens
• Food trucks, international cuisine, and beverage vendors
• Beer gardens
• DJs, live music, and cultural performances
• Youth clinics, soccer games, and skills challenges
• Kids’ zones and family activities
• Artisan vendors, merch, and gear

Each event is uniquely tailored to celebrate the team, country, and culture playing the next day.

The city of Union City will be hosting 27 soccer tournaments/friendly matches with visitinng soccer clubs. An outdor street festival will also take place including various vendors, live band performances, and free rides.

This event is free for all attendees.

Esports Tournament featuring Rocket League, a soccer style video game

The Big Match Block Party is a series of block party activations produced in conjunction with the Hoboken Business Alliance, to close streets in 6 zones around the city and enable bars and restaurants to host screenings in beer garden area adjacent to their properties. The goal is to activate local businesses, entertain residents, and attract visitors throughout the World Cup.

Get ready for an incredible day featuring live music, multicultural fare, local goodies, fun for all ages and of course, international soccer on the big screen! The energy is going to be unmatched – come join us on W. Atlantic Avenue as HIP Welcomes the World to Heights!

Bernards Township (Basking Ridge), in partnership with Somerset County, has organized a signature community event for Central New Jersey. This celebration will feature a Soccer Village and Cultural Street Festival (3-6pm) with international food vendors, cultural performances, soccer demonstrations, and family activities, as well as a community watch party for the Brazil vs. Morocco match (6-8:30pm).

A free family-friendly event with cultural food and music, a Kid’s Zone of activities, and the Brazil-Morocco game being streamed as the main event.

Come to South Paterson early and make a night of it! Grab dinner from one of the many incredible restaurants in the neighborhood, then bring your food to the park for a vibrant outdoor watch party on giant screens. Enjoy live music, performances, and an unforgettable atmosphere filled with energy, culture, and community pride.

Each Flag Cities events will feature:
• Live soccer matches broadcasts on massive LED screens
• Food trucks, international cuisine, and beverage vendors
• Beer gardens
• DJs, live music, and cultural performances
• Youth clinics, soccer games, and skills challenges
• Kids’ zones and family activities
• Artisan vendors, merch, and gear

Each event is uniquely tailored to celebrate the team, country, and culture playing the next day.

Watch Netherlands vs. Japan on outdoor big screens and indoor viewing areas family-friendly fun with local businesses and organizations on site. Food will be available for purchase with a portion of proceeds being donated to SJEB FC Shore Girls & Pinelands Soccer Association.

• Day-long viewing party for the World Cup Finals. Using a large LED screen, the WC Finals will be seen all the way to the boardwalk. We will also curate boardwalk activations inclusive of youth soccer teams on the beach.

• Springwood Avenue Sounds – Asbury Park African-American Project (AP-AMP) presents the rhythmic tapestry of Asbury Park’s musical heritage for evenings of soul-stirring performances and art.

• R Bar – diverse music programming and live drawing and visual artists that could create art related to World Cup themes.

• Asbury Park Kickball Turns to Soccer – community-driven group that hosts free, pick-up kickball games that brings together locals of all skill levels for social, non-league fun and would turn them into soccer clinics.

• Juneteenth Family Arts & Cultural Festival – community event that would feature live music, food, local vendors, a children’s station, and a parade.

• Paranormal Books & Curiosities – a story-telling event with projections provided by Luminous Abstract that would center around sports and wellness for young people.

Fan Days: Reduced pricing for Summer of Soccer & Science at Liberty Science Center with access to planned soccer-themed activities and experiences, including drone soccer, subsoccer, stage shows, and more. This 45-day science-sports party will deliver unique, soccer-themed educational experiences for diverse audiences, including families, adults, and corporate groups.

The Tri-County Fair is a four-day regional summer event in Rockaway Township, New Jersey, that attracts more than 35,000 attendees annually through family-friendly entertainment, rides, food, live music, multicultural programming, and community engagement.

Now in its 12th year, the Fair has become one of North Jersey’s largest community celebrations and will feature expanded World Cup-themed experiences in 2026 as part of New Jersey’s broader World Cup year momentum.

Red Bank Watch Party at Count Basie Park is a vibrant outdoor community gathering where residents and visitors come together to enjoy live international soccer on a large screen. The event features music, food, and family-friendly activities that celebrate culture, connection, and the shared excitement of the game.

This will be a festival with food trucks and vendors that will incorporate the World Cup games for this day. We are expecting up to 3,000 people on this day as it is a national holiday.

On the second day, there will also be a youth soccer combine testing athletes skills, and tracking them into career pathways. This program will be run with our program partner Sports Power Infrastructure.

Red Bank Watch Party at Count Basie Park is a vibrant outdoor community gathering where residents and visitors come together to enjoy live international soccer on a large screen. The event features music, food, and family-friendly activities that celebrate culture, connection, and the shared excitement of the game.

Flemington Cup: The Halfway Point is a ticketed, family-friendly World Cup watch party and cultural festival on Stangl Road in Flemington, NJ on June 19, 2026, featuring a live stream of USA vs. Australia on a large LED wall on a main stage — with additional TVs throughout the closed-street festival footprint — plus six food trucks, Lone Eagle Brewing as the exclusive beer provider, a social permit bar, live DJ and band performances, cultural programming, and a soccer village complete with 3v3 games, kids activities, face painting, and more.

Produced by the Flemington Improvement District in the heart of the Stangl Arts and Cultural District, The Halfway Point brings together Flemington’s diverse community and draws regional visitors to experience the Borough’s vibrant small businesses and destination dining, with a maximum capacity of 3,000 attendees.

Watch party featuring World Cup games

Join the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey for an exciting World Cup 2026 Watch Party featuring Haiti vs Brazil.

Join us in the heart of historic Princeton, NJ for a Global Food Festival and World Cup Watch Party! Enjoy family friendly events, festival food favorites, a passport to Princeton’s Global Cuisine, Chalk and Balloon Art, and a DJ between games!

In continued partnership with the Newark Arts Council, Newark Alliance, and the City of Newark Arts & Education District WC/N2S will be able to provide a variety of Newark community soccer or wellness-themed events including:
• Family-oriented festival celebrating African culture and communities including music, art, fashion, dance, crafts and cuisine. This high-energy, family-friendly event will also showcase the love for “football” on the continent. Ironbound Soccer Club/Salvation Army – youth soccer activation in each ward of the city
• GlassRoots – local non-profit that fosters individual and community development through the transformative powers of glass art. They would host an event on the art-making of glass soccer balls.
• Brick City Solstice – Summer yoga & wellness event that would include yoga, meditation, sound healing, and uplifting community energy. (June 2026)
• International Food and Music Festival – will bring together residents to celebrate diverse cultures through cuisine and live performances. Also offers youth sports programs in baseball, soccer, and football during the festival.
• Dia De Portugal Newark – Portugal Day which coincides with the start of the World Cup,
• Yogi & Rest Fest – powered by the Lincoln Park Music Festival, Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District (LPCCD), and the Parks Foundation featuring yoga, fitness, meditation, live arts, healthy food demos, and vendors and would culminate in a high vibrational dance party where participants will be invited to release their stress, move their bodies and revel in the spirit of fun and community.

The New Jersey Youth Mini World Cup 2026 – Trenton Host City Activation is a one-day bilingual community event bringing together youth soccer teams, families, cultural vendors, and community organizations from across New Jersey in celebration of the World Cup spirit.

The activation will feature a Parade of Nations, youth soccer matches, community resource engagement, “Letters of Hope” initiatives, and multicultural programming designed to promote community unity, economic activity, and youth empowerment.

Each Flag Cities events will feature:
• Live soccer matches broadcasts on massive LED screens
• Food trucks, international cuisine, and beverage vendors
• Beer gardens
• DJs, live music, and cultural performances
• Youth clinics, soccer games, and skills challenges
• Kids’ zones and family activities
• Artisan vendors, merch, and gear
Each event is uniquely tailored to celebrate the team, country, and culture playing the next day.

Fan Days: Reduced pricing for Summer of Soccer & Science at Liberty Science Center with access to planned soccer-themed activities and experiences, including drone soccer, subsoccer, stage shows, and more.

Each Flag Cities events will feature:
• Live soccer matches broadcasts on massive LED screens
• Food trucks, international cuisine, and beverage vendors
• Beer gardens
• DJs, live music, and cultural performances
• Youth clinics, soccer games, and skills challenges
• Kids’ zones and family activities
• Artisan vendors, merch, and gear

Each event is uniquely tailored to celebrate the team, country, and culture playing the next day.

Watch party featuring World Cup games

Large-screen match screenings, international food and cultural offerings, and community-based soccer programming that brings local recreation groups, nonprofits, and educational partners together.

The event will also include a curated vendor marketplace with New Jersey craft and gift vendors, and beverage offerings highlighting South Jersey’s award-winning wineries and breweries.

Public watch party with a large screen, food, vendors and music.

NJPAC is hosting four free, large-scale community celebrations during the World Cup period. These events will take place in the newly reimagined Chambers Plaza and will be connected to NJPAC’s long-running Sounds of the City Thursday night concert series.

Each celebration is expected to attract up to 5,000 attendees per evening from across the metropolitan region. The concerts will be augmented by soccer-related activities developed in partnership with Ironbound Soccer Club, including skills competitions, trivia, and other interactive fan experiences.

Join us for a late-night international showdown as USA takes on Turkey in a vibrant indoor watch party celebrating Paterson’s strong Turkish community. Enjoy local food, music, cultural pride, and the electric energy of fans coming together to cheer on both nations in one unforgettable night.

Each Flag Cities events will feature:
• Live soccer matches broadcasts on massive LED screens
• Food trucks, international cuisine, and beverage vendors
• Beer gardens
• DJs, live music, and cultural performances
• Youth clinics, soccer games, and skills challenges
• Kids’ zones and family activities
• Artisan vendors, merch, and gear

Each event is uniquely tailored to celebrate the team, country, and culture playing the next day.

A watch party covering 5 matches played on June 27. There will be a soccer tournament occurring adjacent to this event. Come enjoy food vendors from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, craft vendors, and giveaways.

Experience a vibrant cultural village as Colombia takes on Portugal in one of Passport to Paterson’s biggest celebrations. Enjoy local food vendors, live music, cultural performances, family-friendly activities, and an unforgettable watch party filled with international pride, community spirit, and nonstop energy.

Experience an unforgettable evening with James Taylor and his All-Star Band live in Atlantic City on June 27! Celebrate decades of timeless hits, from “Fire and Rain” to “Carolina in My Mind,” performed with the signature warmth and storytelling that only James Taylor can deliver. This intimate concert promises an evening of soulful vocals, masterful guitar, and a legendary lineup of musicians bringing each song to life.

Each Flag Cities events will feature:
• Live soccer matches broadcasts on massive LED screens
• Food trucks, international cuisine, and beverage vendors
• Beer gardens
• DJs, live music, and cultural performances
• Youth clinics, soccer games, and skills challenges
• Kids’ zones and family activities
• Artisan vendors, merch, and gear

Each event is uniquely tailored to celebrate the team, country, and culture playing the next day.

Join us in the gorgeous green courtyard at the Princeton Shopping Center for a Global Food Festival and Watch Party! Enjoy family friendly events, global foods and festival favorites, a Passport to Princeton’s Global Cuisine, chalk and balloon art, and a DJ before and after the games!

Watch party featuring World Cup games

The July 2nd event will celebrate the World Cup and the 250th with a celebration that will include: soccer activations, food trucks, bazaars, live art, fireworks, drone show, live music and djs, as well as watch parties for the 3 matches that day.

Each Flag Cities events will feature:
• Live soccer matches broadcasts on massive LED screens
• Food trucks, international cuisine, and beverage vendors
• Beer gardens
• DJs, live music, and cultural performances
• Youth clinics, soccer games, and skills challenges
• Kids’ zones and family activities
• Artisan vendors, merch, and gear

Each event is uniquely tailored to celebrate the team, country, and culture playing the next day.

4th of July Freedom Festival with music by The Commodores. Final Philadelphia watch event, fireworks.

This will be a citywide tournament between Ivy Hill youth soccer club and other Newark soccer clubs. The event take place for multiple days until there is a winner.

A large-scale, two-day corridor activation aligned with quarterfinal matches, designed to drive foot traffic and spending into Central Ave.

The N2S Beach Soccer Series will take place on the AC boardwalk/beach during the last two weekends of the World Cup. The Fan Nation format will feature youth and adult divisions, with AC Field Club soccer players assisting. Teams representing World Cup nations, games run while the tournament matches are being played globally. The Beach Soccer Championship on July 19 moves to Atlantic Fieldhouse to tie into the WC finals weekend including viewing parties for the finals.

Maplewoodstock is a free, family-friendly, music and arts festival held annually in Maplewood, NJ. In addition to headliners Lettuce (July 11) and Anders Osbourne (July 12), Maplewoodstock will feature 20 other regional and regional bands, 60+ arts vendors, 20+ food vendors, a kid zone, and an international pavilion celebrating the NY/NJ World Cup (including free activities and prizes).

The International Food and Dance Festival is a multicultural celebration of food, music, and dance across the globe!

Urban League of Union County in partnership with the Housing Authority of the City of Elizabeth present Game On! This is a dynamic community festival and resource fair bringing together sports, culture, entertainment, wellness, and opportunity through interactive activities, live performances, youth soccer clinics, food vendors, and family-friendly experiences.

The event will also connect residents to valuable community resources, workforce opportunities, health and wellness information, small businesses, and local organizations dedicated to empowering and uplifting the community.

The Sports Business Reception will bring together athletes, executives, entrepreneurs, educators, and community leaders for an evening of networking and meaningful conversations around the business of sports, entertainment, and economic opportunity.

The event will feature engaging panel discussions focused on sports careers, NIL opportunities, leadership, entrepreneurship, and pathways for young people and diverse professionals to thrive in the industry.

Join us in the heart of Princeton’s Palmer Square for a Global Food Festival and Watch Party with a Bastille Day Theme! Enjoy French & global foods, festival favorites, and pick up your “Passport to Princeton’s Global Cuisine! Enjoy a toast to our Sister City Colmar, France, a traditional “Waiter’s Race” and chalk and balloon art, and a DJ before and after the games!

Watch party featuring World Cup games

An immersive video installation that will transform the walls of several of Asbury Park’s most iconic buildings, including Convention Hall and the Paramount Theatre, through large-scale projections of light, sound, and digital imagery celebrating New Jersey’s arts and culture. The installation will feature work by local and regional artists and will take place during the final two weeks of the World Cup. Visual elements will highlight themes of sport, community, and cultural expression.

Join the AACCNJ on Friday, July 17, 2026 for an unforgettable 2026 World Cup Festival at our Trenton Headquarters- a high energy celebration bringing together culture, community, music, food, business, and the global excitement of the World Cup all in one place.

This is a World Cup watch party that will be combined with the Atlantic City Beach Festival (Latin Fest).

On July 18th, Mulberry Commons Park will host an immersive, four-hour festival featuring international food vendors, DJ performances, and nightlife activations that complement World Cup matches. The event will feature Newark’s global cuisine featuring local restaurants (both food trucks and food vending stations) with seating and a 21+ beer garden.

The Hackettstown Street Fair & World Cup Celebration will be day to celebrate the Final Game of the World Cup during our annual Street Fair. With over 100 vendors, entertainment, and Kids zone, the event will be upgrading and expanding our Street Fair footprint as well as including two viewing screens.

Public viewing with a large screen, food, vendors, and music.

A free family-friendly event at Minor League Blue Claws’ ballpark with food, music, activities, and the final match being streamed on the jumbotron.

Finals watch event activations in all three towns along the Haddon Avenue Corridor. Live viewings, food and entertainment, soccer activations for youth, photo opportunities. More details to come!

Live viewings, food and entertainment, soccer activations for youth, photo opportunities. More details to come!

Live viewings, food and entertainment, soccer activations for youth, photo opportunities. More details to come!

The Asbury Park Soccer Celebration: A Downtown Viewing Event invites soccer fans to watch the final match of the 2026 World Cup outside on a giant screen. The event is free and encourages attendees to explore all Asbury Park has to offer before, during, and after the match.

Join us for the ultimate World Cup Final watch party as the world comes together for football’s biggest stage. Enjoy giant screens, local food vendors, live music, cultural performances, and an unforgettable citywide celebration filled with passion, pride, and championship energy.

Join the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey for an exciting World Cup 2026 FINAL Watch Party

Watch party featuring World Cup games

Join us on the lower level of the Museum Building at Hinchliffe Stadium for a Juneteenth celebration honoring Paterson’s own Derrick Etienne Jr. and Team Haiti as Brazil takes on Haiti.

With the New Jersey Jackals game starting at 7:05 PM and the 8:30 PM soccer match overlapping, enjoy local food vendors, music, and a vibrant community watch party filled with culture, pride, and unforgettable energy.

This event features two stages of live music, children’s activations, and 200 local vendors, all placed along Hoboken’s beautiful waterfront to celebrate the Hudson River.