The World Cup is finally here, and in New York City, you don’t need a seat at New York New Jersey Stadium to be part of the action. We’re not talking about pickup matches at Victory Field in Queens or Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, either.
The tournament officially kicks off Thursday, with Mexico facing South Africa. Whether you’re rooting for El Tri, looking for a family-friendly watch party or simply want an excuse to explore a different corner of the city, here are some ways to celebrate the start of the World Cup.
El Barrio watch party: Mexico vs. South Africa
The Africa Center and El Museo del Barrio are teaming up for a free World Cup watch party that highlights the cultural connections between Africa and Latin America. These links include shared histories and diasporic ties, and “the power of football as a universal language,” according to event organizers.
The watch party runs from 2 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 11 at The Africa Center, located at 1280 Fifth Ave. Admission is free with registration. While the program is open to anyone, registration does not guarantee entrance, so organizers recommend you arrive early.
Cheer on Mexico with authentic Mexican food at Ánimo!
For many New Yorkers, the World Cup starts at the table. One of the city’s most soccer-ready restaurants this summer is Ánimo!, a Midtown East eatery founded by Monterrey native Roberto Levinson. The restaurant grew out of Levinson’s search for authentic chilaquiles after moving to New York about 15 years ago. Missing the breakfasts and family meals he grew up with, he set out to create a restaurant that serves traditional Mexican dishes throughout the day while embodying the warmth of Mexican hospitality.
“The city’s high energy needed that encouragement — ánimo — to thrive,””Levinson previously told Epicenter NYC. Starting on Thursday, June 11 at 3 p.m., Ánimo! will cultivate that “electric” energy at a viewing party for Mexico’s opening World Cup match. Due to high demand, the restaurant released a limited number of additional seats for the game.
Fans can watch on a giant screen with full sound while enjoying authentic Mexican cuisine, cocktails, cerveza and mezcal. Tickets start at $60 per person for bar seating. Full prix-fixe dinners are $90 per guest. Prix-fixe dinners plus one cocktail costs $105 per guest. Groups can also reserve one of three available booths for up to five guests for $325. Signature dishes include the chilaquiles that inspired Levinson to open the business, along with conchas, barbacoa tacos and Puebla-style mole. Ánimo! is located at 1004 Second Ave. in Midtown East. Learn more and reserve a seat.
Bonus: enjoy a Mexico special at Grano de Cafe
While this Colombian bakery and restaurant in Corona, Queens is more known for its pandebono, empanadas and bandeka paisa, a hearty breakfast that includes rice, meat, egg, sausage, avocado, beans and chicharrón, in honor of the Mexico matches, it’s offering this special:
- 3 beef, chicken or fish tacos for $12
- 5 flautas for $10
- Tostadas for $4
Tostadas are fried corn tortillas kept in their original shape. Flautas, which translate to “flutes” in Spanish, are a traditional dish made by rolling savory fillings, such as shredded chicken, beef, or potatoes, inside a corn or flour tortilla, then deep-frying until golden.
The venue will also have lighting themed red and green, Mexico’s colors.
Collect stamps with the World Cup Passport Program
The World Cup might be bringing the world to New York, but the city also wants New Yorkers to explore their own neighborhoods. Launching Thursday, the NYC Neighborhood Passport Program invites residents and visitors to collect stamps at cultural institutions, community spaces and businesses throughout the five boroughs.
More than 250 locations are participating. The point is to give otherwise busy New Yorkers a reason to venture beyond the stadium crowds and discover local landmarks, museums, parks and small businesses. It’s also for strangers and neighbors to share stories about what the World Cup means to them.
Passports for this World Cup scavenger hunt will be available at public libraries across the city beginning on opening day.
Watch every match on the big screen
If your goal is simple, to watch as much soccer as possible, The Paley Museum has you covered. The museum plans to screen all 104 World Cup matches in its theaters, from the opening game through the final. Fans can watch broadcasts in English or Spanish and experience the tournament alongside other supporters.
The opening match between Mexico and South Africa will be shown live on Thursday, and screenings continue throughout the tournament. For fans who miss the communal feeling of watching major sporting events together, it may be one of the easiest places in Manhattan to catch the action.
While you’re at The Paley Museum, consider checking out its new soccer exhibition called “The Global Game: Soccer in the United States & the FIFA World Cup.” The showcase traces the growth of soccer in the U.S., from the country’s early involvement in FIFA to the rise of Major League Soccer and previous World Cup tournaments.
The exhibit includes game-worn jerseys, memorabilia, archival footage and interactive experiences where visitors can test their soccer skills on a practice field with stations that include penalty kick challenge, precision target shooting and a dribbling course with cones. These experiences also include stepping into the role of commentator and reliving the excitement of memorable plays. Tickets are free for members of The Paley Museum and any children under 12, $20 for non-members, and $16 for students, teachers, seniors, first responders and veterans. The Paley Museum is located at 25 West 52 Street in Manhattan. Learn more and get tickets.
Explore World Cup history for free at Rockefeller Center
The FIFA Museum’s “Legacies of Champions” exhibition opens June 11 at 50 Rockefeller Plaza, offering a look at every FIFA World Cup since 1930 through historic trophies, interactive displays and memorabilia. Highlights include jerseys from all 48 participating teams in the 2026 tournament and the Jules Rimet Trophy, FIFA’s World Cup trophy from 1930 to 1970. On select days, visitors will also be able to see the FIFA World Cup 2026 winner’s trophy. The exhibition, presented by Hyundai Motor Company, runs through July 19. Reserve free tickets.
This story has been updated to add information about the “Legacies of Champions” exhibition.
