World Cup
Fans can sign up beginning Thursday at 2 p.m. for the free Fan Festival at City Hall Plaza.
Croatian fans celebrate after their team scored a goal against France during a World Cup watch party in 2014 with the New England Friends of Croatia at Blackmoor Bar & Kitchen. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff
Registration for the FIFA Fan Festival at Boston’s City Hall Plaza opens Thursday afternoon, as city officials continue rolling out plans for Boston’s role in the 2026 World Cup.
The free festival will run from June 12 through June 27 and serve as the city’s main gathering space for fans, residents, and visitors during the tournament, according to a statement from Boston 26, the city’s World Cup organizing committee.
Mayor Michelle Wu also announced Wednesday that Boston will host six World Cup watch parties across Boston neighborhoods.
“I think we will have a great World Cup,” Wu said during an appearance on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio.” “This is an incredible, generational opportunity for us … We hold ourselves to high standards. We’re going to work as hard as we possibly can until we kick off.”
How to register for Fan Fest
Registration opens at 2 p.m. Thursday through the Boston 26 website and is required to attend the festival.
Up to six people can be registered in one application. Fans can select which days and matches they plan to attend when registering.
Those who sign up will receive digital passes ahead of their selected match days, along with updates about anticipated crowd sizes, match schedules, and operational changes.
Boston 26 officials emphasized that registration and digital passes do not guarantee entry, as admission will still be subject to capacity limits. CEO Mike Loynd said the festival is expected to accommodate around 5,000 fans per day, according to the Boston Globe.
Boston 26 did not specify how many people can register for the festival. Boston.com reached out to the organizing committee but did not receive a response.
What to expect at Fan Fest and watch parties
Organizers describe the Fan Festival as a community celebration designed to “showcase the energy, diversity, and creativity of the region,” Boston 26 officials said in a statement.
Festival hours vary by day, with events beginning sometime between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and ending between 8:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m.
Each day will include broadcasts of two or three World Cup matches — including games not played in Boston — as well as a Cultural Showcase featuring local artists, musicians, and performers.
Although World Cup matches in the Boston area will continue through July 9, the Fan Festival itself will end June 27 after 16 days. Speaking on GBH, Wu acknowledged questions about the relatively short run of the festival, citing logistical and security challenges tied to operating the event at City Hall Plaza.
“The security screening protocols and infrastructure is really intense to be able to host Fan Fest and accommodate large crowds,” she said. “It does require shutting down access to a big part of City Hall Plaza for 24 hours even when the Fan Fest isn’t running, so there was a little bit of a tradeoff there.”
Wu said the decision was ultimately made by Boston 26 — not the city.
“Did I wish that we could have had a much longer Fan Fest and the private resources and committee funding to do so? Absolutely — we had talked through that,” Wu said. “But this is what we are able to do, and we are going to have the very best Fan Fest during the group stage.”
Regarding watch parties, Wu said the city has secured licenses to host six across Boston neighborhoods. Three locations have been finalized, while three additional sites will be announced later, according to the mayor’s office.
Information on registering for watch parties has not been announced yet.
Scheduled watch parties include:
Spain v. Cabo Verde:
- Monday, June 15 at 1 p.m.
- Town Field, Dorchester
Brazil v. Haiti:
- Friday, June 19 at 9 p.m.
- Parkman Bandstand, Boston Common
Colombia v. Portugal:
- Saturday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m.
- East Boston Memorial Stadium
FIFA World Cup Semi Final:
- Tuesday, July 14 at 3 p.m.
- Location will be announced at a later date.
FIFA World Cup Semi Final:
- Wednesday, July 15 at 3 p.m.
- Location will be announced at a later date.
FIFA World Cup Final:
- Sunday, July 19 at 3 p.m.
- Location will be announced at a later date.
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