World Cup
The World Cup fan festival on City Hall Plaza maxed out registrations for its first two days.
Pedestrians walk past preparations for the FIFA Fan Festival outside Boston City Hall. Erin Clark/Boston Globe
As soccer fans from around the world arrive in Boston to celebrate the World Cup, there is high demand for some official watch parties hosted by the city. Some fans are even expressing their frustrations at being turned away.
While there are watch parties scheduled to take place around the city for the duration of the tournament, the centerpiece of the festivities is the FIFA Fan Festival at City Hall Plaza. Many of the World Cup’s biggest matches will be live streamed on a massive screen inside the festival, where fans can also enjoy live music and food from around the world. Officials say they want the festival to be an expansive cultural showcase.
But not everyone will be able to access it. Admission is free, but those who wish to attend must register for passes in advance. Registration, however, does not guarantee admission to the fan festival, Mayor Michelle Wu said Thursday, citing safety concerns related to the event’s capacity restrictions.
Anyone hoping to catch games at the fan festival on Friday or Saturday that have not already registered are out of luck. Registrations are full for those two days, Wu said.
After Canada plays Bosnia Herzegovina Friday afternoon, the U.S. kicks off their tournament with a 9 p.m. game against Paraguay. Qatar and Switzerland face off at 3 p.m. Saturday, followed by Brazil versus Morocco at 6 p.m. and Haiti versus Scotland at 9 p.m. Three matches are scheduled to be shown at the fan festival every day next week.
Haiti versus Scotland is the first match that will take place at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. The exuberant “Tartan Army” of Scottish fans, known for their bagpipes and kilts, are already making an impression around Boston.
Some disappointed fans who spoke to WCVB recently said that they received confirmation emails after registering for the fan festival but found out on Thursday that they did not make the cut to get into the event.
Close to 150,000 fans had already registered to attend the fan festival, organizers said Thursday. The capacity of the venue is 5,000 at any given time.
For those who cannot get into the fan festival Wu noted that the Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center will host a free watch party for the Haiti versus Scotland match. Other watch parties are scheduled to be held at the Lawn on D in South Boston in the coming weeks.
The city is hosting six community-based watch parties in various neighborhoods as well. The first will be for the match between Spain and Cape Verde in Dorchester on June 15.
Many bars and restaurants in Boston are preparing to host watch parties with extended hours.
Outside of Boston, more than 100 watch parties will take place in stadiums, parks, and other public areas.
Ross Cristantiello
Ross Cristantiello, a general assignment news reporter for Boston.com since 2022, covers local politics, crime, the environment, and more.
Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
