World Cup
Chelsea launched its 39-day World Cup celebration Thursday with music, dancing, and a crowd watching Mexico take on South Africa. See photos from kickoff.
Residents, performers, and visitors gathered in Chelsea Square for Fiesta Futbol and the 2026 World Cup kickoff on June 11, 2026. (Annie Jonas/Boston.com Staff)
June 11, 2026 | 6:32 PM
5 minutes to read
Upbeat music and pregame chatter drifted through Chelsea Square on Thursday afternoon as residents and vendors prepared for the kickoff of the World Cup and the city’s Fiesta Fútbol celebration.
The free, 39-day watch party series will broadcast more than 60 World Cup matches throughout June and July in Spanish, part of a citywide effort to celebrate Chelsea’s Latino identity and bring residents and visitors together around the world’s most popular sport.
Hours before Mexico faced South Africa, Mexican DJ Tavo blasted music beneath a giant screen overlooking the square. A few fans kicked soccer balls nearby while other performers gathered in the shade to prepare for opening festivities.
“It’s so incredible to be able to be here in this space with all the community,” Cecilia Rodriguez, a member of the Viva Mexico dance group, said. Dressed in a striking blue Jalisco-style dress handmade in the region where her family is from, Rodriguez said she was excited to celebrate Mexico, the U.S., and the World Cup.
Cecilia Rodriguez (far right in blue) with her dance group, Viva Mexico. (Annie Jonas/Boston.com staff)
While many in attendance were rooting for Mexico, Chelsea resident Judith Garcia, 34, found herself rooting for both teams.
“I lived in South Africa for a year, so my heart is in two different places,” she said.
Nearby, Chelsea resident Fritz Polyte, 33, stood under a tree with his daughter dressed in Haitian colors.
He’s going to watch Haiti play Scotland in Foxborough on Saturday and said he wanted to celebrate the start of the World Cup in his neighborhood.
“Even though I don’t speak Spanish, I think that’s the best way to bring everyone together instead of staying at your home by yourself in front of your TV,” he said. “The party is here.”
A spectator waved the Mexican flag at Fiesta Futbol in Chelsea on Thursday, June 11, 2026. (Annie Jonas/Boston.com Staff)
An hour before kickoff, that party was already underway.
The Viva Mexico dancers performed beneath the giant screen, swishing their skirts in their hands and stomping their feet to the music that echoed in the square. A crowd gathered around the women, many stopping to film the dancers, others tapping their feet in sync. When the performance ended, attendees flooded the street with fans dancing to the music.
For city leaders, the celebration represents more than soccer.
“2025 was probably the hardest year that Chelsea has had — even harder than COVID-19 pandemic,” Chelsea City Manager Fidel Maltez said, citing increased federal immigration enforcement activity, and an incident involving Chelsea High School students that he said strained trust within the community.
“It really was a difficult time for everyone in Chelsea,” he said.
City leaders saw the World Cup as an opportunity to restore trust with residents in the community and invigorate the city.
Chelsea committed $125,000 to launch Fiesta Fútbol before receiving additional support through state grants. Officials promoted the event in Spanish and broadcast through Telemundo for Spanish-language commentary.
“That was very intentional branding,” Maltez said. “We are leaning into the fact that we are bicultural in this community, bilingual.”
Organizers also wanted the event to benefit local businesses and showcase Chelsea to visitors.
“We want people to experience Latino celebrations, experience Chelsea. What a great place it is. How close to Boston it is,” Omar Miranda, a civic designer in Chelsea’s Housing and Community Development Department, said. “We have a lot to offer.”
The city recruited local volunteers and hired local youth ambassadors to help run the event throughout the tournament.
One of them, 18-year-old Chelsea natives Jakeline Fuentes, said she was drawn to the celebration’s bilingual and multicultural nature. “As someone who can speak both English and Spanish, I think it’s really cool to see other people, not just from your own culture, but other people coming from different places to celebrate those places,” Fuentes said.
Fiesta Futbol Youth Ambassadors, Jakeline Fuentes (left) and Catherine Matute (right). (Annie Jonas/Boston.com staff)
By kickoff, hundreds of spectators had gathered facing the giant screen. Many arrived in green jerseys and waved the Mexican flag as the match began.
Maltez described soccer as “a wild experience” filled with emotion and credited Spanish-language broadcasters with amplifying that energy.
“When a goal is scored, the goal with a lot of ‘oooooooo’s’ is iconic,” Maltez said.
As the game progressed, the crowd’s energy rose and fell with the rhythm of the match.
A missed opportunity drew collective groans. A controversial call prompted animated debate.
The crowd reaction was especially noticeable during Mexico’s two goals, when hundreds of eyes followed the ball in near silence before erupting into cheers. Mexico beat South Africa 2-0.
Maltez said those moments are part of what makes Spanish-language soccer broadcasts special.
“It is not the same experience to watch football in English than it is in Spanish,” he said.
When asked which team he was rooting for, Maltez’s answer was simple: “First and foremost, I am rooting for Team Chelsea,” Maltez said.
The watch parties are about more than the games themselves. Chelsea’s manager of arts, culture and the creative economy, Delia Harrington, said the city has scheduled performances, music, and dance, and cultural programming throughout the tournament.
“For the most part, there’s 20-plus days that are basically going to be their own little mini festival,” Harrington said.
Harrington likened the vibe to a “family-friendly street fair,” emphasizing that it will be a “fun and welcoming place” for all.
Organizers hope the momentum will also strengthen local youth soccer programs.
“A huge priority for me was to capitalize on all this momentum from sports,” Charlie Giuffrida, Chelsea’s director of athletic infrastructure and sports tourism, said.
Bruno Contreras, 40, of Watertown brought his soccer team to watch the Mexico vs. South Africa match on June 11, 2026. (Annie Jonas/Boston.com staff)
Among those attending Thursday’s match was Bruno Contreras of Watertown, who brought members of Boston-based nonprofit Soccer Without Borders team to watch the match together.
“It feels very special,” the Mexico City native said of watching the match in his native Spanish.
For city leaders, success will be measured by more than attendance figures or match results.
“It is about community, it’s about feeling safe in your streets,” Maltez said.
That sense of community was evident as fans lingered in Chelsea Square after the final whistle, chatting and taking photos.
As the game drew to a close, that sense of community was visible in Chelsea Square, where [describe crowd, flags, jerseys, conversations and atmosphere].
“The World Cup is a good celebration for everyone united,” Polyte said. “It’s one of the best sports in the world.”
Annie Jonas is a Community writer at Boston.com. She was previously a local editor at Patch and a freelancer at the Financial Times.
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Annie Jonas is a Community writer at Boston.com. She was previously a local editor at Patch and a freelancer at the Financial Times.
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