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The FIFA World Cup knockout stage is bringing plenty of drama, but tomorrow's free watch party at the Intrepid Museum comes with an extra incentive beyond the soccer itself: one of the tournament's most sought-after souvenirs.
Tomorrow, on Saturday, July 11, the Bank of America Fan Band Mobile Tour will pop up at the Intrepid Museum's free World Cup watch party at Pier 86, giving fans the chance to build a custom BofA Fan Band before settling in to watch Norway take on England in the quarterfinals. The watch party begins at 3 pm, with kickoff at 5 pm, and the Fan Band experience will run until 11 pm.
If you've spotted the bracelets all over social media, you're not imagining things. Since the tournament began, the customizable Fan Bands have become an unexpected World Cup phenomenon. Bank of America says it has already distributed more than 1 million of the collectible bracelets across the 11 U.S. host cities. (Demand has grown so quickly that many activations now require timed entry.)
Each bracelet can be customized with collectible beads inspired by the tournament and host cities. There are more than 140 bead designs in circulation, ranging from soccer-themed icons to city-specific charms. The New York/New Jersey version includes miniature tributes to the Statue of Liberty, an NYC taxi, a slice of pizza and the 2026 Final, while newly released knockout-round beads commemorate this stage of the competition.
Getting one does require a little planning: visitors will first receive a timed wristband when the watch party opens and wristbands are handed out on a first-come, first-served basis and correspond to one of a limited number of time slots to create a bracelet. Once your turn arrives, you'll be able to assemble your custom Fan Band and stop by a digital photo booth before heading back to the match. Organizers recommend against arriving before the gates open, since wristbands won't be distributed early.
Even if bracelets aren't your thing, the Intrepid's waterfront watch parties have become one of New York's liveliest places to catch World Cup action, with giant screens, harbor views and free admission. And if you happen to leave with a tiny taxi cab dangling from your wrist, consider it a pretty good souvenir from one of the biggest sporting events the city has ever hosted.