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You didn’t manage to snag World Cup tickets for this summer? It’s okay: you may still get to scream at giant screens with thousands of other soccer fans for free.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced this week that registration is officially open for the New York State United 2026 World Cup Watch Experience, a large public viewing event at Stony Brook University on June 12. The free outdoor event is expected to draw thousands of people for what essentially sounds like a giant statewide soccer party complete with live match screenings, food vendors, entertainment and interactive fan experiences.
The event will feature two World Cup match broadcasts: Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina at 3 pm, followed by USA vs. Paraguay at 9 pm. Fans can register for one event or both. Registration is required, but the tickets themselves are free. And unlike trying to physically get to an actual World Cup match at MetLife Stadium—which may require the emotional resilience of a Harry Styles ticket drop—this one is designed to be significantly easier and more family-friendly.
According to the state, the Stony Brook campus will transform into a large-scale fan zone with outdoor viewing areas, soccer-themed activities, local food and drinks and community programming celebrating Long Island and New York’s broader cultural diversity.
“This milestone marks a major step in bringing the excitement of the 2026 World Cup directly into communities across New York State,” Hochul said in the announcement. (The Long Island event is actually the first of two major public World Cup watch parties planned by New York State—a second is scheduled for July 19 at Kensico Dam Plaza in Westchester County.)
The watch parties are also part of a larger statewide push tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including investments in youth soccer programs and community infrastructure through initiatives like the proposed NY Kicks fund and the Community World Cup Grant Program.
Time for Long Island to briefly become the world’s most enthusiastic outdoor soccer bar this summer.