Cheer On The World Cup At Free SMC Watch Parties

REDWOOD CITY, CA — Redwood City is inviting soccer fans to celebrate this summer's international tournament with free watch parties, entertainment and local business promotions throughout downtown.

The tournament runs from June 11 through July 19 across the United States, Mexico and Canada, with six matches scheduled at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara.

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In Redwood City, fans can watch select matches on the big screen at Courthouse Square from June 23 through July 19 as part of the city's Soccer on the Square series.

The celebration also includes entertainment zone activities along the 2000 block of Broadway and special offers and events at participating local businesses, where visitors can cheer on their favorite teams.

Additional information about the city's soccer festivities is available through Redwood City events.

Celebrate soccer in Redwood City in these three ways:

• Courthouse Square Watch Parties & Youth Area – Watch select games on Courthouse Square from June 23 through July 19.
• Entertainment Zone Activations – Bring your friends to the 2000 Block of Broadway
• Local Business Deal and Events – Visit your favorite places to cheer on your teams\

July 1

• 1 p.m.: Belgium vs. Senegal
• 5 p.m.: United States vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina

July 6 (Round of 32)

• Noon and 5 p.m.

July 7 (Round of 32)

• 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

July 9 (Quarterfinal)

• 1 p.m.

July 10 (Quarterfinal)

• Noon

July 14 (Semifinal)

• Noon

July 15 (Semifinal)

• Noon

July 18 (Third-Place Match)

• 2 p.m.

July 19 (Final)

• Noon

The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from June 11 through July 19 across the United States, Mexico and Canada, including six matches at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. Downtown Redwood City restaurants, bars and businesses will also offer World Cup-themed specials, viewing parties and promotions throughout the tournament.

The World Cup will feature an unprecedented trio of star-studded opening ceremonies in the host nations, the United States, Canada and Mexico, created by the Italian producer behind the opening ceremony for this year's Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

The ceremonies' unifying theme will be “the celebration of sports, the passion for soccer, symbolized by the cup itself,” Marco Balich, creative director of Milan-based Balich Wonder Studio, told The Associated Press. “The idea is to narrate with three points of view and languages” using design aesthetics representative of each culture.

In Canada, a mosaic will represent its multicultural identity. Mexico's motif will be the traditional paper cutouts called papel picado, while the United States will have “a super shiny, glowing cup,” said Balich, who also produced the opening ceremony for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Each ceremony will feature top artistic performances that tap into the national identity, but Balich said spectators shouldn’t expect a Super Bowl-style halftime extravaganza. Instead, the ceremonies will combine welcoming speeches, a parade of flags, the presentation of the match ball and about 30 minutes of musical entertainment.

The U.S. opening ceremony takes place Friday at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Beginning at 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time/7:30 p.m. Eastern Time, 90 minutes before the USA vs. Paraguay opening match. Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema and Tyla headline an all-star lineup.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.