2026 World Cup soccer watch party to be held on June 12 at Stony Brook University
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe tries a shot next to Osasuna's goalkeeper Sergio Herrera during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Osasuna and Real Madrid in Pamplona, Spain, on Feb. 21, 2026. Credit: AP/Miguel Oses
The World Cup is coming to MetLife Stadium this summer, and soccer fans on Long Island will have a chance to come together and take in the action.
Stony Brook University will host a free, large-scale community viewing event for the World Cup on June 12, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday morning.
The slate for the watch party features the U.S. taking on Paraguay at 9 p.m. at Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles. Canada also will face either Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Northern Ireland or Wales in a 3 p.m. game at BMO Field in Toronto.
“New York is proud to play a leading role in hosting the 2026 World Cup, a once-in-a-generation global event that will showcase our state on the world stage and generate economic activity in communities across New York,” Hochul said in a statement. “While matches will draw international attention, we are ensuring that every New Yorker has the opportunity to participate in this historic event through free, community-centered viewing experiences. At the same time, we are making long-term investments in youth sports infrastructure and community spaces so that the benefits of the World Cup continue long after the final whistle.”
The state will host another free watch party at Kensico Dam Plaza in Westchester County on July 19, when the World Cup final will be played at 3 p.m. at MetLife Stadium.
The viewing parties are part of the recently announced $500,000 New York State Community World Cup Grant Program, aiming to drive regional economic activity while providing an accessible opportunity to watch the tournament. They also aim to support long-term youth soccer investment across the state, and Hochul will launch “NY Kicks: A World Cup Legacy Investment Fund” to expand youth soccer infrastructure in disadvantaged communities.
“Stony Brook University is honored to welcome thousands of families traveling from across the Long Island region to our campus for this World Cup viewing event, and we are grateful to Governor Hochul for choosing us to host this special celebration,” Stony Brook University president Andrea Goldsmith said in a statement. “As a public university and a SUNY flagship, our commitment to service extends well beyond the classroom and into the communities we are proud to support.
“This event reflects our commitment to being accessible, welcoming and deeply connected to the region we call home. I'm excited to see our campus become a gathering place for our neighbors to join together to celebrate this historic global moment.”
Ben Dickson is Newsday Sports' general assignment reporter. He joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
