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It is 10pm in a city plaza and you are not inside the stadium. You are better off. That sounds counterintuitive — but anyone who has stood in a FIFA Fan Festival when a goal goes in understands it immediately. Twenty thousand people erupting in unison, strangers embracing, chants bouncing off the buildings around you, the entire city feeling the same thing at the same second. A stadium has a roof. A fan zone does not. The sound goes straight up. World Cup 2026 fan zones — officially known as FIFA Fan Festivals — will operate across all 16 host cities in the USA, Canada, and Mexico for all 39 days of the tournament, from the June 11 opening match at Estadio Azteca to the July 19 Final at MetLife Stadium. Every one of the 104 matches will be screened live at all festival sites. Entry is free at most venues. No match ticket required. More than that: most specific venue locations are now confirmed. Liberty State Park in New Jersey (45,000+ capacity) will host the NYC-area fan zone with views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. Philadelphia is confirmed at Lemon Hill in Fairmount Park. Mexico City will pack the Zócalo with 100,000+ fans on major matchdays, alongside 16 other borough-level screening areas. Vancouver's festival will be anchored by a new amphitheatre built specifically for the World Cup at Hastings Park. Toronto will use The Bentway — a creative urban space under the Gardiner Expressway that reflects the city's multicultural energy. This guide covers every confirmed and expected fan zone venue, their operating windows, capacity details, the one city that requires advance registration, and how to get the most from each — whether you have a stadium ticket or not. For the full tournament overview, start with our [World Cup 2026 first time fan guide](/blog/world-cup-2026-first-time-fan-guide).
Every one of the 16 World Cup 2026 host cities will operate an official FIFA Fan Festival, with the programme running continuously from June 11 through July 19. Some cities — including Liberty State Park in the New York/New Jersey area — operate for the full 39-day window, effectively becoming a month-long urban destination. The 2026 FIFA Fan Festival programme is the largest public viewing initiative in World Cup history, with an estimated tens of millions of visitor-sessions expected across the 16 cities and 104 matches.
Source: FIFA.com; fwcschedule.com FIFA Fan Festival 2026 guide (confirmed locations)
What Is the FIFA Fan Festival 2026? Everything It Includes
The FIFA Fan Festival is the official public fan zone programme operated by FIFA at every World Cup. It is not a third-party event or a bar screening — it is run directly by FIFA in partnership with each host city's local organising committee, with official broadcast rights for all 104 matches, full FIFA infrastructure, and consistent programming standards across all venues. For 2026, the Fan Festival concept is operating at a new scale. The tournament's 39-day window, 104 matches, and 48-team format mean that every host city will have multiple consecutive days of simultaneous programming — not just an event that flares on match days and goes quiet in between.
What You Get at Every FIFA Fan Festival
The Fan Festival is more than a big screen in a park. From previous World Cups, the best fan zones deliver an atmosphere that is genuinely comparable to being inside the stadium — often more so, because the crowd is denser, more reactive, and entirely focused on the same shared screen. Every FIFA Fan Festival 2026 includes these core elements, scaled to each city's size and venue:
- Live big-screen screenings of all 104 World Cup 2026 matches — including matches being played in other host cities simultaneously. Secondary screens will be added at several sites for simultaneous group-stage games
- Live music, DJ sets, and cultural performances before, during, and after matches — nationally recognised artists at key fixtures; local performers integrated throughout
- Street food markets and food courts with local and international cuisine — each city integrates its own food culture (Mexican street food at the Zócalo, Indigenous-inspired dishes in Vancouver, Latin and Caribbean flavours in Miami)
- Football skills zones, mini-pitches, shooting challenges, and gaming installations — designed for all ages
- Official FIFA World Cup 2026 merchandise — authentic jerseys, scarves, collectibles, city-specific items
- Sponsor activations and brand experiences from FIFA's global commercial partners
- Family areas with youth clinics, coaching sessions, and child-safe play zones at most host city festivals
- Cultural programming unique to each city — Vancouver highlights Indigenous art and storytelling; Mexico City runs regional folkloric performances alongside mariachi; Miami celebrates its Latin American and Caribbean heritage
Free Entry — But Read the Fine Print by City
The core fan zone experience is free to enter. No match ticket, no entry charge for standard standing areas and live screenings. But in 2026 there are important city-level nuances that can catch fans out if they do not check before arriving:
- Kansas City is the standout exception: the official Kansas City FIFA Fan Festival requires advance registration for a free general admission pass at kansascityfwc26.com. The pass is free but mandatory — and it does not guarantee entry if the venue reaches capacity. A paid premium pass is also available and does guarantee access. Register in advance before you travel
- Philadelphia operates free walk-in entry on match days, but non-match days feature ticketed concert experiences — the Lemon Hill festival is a full-time venue throughout the tournament
- Most other confirmed cities (Miami Bayfront Park, Atlanta Centennial Olympic Park, Houston, Mexico City Zócalo) operate on a free walk-in basis with capacity-controlled entry on the highest-demand matchdays
- Capacity limits are real — fan zones do reach their official limits for major fixtures. For semi-finals and the Final, expect queues of 30–60+ minutes at the most popular sites
- Premium seating areas, hospitality decks, and special concerts within most festival footprints require a separate paid ticket
- Budget $30–$60 per person per day for food, drinks, and merchandise — the entrance is free but the experience inside is not
Fan Zone vs Stadium: Which Should You Choose?
We get asked this often, and the honest answer is: it depends on the match — and the city. For your team's key fixtures, a knockout match, or any game at the Zócalo in Mexico City on opening night, the stadium is the destination. But for group stage matches you care less about, or to watch multiple simultaneous games in a single day, the fan zone is genuinely the better experience. The atmosphere difference comes down to crowd density and shared stakes. Inside a stadium, 90,000 people are watching from different angles and different sections. At a fan zone, 25,000 to 100,000 fans are reacting to the same screen, the same replays, the same angles — a synchronised collective experience with no equivalent in normal sporting life. The best World Cup trips combine both: one or two stadium matches and several fan zone sessions, ideally across multiple cities.
- Fan zone is better for: watching multiple matches in one day, mixed-nationality social atmosphere, budget travel, families with children, fans without tickets to that specific match
- Stadium is better for: your team's key fixtures, knockout rounds, the full ceremonial experience — anthems, team walk-out, live crowd in every direction
- The ideal trip combines both — our [World Cup 2026 trip planning checklist](/blog/world-cup-2026-trip-planning-checklist) has a structure for multi-match, multi-city itineraries that use fan zones to bridge between stadium days
World Cup 2026 Fan Zone Locations: All 16 Host Cities Confirmed & Updated
The following table reflects the most current confirmed venue information as of February 2026. Cities marked ✅ have official confirmed venues from FIFA or the local host committee website. Cities marked ⏳ have announced a fan zone is confirmed but the specific site is pending final announcement. Check FIFA.com and each city's official host committee website for the most current details.
| City | Country | Stadium | Fan Zone Status | Confirmed Venue | Est. Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York / New Jersey | USA | MetLife Stadium (NJ) | ✅ CONFIRMED | Liberty State Park, Jersey City, NJ — waterfront park with Manhattan skyline & Statue of Liberty views. Full 39-day operation. | 45,000+ |
| Philadelphia | USA | Lincoln Financial Field | ✅ CONFIRMED | Lemon Hill, Fairmount Park — near the Art Museum and Boathouse Row. City invested in permanent infrastructure upgrades for WC legacy. Non-match days feature ticketed concerts. | 25,000 |
| Houston | USA | NRG Stadium | ✅ CONFIRMED | Shell Energy Stadium & East Downtown neighbourhood — expanded campus beyond the stadium itself. Shaded cooling zones throughout; ~500,000 total visitors expected. | TBC — largest footprint of any US city |
| Miami | USA | Hard Rock Stadium | ✅ CONFIRMED | Bayfront Park, Biscayne Boulevard — waterfront downtown location. Latin American and Caribbean cultural programming throughout. | TBC |
| Atlanta | USA | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | ✅ CONFIRMED | Centennial Olympic Park — Atlanta's primary major-event public space since the 1996 Games. Expected ~20 operating days. | TBC |
| San Francisco / Bay Area | USA | Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara) | ✅ CONFIRMED (multi-site) | Multiple regional viewing zones across San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose — making the Bay Area the most geographically distributed fan zone programme of any host city. | TBC per zone |
| Kansas City | USA | Arrowhead Stadium | ✅ CONFIRMED — advance pass required | TBC specific site — IMPORTANT: advance free registration required at kansascityfwc26.com. Free general admission pass is mandatory for entry. Premium paid pass guarantees access. | TBC |
| Boston | USA | Gillette Stadium (Foxborough) | ⏳ PENDING final site announcement | TBC — City Hall Plaza and Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park remain the strongest candidates based on city event history. | 15,000–25,000 est. |
| Seattle | USA | Lumen Field | ⏳ PENDING final site announcement | TBC — Seattle Center (adjacent to the Space Needle) or Occidental Square remain the strongest candidates. | 15,000–25,000 est. |
| Los Angeles | USA | SoFi Stadium (Inglewood) | ⏳ PENDING final site announcement | TBC — Grand Park (downtown LA) and LA Live entertainment complex near Crypto.com Arena are the strongest candidates. | 30,000–60,000 est. |
| Dallas | USA | AT&T Stadium (Arlington) | ⏳ PENDING final site announcement | TBC — Klyde Warren Park (downtown Dallas) and AT&T Discovery District are the most likely candidates. See our [World Cup 2026 Dallas fan guide](/blog/world-cup-2026-dallas-fan-guide). | 20,000–40,000 est. |
| Toronto | Canada | BMO Field | ✅ CONFIRMED | The Bentway — creative urban space under the Gardiner Expressway, near the waterfront and Liberty Village. Reflects Toronto's multicultural identity through art, food, and live performances. | TBC |
| Vancouver | Canada | BC Place | ✅ CONFIRMED | Hastings Park — new amphitheatre built specifically for the World Cup; panoramic views of the North Shore mountains; Indigenous culture and art programming; adjacent to Playland amusement park. | TBC |
| Mexico City | Mexico | Estadio Azteca | ✅ CONFIRMED | Zócalo (main city square) + 16 borough-level screening areas across the city. The Zócalo is one of the largest public squares in the Americas. Opening night (June 11) will be unmissable. | 100,000+ on major matchdays at Zócalo alone |
| Monterrey | Mexico | Estadio BBVA | ✅ CONFIRMED | Parque Fundidora — vast industrial-heritage park with mountain views. Space for 40,000+ fans. One of the most visually impressive fan zone settings in the tournament. | 40,000+ |
| Guadalajara | Mexico | Estadio Akron | ✅ CONFIRMED | Plaza Liberación, historic city centre — mariachi performances, Jalisco regional traditions, and an authentically Mexican festival atmosphere in the colonial heart of the city. | TBC |
USA Fan Zones: City-by-City Guide (Updated Venues)
The eleven US host cities span the full breadth of North America — from Boston on the Atlantic coast to Seattle in the Pacific Northwest, with major confirmed fan zones in the South, Midwest, and on the Gulf Coast. Specific venue locations are now confirmed for Miami, Philadelphia, Houston, and Atlanta. Four cities (Boston, Seattle, Los Angeles, Dallas) are still awaiting final site announcements.
Northeast: New York/NJ (Liberty State Park), Boston & Philadelphia (Lemon Hill)
The New York/New Jersey fan zone at Liberty State Park is the largest confirmed fan zone site in North America — 45,000+ capacity, operating all 39 days, with unobstructed Manhattan skyline and Statue of Liberty views from the waterfront. The NJ Transit PATH train and ferry services connect Liberty State Park to Manhattan, making it accessible from any Manhattan hotel. This is the Final venue fan zone (July 19) — the closing event of the entire tournament. Philadelphia's confirmed site at Lemon Hill in Fairmount Park is one of the most beautiful in the tournament — a green hillside venue near the Art Museum and Boathouse Row, accommodating 25,000 fans. The city has made permanent infrastructure upgrades (new pathways, water stations, security improvements) as part of the fan zone preparation, leaving a World Cup legacy for the site. Non-match days at Lemon Hill feature ticketed concerts — separate ticket required for those events.
- New York/NJ: Liberty State Park, Jersey City — confirmed 45,000+ capacity, full 39-day operation. NJ Transit PATH and NYC Ferry access from Manhattan. This is the hosting city for the Final (July 19) — fan zone on Final night will be the defining public event of the entire tournament
- Philadelphia: Lemon Hill, Fairmount Park — confirmed 25,000 capacity, near Art Museum. Free entry on match days; ticketed events on non-match days. Permanent infrastructure upgrades completed as WC legacy investment
- Boston: Final site TBC — City Hall Plaza and Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park remain the strongest candidates. Monitor the official Boston host committee at boston.gov for the announcement
Southeast & South: Miami (Bayfront), Atlanta (Olympic Park), Houston (Shell Energy East Downtown)
Miami's confirmed fan zone at Bayfront Park on Biscayne Boulevard is one of the most culturally electric choices in the tournament. Miami's enormous Latin American diaspora — Colombian, Venezuelan, Argentine, Brazilian, Mexican — means any match involving a South American nation will produce a fan zone atmosphere unlike anything in a typical US city. Three weeks of waterfront programming with live music anchored in the city's Latin American and Caribbean heritage. Houston's fan zone goes beyond a single park. The confirmed site spans Shell Energy Stadium and the surrounding East Downtown neighbourhood, making it the largest physical fan zone footprint of any US host city. The city expects close to half a million total visitors — and has built expanded cooling zones and hydration stations throughout the site in recognition of the extreme summer heat. Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park, one of the USA's great event spaces since the 1996 Games, operates for approximately 20 days during the tournament.
- Miami: Bayfront Park, Biscayne Boulevard — confirmed waterfront location. Three weeks of operation. Latin American and Caribbean cultural programme. Expect some of the best match atmosphere in the USA for South American fixtures
- Atlanta: Centennial Olympic Park — confirmed, ~20 operating days. Surrounded by the city's main tourism attractions. Strong choice for families
- Houston: Shell Energy Stadium & East Downtown — confirmed; largest physical footprint of any US fan zone. ~500,000 total visitors expected. Enhanced cooling zones essential given July heat
West & Midwest: San Francisco (Multi-Zone), Kansas City, Seattle, Los Angeles, Dallas
The San Francisco Bay Area is taking a uniquely distributed approach: rather than one central fan zone, the area will operate multiple regional viewing zones in San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose simultaneously. This is the most geographically dispersed fan zone programme of any host city, and the best strategy for a metro that does not have a single dominant public plaza in the way that Miami or Philadelphia does. Kansas City's fan zone is the only confirmed US host city requiring advance registration — a critical detail. The Power & Light District remains the likely venue candidate, but the specific site has not been finalised. What is confirmed is that walking up without a pass will not get you in. Register at kansascityfwc26.com before you travel — it is free, takes two minutes, and removes the risk of being turned away. Los Angeles, Seattle, and Dallas are still awaiting final venue announcements. All three will confirm locations in the months ahead — we update this guide immediately when each announcement is made.
- San Francisco Bay Area: confirmed multi-zone programme across San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose — check which zone is closest to your accommodation
- Kansas City: confirmed fan zone (site TBC); MANDATORY advance registration for free pass at kansascityfwc26.com. Premium paid pass available for guaranteed access
- Seattle: final site TBC — Seattle Center and Occidental Square remain strongest candidates
- Los Angeles: final site TBC — Grand Park and LA Live entertainment complex are the frontrunners
- Dallas: final site TBC — Klyde Warren Park and AT&T Discovery District are the most likely locations. Full Dallas transport and stadium guide at our [World Cup 2026 Dallas fan guide](/blog/world-cup-2026-dallas-fan-guide)
Canada & Mexico Fan Zone Locations: Confirmed Venues
The six non-US host cities now have confirmed fan zone venues across Canada and Mexico — and they represent some of the most distinctive and atmospherically intense sites of the entire tournament. The Mexican fan zones in particular operate at a cultural scale and intensity that has no parallel in North American or European football.
Toronto (The Bentway) and Vancouver (Hastings Park), Canada
Toronto's confirmed fan zone at The Bentway is one of the most architecturally interesting venues in the tournament. Built under the elevated Gardiner Expressway, The Bentway is an existing creative urban space that has already established itself as a cultural destination — concerts, skating, public art — making it a natural fit for a festival of this scale. Its location near the waterfront and Liberty Village neighbourhood means fans can easily explore surrounding areas between matches. Toronto's fan base is one of the most multicultural in the world — over 200 languages spoken in the city — meaning the atmosphere will be distinctly international. Vancouver's Hastings Park is arguably the most visually dramatic fan zone venue in the tournament. A new amphitheatre has been purpose-built for the World Cup here, framed by panoramic views of the North Shore mountains. The festival will integrate Indigenous art and storytelling throughout its programming — a reflection of British Columbia's unique cultural geography. For families, Hastings Park sits adjacent to Playland amusement park, creating a full-day destination.
- Toronto: The Bentway, near the waterfront — confirmed. Creative existing cultural venue under the Gardiner Expressway. Multicultural fan base; expect flags from 50+ nations. Near Liberty Village and the waterfront for pre/post-match exploration
- Vancouver: Hastings Park — confirmed. Purpose-built new amphitheatre. Indigenous cultural programming. North Shore mountain views. Family-friendly via adjacent Playland. One of the most photographed fan zone settings in the tournament
Mexico City (Zócalo + 16 Boroughs), Monterrey (Parque Fundidora), Guadalajara (Plaza Liberación)
The Mexican host city fan zones are in a different category. Mexico's football culture runs deeper than almost any other nation on earth, and the public spaces available — particularly Mexico City's Zócalo — are capable of hosting events of extraordinary scale and intensity. Mexico City's Zócalo fan zone is confirmed as the primary site, with 100,000+ fans expected on major matchdays. But uniquely among all 16 host cities, Mexico City is also running 16 borough-level screening areas across the entire metropolitan area — ensuring that the city's 22 million residents can participate regardless of distance from the Zócalo. For the June 11 opening match at Estadio Azteca, the Zócalo will be the single most extraordinary public spectacle of the entire World Cup: the host nation playing the opening game, in their home city, screened live to 100,000+ fans in the historic heart of the capital. Monterrey's confirmed venue at Parque Fundidora is one of the great fan zone settings in the tournament. A vast industrial-heritage park on the edge of the city centre, Fundidora has capacity for 40,000+ fans with the Sierra Madre mountains as a backdrop. Guadalajara's Plaza Liberación sits in the colonial historic centre — mariachi, Jalisco regional traditions, and a warmth that regular visitors to Mexico describe as uniquely affecting.
- Mexico City: Zócalo + 16 borough screening areas — confirmed. 100,000+ capacity at Zócalo on major matchdays. June 11 opening night (Mexico vs South Africa, Estadio Azteca) is unmissable. Mariachi, folkloric performances, regional cuisine throughout
- Monterrey: Parque Fundidora — confirmed. 40,000+ capacity. Industrial-heritage park setting with mountain views. One of the largest confirmed fan zone capacities in the tournament
- Guadalajara: Plaza Liberación, historic city centre — confirmed. Mariachi and Jalisco regional cultural programme. Most authentically Mexican fan zone atmosphere in the tournament. Budget-friendly city with lower accommodation and food costs than Mexico City
Book Your Hotel Near the Fan Zone — Before Prices Rise Further
For any confirmed fan zone city, staying within 15–20 minutes of the festival venue removes all match day transport complexity. Hotels in Liberty State Park access areas (Jersey City, Hoboken), Fairmount Park walking distance in Philadelphia, downtown Miami, and the Zócalo neighbourhood in Mexico City are booking up fast — and rates are rising as June approaches.
Operating Windows: Not All Fan Zones Run All 39 Days
This is one of the most overlooked planning details for multi-city World Cup trips. The tournament runs 39 days, but individual host city fan zones do not all operate for the full period. Understanding operating windows prevents arriving in a host city expecting a live festival and finding it closed.
Full 39-Day Operation Cities
Some cities function as sustained, multi-week fan destinations — operating from June 11 through July 19 with daily programming regardless of whether that city is hosting a stadium match that day. These are the best cities for fans planning longer stays or watching multiple rounds.
- New York / New Jersey (Liberty State Park) — confirmed full 39-day operation
- Other cities hosting knockout matches through to the semi-final stage are likely to operate extended windows — confirm with the specific host committee website as the schedule firms up
Match-Window Operation Cities
Other cities concentrate their fan zone activity around their active match window — typically covering their group stage matches plus key knockout rounds, then scaling down once their city's stadium fixtures are complete. Atlanta is confirmed at approximately 20 operating days, for example.
- Atlanta: ~20 operating days (Centennial Olympic Park) — concentrated around group stage and Round of 32 fixtures
- Cities hosting group stage matches only (without knockout rounds) will likely operate for their match window plus a buffer period — confirm each city's specific dates at their official fan zone website
- Guadalajara and Monterrey operating windows will closely follow their Estadio Akron and Estadio BBVA match schedules respectively
💡 Plan Your Multi-City Trip Around Fan Zone Operating Windows
If your itinerary takes you through multiple US cities during the knockout rounds (late June–mid July), check that each city's fan zone is still operating during your visit window. Atlanta and Houston, for example, may have reduced programming after their city's last stadium match. New York/NJ (Liberty State Park) is the safest anchor city for the entire tournament — confirmed full 39-day operation through the Final.
FIFA Fan Festival 2026: What to Bring and How to Get the Most From It
The fan zone does not require the same advance planning as a stadium match — but the fans who get the most from it show up prepared. Here is what works, from experience at multiple World Cup fan festivals.
The Best Fan Zone Strategy for Each Stage of the Tournament
The fan zone experience changes character as the tournament progresses — and adjusting your strategy by stage significantly improves each visit. During the group stage (June 11–June 26), fan zones are relaxed and mixed. Fans from strong nations yet to be eliminated are vocal; neutrals are genuinely curious; the crowd is open and sociable. This is the ideal phase for exploring multiple fan zones across different cities, watching games you have no personal stake in, and experiencing the breadth of the tournament's culture. By the quarter-finals, the temperature rises noticeably. Nations with large diaspora communities in US cities — Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Senegal, Morocco — transform their host city's fan zone into something closer to a home match atmosphere than a public screening. The nights of the semi-finals and the Final at Liberty State Park will be among the most intense public gatherings in North American sporting history. Practical strategy: use group stage fan zones for the social, exploratory experience. Reserve your best preparation — arrive earliest, in full kit, with friends — for the match that matters most to your team at the phase that determines everything.
Explore Host City Experiences Between Fan Zone Sessions
Fan zones are built for match days. Between fixtures, the host cities themselves are the experience — food tours, cultural walks, stadium visits, day trips. GetYourGuide has vetted experiences across all 16 World Cup host cities.
World Cup 2026 Fan Zones: Frequently Asked Questions
16 Cities, 104 Matches, All Free — Your World Cup 2026 Starts at the Fan Zone
The FIFA Fan Festival is not the backup plan for fans who could not get a stadium ticket. It is a World Cup experience in its own right — one that millions of fans who have attended both consistently say produces some of the most emotionally memorable moments of their entire trip. The venues are now confirmed. Liberty State Park will pack 45,000 fans into a New Jersey waterfront with Manhattan behind them and the Statue of Liberty off to the side. The Zócalo in Mexico City will absorb 100,000 people into the oldest public square in the Americas on June 11 when Mexico plays its opening match 30 minutes away at the Azteca. Lemon Hill in Philadelphia has been permanently upgraded for this tournament. Hastings Park in Vancouver has a new amphitheatre built for this moment. Remember: Kansas City requires a free advance pass — register now at kansascityfwc26.com before you forget. And if you are planning the New York leg of your trip, note the fan zone is at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, not in Manhattan — a planning error that has already caught out fans who booked hotels in the wrong borough. As final details — daily operating hours, entertainment lineups, city-specific transport guidance — are confirmed on a rolling basis, we update this guide with exact information. Check the official FIFA.com fan zone listings for real-time announcements as the tournament approaches, and revisit this page: we flag every confirmed update with a date stamp at the top.
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