Two free World Cup watch parties are coming to Long Island this summer after Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Gov. Kathy Hochul both announced they’re sponsoring events.
Hochul announced on Tuesday that the state would be throwing a free World Cup watch party on June 12 at Stony Brook University’s LaValle Stadium, hosting an all-day public viewing that starts with the first match of the day and concludes after the main event slated as the USA vs. Paraguay game at 9 p.m.
Nassau Executive Blakeman, who is also the GOP-nominee running against Hochul in this year’s gubernatorial race, announced Wednesday that the county would be hosting its own free, three-hour watch party at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre in Eisenhower Park from for June 19’s America vs. Australia match.
“FIFA World Cup 26 is the biggest sporting event in the world,” said Blakeman.
“This is a great opportunity for residents and families to come together to celebrate the game and enjoy a world-class community experience right here in Nassau County,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Hochul are also hosting free, official FIFA fan zones across all five boroughs running from June through July, backed by $20 million in state funding.
“The World Cup is an opportunity to bring people together across communities, cultures and generations, and New York is making sure families across our state can be part of that experience,” Hochul said.
Although the events are completely unrelated and organized by two separate municipalities, fans across Long Island are invited to attend both.
Nassau County’s event will run from 3-6 p.m. and is being planned in partnership with Long Island’s new Major League Soccer team The Island FC, while both events will feature live match broadcasts, giveaways, and fun soccer-themed games and family-friendly activities.
The state’s event will also feature a performance by rock band “Third Eye Blind” before team USA hits the field against Paraguay.
Both events on Long Island are free, though tickets are required. Fans can register for the Nassau County watch party at TheIslandFC.com, while tickets for the Stony Brook event are available while supplies last at NewYorkStateUnited.com.