Boston will be bustling throughout the FIFA World Cup, and City Hall Plaza is ready for thousands of soccer enthusiasts as the Fan Fest officially opens to the public today.
The area has transformed for the World Cup Fan Festival, which runs from June 12 through June 27 (the World Cup itself officially began yesterday and runs through July 9). A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on the plaza yesterday.
The Fan Festival is free and open to the public, however fans must register for a pass in advance, as access will be limited to 5,000 fans at any one time.
Both Friday and Saturday are already sold out, according to Mayor Michelle Wu, but tickets are still available for the other 14 days. Already nearly 150,000 fans have registered to attend, though registration doesn’t guarantee access. Fans must select the day(s) and or the match(es) they want to see at the Fan Festival, and children under 18 must submit a parent/guardian waiver.
Here are the days and hours of operation for the FIFA Fan Festival Boston. For which matches will be livestreamed on which days, click here
| Day | Start Time | End Time |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, June 12 | 2 p.m. | 11:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, June 14 | 2 p.m. | 11:30 p.m. |
| Sunday, June 14 | 12 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. |
| Monday, June 15 | 11 a.m. | 8:30 p.m. |
| Tuesday, June 16 | 2 p.m. | 11:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, June 17 | 12 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. |
| Thursday, June 18 | 2 p.m. | 11:30 p.m. |
| Friday, June 19 | 2 p.m. | 11:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, June 20 | 12 p.m. | 10:30 p.m. |
| Sunday, June 21 | 11 a.m. | 8:30 p.m. |
| Monday, June 22 | 12 p.m. | 10:30 p.m. |
| Tuesday, June 23 | 12 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, June 24 | 2 p.m. | 11:30 p.m. |
| Thursday, June 25 | 3 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. |
| Friday, June 26 | 2 p.m. | 10:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, June 27 | 3 p.m. | 12:30 a.m. |
For those who will be attending Fan Fest, there will be live broadcasts of two to three matches a day, musical performances, curated cultural showcases and local food vendors.
“We are going to make sure that this is the best summer that Boston has ever had and the best experience that World Cup fans will get to have,” Wu said. “Please just be mindful of increased pedestrian traffic around City Hall. Make a plan for how to get there.”
Boston Stadium in Foxborough will host its first World Cup match tomorrow, as Haiti and Scotland face off at 9 p.m., one of three matches that will be livestreamed Saturday during Fan Fest.
Again, the Fan Festival is a free event, but you do have to register online and tickets are going fast.
The Wu Administration is also sponsoring other community watch parties in Dorchester, East Boston and at the Parkman Bandstand on Boston Common. Other venues will be announced soon.
“No matter if you’re watching from Boston Stadium, Boston City Hall Plaza or in your neighborhood, this World Cup is going to be unforgettable,” Wu said Friday.
The full list of World Cup watch parties, as released by Mayor Wu’s office:
Watch Party #1 – Spain vs. Cabo Verde
Monday, June 15 | 1:00 PM ET
Town Field, Dorchester
Watch Party #2 – Brazil vs. Haiti
Friday, June 19 | 9:00 PM ET
Parkman Bandstand, Boston Common
Watch Party #3 – Colombia vs. Portugal
Saturday, June 27 | 7:30 PM ET
East Boston Memorial Stadium
Watch Party #4 – FIFA World Cup Semi Final
Tuesday, July 14 | 3:00 PM ET
Location to be announced at a later date
Watch Party #5 – FIFA World Cup Semi Final
Wednesday, July 15 | 3:00 PM ET
Location to be announced at a later date
Watch Party #6 – FIFA World Cup Final
Sunday, July 19 | 3:00 PM ET
Location to be announced at a later date
