The 2026 FIFA World Cup enters its final stages this week, with six key matches scheduled alongside a variety of cultural events in host cities across the United States. As the tournament advances into the quarterfinals and semifinals, fans have the opportunity to experience both high-stakes soccer and a series of accompanying festivals, screenings, and performances.
On Thursday, July 9, France faces Morocco at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, kicking off a slate of remaining fixtures. Alongside the match, New York’s Lincoln Center is hosting free outdoor screenings of the 2021 documentary “Pelé,” celebrating the legendary Brazilian footballer. The same day marks Brazil Day at Lincoln Center, featuring musical performances, dance events, and a silent disco hosted by Brazilian music producer Béco Dranoff. Battery Park City’s Wagner Park will also host the first of four free weekly “River & Blues” concerts, spotlighting DJ Blessed and the Rebirth Brass Band.
The following day, July 10, Spain and Belgium meet at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Concurrently, the fourth annual West Side Fest begins along Manhattan’s west waterfront, including Chelsea and the Meatpacking District. The festival offers diverse programming such as community quilt workshops, family-friendly crafts, artmaking activities, and live performances. The Whitney Museum opens its doors for free Friday nights, while Lincoln Center presents a freestyle soccer show and an evening of soccer-themed films through the organization Kicking + Screening. The day concludes with a silent disco featuring DJ Belinda Becker on Josie Robertson Plaza.
Saturday, July 11 features two matches: Norway versus England at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, and Argentina versus Switzerland at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Lincoln Center continues its engagement with a freestyle workshop led by world champion Nick Seyda, as well as a silent disco in the evening. West Side Fest’s second day offers an art and vintage market at Westbeth Artists Housing, a teen scavenger hunt, and an opening reception for artist Mari Nagem’s exhibition at CUE Art.
Sunday, July 12 and Monday, July 13 mark breaks in the match schedule, providing additional opportunities for fans to participate in festival activities. Events in the Meatpacking District will run Sunday from late morning to early evening, featuring tai chi sessions on the High Line, mandala-making workshops for young children at the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art on Little Island, and a poster-making class led by Rich Tu, designer of the official World Cup 2026 poster. Meanwhile, the NYNJ World Cup 26 & Telemundo Fan Village at Rockefeller Center remains open daily, offering youth soccer clinics, Spanish-language broadcasts, and interactive activities through July 19.
The quarterfinal winners will compete in two semifinal matches on Tuesday, July 14, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and Wednesday, July 15, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. These days also feature cultural programming at Lincoln Center, including screenings of films with soccer themes such as “Offside,” addressing women’s experiences in Iran, and “Diamantino,” a comedic take on a football star’s public life. Additionally, on July 15, the “Movement on Film: Athletic Shorts” series will present international dance films highlighting the athleticism of dancers and athletes alike.
As the tournament progresses, host cities are combining on-field competition with expanded cultural offerings, bringing diverse artistic experiences to the World Cup’s global audience.