MIAMI — Big news for soccer fans in Miami!
The FIFA World Cup 26 Miami Host Committee has officially chosen Bayfront Park as the home of the FIFA Fan Festival Miami, the city’s main celebration during the tournament.
For 23 days, the downtown waterfront park will be transformed into a hub for fans from around the world, featuring:
- 88 live broadcasts of World Cup matches on giant screens
- Three stages with concerts, cultural performances, and entertainment
- Local food, games, and interactive fan experiences
- Space for up to 30,000 fans per day
“Bayfront Park is where Miami gathers, and there’s no better stage for the world’s game,” said Rodney Barreto, Co-Chair of the Miami Host Committee in news release on Saturday. “The FIFA Fan Festival will showcase our city’s energy and hospitality—inviting fans from every neighborhood and every nation to celebrate together throughout the tournament.”
The announcement is a key step in Miami’s preparations for the World Cup and highlights the city’s plans to engage both residents and visitors with free, family-friendly programming.
Set against Miami’s iconic skyline, the festival will offer more than 690 hours of live entertainment, featuring roughly 1,000 performers, plus brand activations.
“This is the biggest economic opportunity that this county has ever had. It’s like seven Super Bowls,” said Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava
Event organizers said screens will show hundreds of hours of live match coverage, supported by thousands of volunteers and full safety operations.
Alina Hudak, president and CEO of the Miami Hosting Committee for the 2026 World Cup, added, “We’re expecting hundreds of thousands of visitors and that’s a great thing for Miami because it’s a time of year in June to July where our tourism is down.”
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said the city is well-prepared for the large crowds.
“We’re accustomed to this venue having a lot of people and we’re accustomed to hosting big events,” he said.
Some local fans say even if the festival brings traffic and crowds, it will be worth it.
“I mean, it’s once in a lifetime, so we will deal with it. We have to deal with it,” a downtown Miami resident said.
Further details on the daily schedule, entertainment lineups, and programming will be shared in the coming months via the Host Committee’s official channels.
Fans can stay updated by visiting MiamiFWC26.com and following the FIFA World Cup 26 Miami Host Committee on Instagram at @fwc26miami.
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