The World, Together,
In Downtown YS.
Free community watch parties for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, projected on a big screen by the Bryan Center. 48 nations. 104 matches. One village.
What is this?
The 2026 men's World Cup is the biggest ever โ 48 teams, hosted across the US, Canada, and Mexico. World Cup @ YS is a grassroots effort to bring Yellow Springs together to watch it, on a big outdoor screen, near the Bryan Center, all summer long.
We're in the planning phase right now. Three ways you can help shape it:
1. The Party
Group stage = casual drop-in. Knockouts = potluck, DJ, kids zone, dance party. Read the full vision.
See the plan โ
2. Vote on Games
We can't screen all 72 group-stage matches. Tell us which ones your Yellow Springs should see.
Cast your votes โ
3. Volunteer
Screen setup, cleanup, calls for permits, kids activities, DJ help. An hour or a season โ every bit helps.
Sign up โA 96-Year Global Tradition
The FIFA World Cup has been played since 1930 โ through wars, recessions, and revolutions. From Uruguay's first triumph in Montevideo to Maradona's "Hand of God" in Mexico City, from Zinedine Zidane's headbutt in Berlin to Messi's coronation in Lusail โ the tournament is, for one month every four years, the closest thing humanity has to a shared experience.
In 2026 it comes to North America for the third time. And for the first time, it sprawls across three host countries and 48 nations. Yellow Springs is going to feel it too.
The Party
Two different vibes for two different stages of the tournament โ both centered downtown, near the Bryan Center.
Where
We're aiming for the green space by the Bryan Community Center in downtown Yellow Springs โ central, walkable, family-friendly, and big enough to handle a real crowd. Final location pending permits and a few key phone calls (๐ see the Volunteer page).
Two Phases, One Summer
Group Stage ยท June 11โ27
Casual drop-in viewing. Big screen up, blankets and lawn chairs welcome, a few games per day. Bring your own snacks, a kid, a dog, a neighbor. Low key. Come and go.
We'll screen the matches the community votes for โ head to the Vote page to pick yours.
Knockouts ยท June 28 โ July 19
The full party. Quarterfinals, semis, and the final get the works:
- ๐ฒ Potluck โ bring a dish from somewhere on the map
- ๐ง DJ + dance party before and after the match
- ๐จ Kids zone โ face paint, mini-pitch, crafts
- ๐บ Big screen with proper sound
What We're Building Around
Key Dates
- June 11 โ Opening match: Mexico vs. South Africa at Estadio Azteca
- June 11โ27 โ Group stage (72 matches)
- June 28 โ July 3 โ Round of 32 (new this year!)
- July 4โ7 โ Round of 16
- July 9โ11 โ Quarterfinals ๐ full party mode begins
- July 14โ15 โ Semifinals
- July 19 โ The Final, at MetLife Stadium
Vote on Games
We can't screen everything. Help us prioritize the group stage. Enter your name, get 10 voting points, and spend them however you want โ all 10 on one game, or 1 each on ten games. Your call.
Schedule shown in Eastern Time. Final group-stage matchdays (June 24โ27) have both group games at the same time โ that's a FIFA rule for fairness. Confirmed teams and venues per FIFA's post-draw schedule.
Volunteer
This whole thing only happens if people pitch in. Tell us how you can help and we'll be in touch with details as plans firm up.
Admin ยท Vote Results
Enter the admin key: