The World, Together,
In Downtown YS.
Let's have a series of free community watch parties for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, projected on a big screen.
What is this?
The 2026 men's World Cup is the biggest ever — 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 →
2. Vote on Games
We can't screen all 72 group-stage matches. Tell us which ones you're excited about.
Cast your votes →
3. Volunteer
Screen setup, cleanup, calls for permits, kids activities, DJ help. An hour or a season — every bit helps.
Sign up →4. Subscribe
Drop your email or phone and we'll send updates as plans firm up. No spam, just watch party news.
Sign upA 96-Year Global Tradition
The FIFA World Cup has been played since 1930 — 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 — 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 tickets are expensive, traveling is prohibitive, all the more reason to stay local and watch it together.
The Party
Still in the works as we ramp up the tournament. Watch for details. The goal is to be centered downtown, near the Bryan Center is an ideal location.
Where
We're aiming for the green space by the Bryan Community Center in downtown Yellow Springs — central, walkable, family-friendly, and big enough to handle a real crowd. Final location pending permits and a few key phone calls (👀 see the Volunteer page).
Two Phases, One Summer
Group Stage · June 11–27
Casual drop-in viewing. Big screen up, blankets and lawn chairs welcome, a few games per week.
We'll screen the matches the community votes for — head to the Vote page to pick yours.
Knockouts · June 28 → July 19
The full party. Quarterfinals, semis, and the final get the works:
- 🍲 Potluck — bring a dish from somewhere on the map
- 🎧 DJ + dance party before and after the match
- 🎨 Kids zone — face paint, mini-pitch, crafts
- 📺 Big screen with proper sound
What We're Building Around
Key Dates
- June 12 — First USA game: USA vs. Panama at 9pm
- June 11–27 — Group stage (72 matches)
- June 28 – July 3 — Round of 32 (new this year!)
- July 4–7 — Round of 16
- July 9–11 — Quarterfinals 🎉 full party mode begins
- July 14–15 — Semifinals
- July 19 — The Final
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 — all 10 on one game, or 1 each on ten games. Your call.
Schedule shown in Eastern Time. Final group-stage matchdays (June 24–27) have both group games at the same time — 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.
Stay in the Loop
Get occasional updates about World Cup @ YS — schedule announcements, watch party confirmations, potluck themes, and last-minute "the DJ is set up, come on down" texts. We won't spam you and we won't share your info.
Admin · Vote Results
Enter the admin key: