Joe Pantorno
AMNY.com
The UBS Arena, located in Belmont Park, NY, will host a 2026 FIFA World Cup viewing party, broadcasting the United States team’s group stage match against Australia, as well as the matchup between Haiti and Brazil, next Friday, June 19.
The games – which will begin with the Americans meeting at 3:00 pm and the Brazilian heavyweights at 9:00 pm – will be projected on the venue’s HDR scoreboard, offering a complete experience similar to that of a real game day, with activities created in collaboration with the New York Islanders, Mets and NYCFC.
“UBS Arena was built to be a premier destination for world-class entertainment and community connection,” said Kelly Cheeseman, president of business operations for the Islanders and UBS Arena.
“We are incredibly excited to open our doors to soccer fans throughout the New York metropolitan area to experience the energy of this great international soccer exhibition. “This game viewing party is a testament to the power of sports to bring people together, and we look forward to hosting a vibrant and inclusive celebration with our partners at the Mets and New York City FC.”
Tickets for each game are available for $8.50, at Ticketmaster.com.
A full schedule of interactive events throughout each game will begin with the performance of each participating team’s national anthems, as well as the singing of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” to commemorate Juneteenth.
During the games, graphic elements will be projected on screens throughout the venue, in order to celebrate and educate the public about this holiday.
The event will also feature activities such as face painting, free flag distribution, T-shirt tosses, opportunities to win merchandise and prize packages, as well as performances by the Fogo Azul percussion group during the Brazil game. Performances by other guest artists are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Both the Islanders and NYCFC will have their own interactive activities, while the Mets will be represented by their mascots, Mr. and Mrs. Met, and the Queens Crew dance team.
“This summer represents an incredible opportunity to celebrate the beautiful game right here in New York, and we are excited to help bring that energy to fans across the region,” said Lauren Scrima, vice president of marketing for NYCFC.
«Football has a special way of connecting people across cultures, communities and generations; “As such, we are proud to partner with UBS Arena to create a memorable game day experience for families and fans throughout the New York metropolitan area.”
It should be noted that the United States is one of three co-hosts (along with Canada and Mexico) of the 2026 World Cup, and the June 19 match against Australia, to be played at Lumen Field in Seattle, will be its second meeting in the group stage (Group D).
The “Stars and Stripes” team will open its participation in the tournament on June 12 at SoFi Stadium – located on the outskirts of Los Angeles -, facing Paraguay.
For its part, Brazil appears as the favorite of Group C; Their game against Haiti, which will take place at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, will be the second on their schedule in the initial phase.
The five-time champions will begin their World Cup journey on June 13 at MetLife Stadium—home of the New York Giants and the Jets—where they will face Morocco, a semifinalist in the 2022 edition.
For more details and to buy tickets for the football party to watch the USA vs. Australia and Brazil vs. Haiti can visit the website at Ubsarena.com .
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