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Kickin’ It in the Parks: Long Beach Brings World Cup Fever to Neighborhoods
By Staff Writer
Published on Tue, Jun 23, 2026
Soccer fans won’t have to travel far to catch the action this summer. Long Beach is taking part in the world’s biggest game closer to home with Matches in the Park, a series of watch parties and soccer-themed activities popping up across neighborhoods during the knockout rounds of the international tournament.
From El Dorado Park West to Houghton Park, neighborhoods throughout Long Beach will turn into mini fan zones where residents can gather, cheer on their favorite teams and enjoy a little community spirit along with the beautiful game.
Each event will feature matches on a giant screen, along with youth activities hosted by the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department. Fans are encouraged to show their colors by wearing team gear and bringing blankets, lawn chairs and picnic spreads for an afternoon or evening under the summer sky.
The Matches in the Park schedule is as follows:
- 5 p.m. Monday, July 6 — El Dorado Park West (2800 N. Studebaker Road)
- 1 p.m. Thursday, July 9 — Martin Luther King Jr. Park (1950 Lemon Ave.)
- Noon Friday, July 10 — Admiral Kidd Park (2125 Santa Fe Ave.)
- 6 p.m. Saturday, July 11 — Heartwell Park (5801 Parkcrest St.)
- Noon Tuesday, July 14 — Recreation Park (4900 E. 7th St.)
- Noon Wednesday, July 15 — Scherer Park (4600 Long Beach Blvd.)
- 2 p.m. Saturday, July 18 — Houghton Park (6301 Myrtle Ave.)
Which matches will be shown at each location will depend on which teams survive and advance, with game schedules announced as the tournament unfolds.
The fun doesn’t stop when the whistle blows. At each event, soccer-themed augmented reality missions and challenges will be available through the Agents of Discovery app, a free educational mobile gaming platform that gives families a reason to get off the couch and into the game.
Matches in the Park is one piece of the City’s broader Soccer in the LBC celebration, which kicked off in June with the LA Galaxy Soccer Celebration in downtown Long Beach.
The summerlong celebration will reach its championship moment on July 19 with an open streets event centered around Bixby Park. Streets in several other neighborhoods will also be transformed into car-free spaces for walking, biking and exploring, turning Long Beach into one giant victory lap.
Whether you’re a lifelong fan or a casual spectator, Long Beach is making sure locals have the home-field advantage.
