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Long Beach Gears Up for Summer of Soccer with Citywide Fan Experiences
By Staff Writer
Published on Wed, Feb 18, 2026
This summer, the City of Long Beach is bringing the excitement of soccer straight to the coast. In partnership with LA Galaxy, the Downtown Long Beach Alliance and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the City will host the LA Galaxy Soccer Celebration — a multiweek lineup of fan events, cultural experiences and neighborhood activations designed to unite residents and visitors throughout this summer’s global soccer tournament.
Fan Experiences
From June 11 to July 19, the celebration will transform Downtown into a hub for soccer spirit. The effort aims to create welcoming, family-friendly spaces where fans can gather, support their favorite teams and enjoy the shared energy of the competition, all while spotlighting local businesses, community organizations and cultural partners.
Downtown festivities will feature player and alumni appearances, interactive fan zones, youth programming, giveaways, limited-edition merchandise and sponsor activations.
The celebration will also look to feature big‑screen live FIFA World Cup 26™ match viewings, with more details to come. Marquee event dates, daily schedules and other details will also be announced at a later date. Fans interested in attending are asked to complete the Interest Form to be the first to know as details are confirmed.
After the group stage on June 11, soccer-themed events will be held at local parks citywide, giving residents across Long Beach more opportunities to connect, celebrate and enjoy the sport.
Open Streets Event
The City is also planning an open streets event presented by Metro that will temporarily transform select roadways into car-free corridors for walking, biking and exploring. Designed to promote sustainable transportation while supporting nearby businesses, the event will pair the excitement of the tournament with the energy of Long Beach neighborhoods.
Events Calendar
To help bring even more community-driven experiences to life, the City has launched a centralized soccer events calendar and is inviting neighborhood associations, community groups and local businesses to participate. Organizations can submit their events for promotion and connect with others hosting tournament-related activities across Long Beach.
Together, these efforts reflect a broader goal: ensuring the excitement of this soccer tournament are felt throughout the Long Beach community. Residents and fans can stay updated on announcements and event details by visiting the City’s summer soccer webpage.
