City of Worcester, MA

WORCESTER, Mass. – The City of Worcester, in partnership with Discover Central Massachusetts (DCM), Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District (BID), Massachusetts Organization of African Descendants (MOAD), Massachusetts Youth Soccer, and 4Life Entertainment announced Thursday “Game on Worcester,” a series of four events that will broadcast FIFA World Cup games on the Worcester Common.

“The City of Worcester is honored to be one of several communities in the state to host watch parties,” said City Manager Eric D. Batista. “This is an opportunity for our community to come together and celebrate the game of soccer, one another, and our city. I want thank all our staff, community partners, and stakeholders who are going above and beyond to pull this off – this didn’t happen overnight and will require a herculean effort, with everyone chipping in. We can’t wait to see everyone on the Common cheering.”

“We are so excited to bring the world’s game right here to Worcester,” said Mayor Joseph M. Petty. “These watch parties are all about bringing our community together, celebrating our city’s incredible diversity, and cheering on the beautiful game as one.”

Following the receipt of the official public screening license this week, the series is fully confirmed. The Game On Worcester dates and time are:

Saturday, June 13 (MOAD Cultural Collaboration)

• 5 p.m. Common opens
• 6 p.m. Brazil vs. Morocco
• 9 p.m. Haiti vs. Scotland
• 11 p.m. Common closes

Tuesday, June 23 (MOAD Cultural Collaboration)

• 3 p.m. Common opens
• 4 p.m. England vs. Ghana
• 9 p.m. Common closes

Tuesday, July 14 (Massachusetts Youth Soccer Collaboration)

• 2 p.m. Common opens
• 3 p.m. Semi-Final (TBD)
• 5 p.m. Common closes

Sunday, July 19

• 1 p.m. Common opens
• 3 p.m. Final (TBD)
• 7 p.m. Common closes

All events are free and open to the public, although attendees are asked to pre-register to ensure proper capacity. Each date has a unique registration link, which can be accessed at DiscoverCentralMA.org/gameon.

Access to the Common and surrounding streets will be closed to vehicles prior to and during each event, and residents are asked to please adhere to all detours. Further details, including road closure times, will be announced closer to the games.

Game On Worcester will feature a full program of activations designed to engage all ages and communities, including:

• Live match screenings on a large outdoor screen
• Local food vendors and restaurants
• Cultural performances and music
• Family activities and youth engagement opportunities
• Soccer clinics and interactive games led by Roots Soccer Academy and Worcester City Football Academy
• Community partner and nonprofit activations

As part of the Massachusetts 250th anniversary, DCM will present short pre-game video segments connecting Worcester's revolutionary history to the spirit of the World Cup, from the Worcester Courthouse defiance of 1774 to the city’s role as a hub of innovation and community.

“Game On Worcester is exactly the kind of regional moment that puts Central Massachusetts on the map,” said DCM President Monique Messier-Joseph. “We are proud to bring our marketing resources and regional reach to this series and to welcome visitors from across New England to experience everything Worcester has to offer: world-class events, incredible food, rich history, and a community that knows how to celebrate.”

Local businesses, food vendors, and community organizations are invited to be part of the community celebration. Vendors and community resource partners are being sought to help create vibrant, welcoming watch party experiences for residents and visitors alike. This is an opportunity to showcase products, services, and mission while connecting with diverse audiences through the power of sport, culture, and community.

Interested vendors and organizations are encouraged to apply via the registration links at DiscoverCentralMA.org/gameon.

To support the events, the City of Worcester was awarded $120,000 through the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s (MOTT) Sports and Entertainment Events Fund, a competitive statewide grant program created to support major events that drive tourism, economic activity, and community engagement across the Commonwealth. The program allocated $10 million to support FIFA World Cup-related programming, public celebrations, transportation, and event infrastructure throughout Massachusetts.

As a significant cultural initiative, the watch party series was guided by the City’s Cultural Development Office, whose leadership shaped the vision, partnerships, and community-centered programming behind this effort. This initiative reflects Worcester’s continued commitment to investing in large-scale cultural experiences that celebrate community, activate public spaces, and create lasting economic and social impact.

“For many of Worcester’s immigrant and multicultural communities, football carries deep emotional meaning and memories of gathering with loved ones back home to celebrate the game,” said Cultural Development Officer Fabian Barracks. “Through these watch parties, we want residents to feel seen, represented, and connected through an authentic cultural experience that reflects the diversity of Worcester itself. Our community partners are helping shape programming that celebrates music, food, culture, and community alongside the matches, creating moments of joy and unity through sports. This initiative is about more than watching games. It is about building belonging, strengthening community ties, and showcasing Worcester as a city where diversity is celebrated and everyone has a place.”

“Massachusetts Organization of African Descendants is an African Diaspora led Coalition representing diverse immigrant communities in Central Massachusetts and New England,” said MOAD President and CEO Jermoh Kamara. “MOAD, alongside our Brazilian, Haitian, and African/Ghanaian partners, is capturing the deep cultural nostalgia of ‘soccer/football’ to launch a series of FIFA Fan Festivals in Worcester. Our collaboration with the City of Worcester is a once-in-a-generation initiative that honors soccer not just as a sport, but as our shared heritage that transcends borders and unites the diaspora. By bringing together local/global businesses, interfaith networks, and celebrity artists, the activations will foster economic growth and meaningful cultural dialogue, cementing Worcester’s identity as a welcoming, globally connected city. 

Game On Worcester is anticipated to bring thousands of fans together in Downtown Worcester. With a 24-foot by 16-foot high-definition screen, live atmosphere, food and beverage vendors, a beer garden, and youth soccer clinics, the series positions Worcester as the premier viewing destination in Central Massachusetts and a must-visit hub for fans across New England.

“Downtown is already a gathering place for so many cultures, communities, and traditions that make this city what it is,” said Downtown Worcester BID Executive Director Katelyn O'Brien. “The atmosphere at Game On Worcester is going to be incredible: families watching matches together, kids kicking soccer balls around the Common, and people celebrating goals with strangers who suddenly feel like neighbors. And maybe somewhere in that crowd is a future Messi or Mbappé getting inspired for the first time, right here in Downtown Worcester.”

Worcester, the second-largest city in New England, is uniquely suited for this moment. Centrally located between Boston and Springfield, easily accessible from Union Station, and home to one of the most culturally diverse populations in New England, the city brings authentic global energy to every match. With strong community ties to competing nations including Ghana, Haiti, Portugal, and Brazil, Game On Worcester is as much a celebration of the city itself as it is of the beautiful game. The series is also an opportunity to bring the World Cup experience to thousands of residents who may not otherwise have the ability to attend matches at Gillette Stadium.

DCM will lead regional marketing for the series, deploying a coordinated campaign across paid digital advertising, email, social media, and on-the-ground signage targeting visitors from the Boston metro, Western Massachusetts, and greater New England. A dedicated web hub at DiscoverCentralMA.org serves as the central destination for event details, hotel information, transportation, and local dining.

For full details, including schedules, location, and event updates visit DiscoverCentralMA.org/gameon

Follow along:

• @discovercentralma
• @downtownworcesterbid
• @cityofworcester
• @mayouthsoccer
• @massorgofafricandescendants

#GameOnWorcester