More than 100 World Cup watch parties will take place at recreation centers and parks across the city, Mayor Karen Bass announced Monday.
The city is expected to launch its “Kick it in the Park” program later in the summer, with celebrations held in partnership with City Council offices. Fans will be able to watch live soccer matches on large LED screens, enjoy soccer clinics and participate in activities intended to celebrate all 48 nations competing in the tournament.
“We want to make sure everyone in L.A. can join their neighbors in the excitement of the World Cup,” Bass said in a statement. “We are bringing the matches to every community in Los Angeles with free events that the whole family can enjoy. This moment belongs to all Angelenos, and we’re making sure of that.”
Watch parties are expected to be conducted from June 11 through July 19. Different recreation centers and parks will be on a rotating schedule to host events for match days.
Paul Krekorian, executive director of the Office of Major Events, told City News Service in a telephone interview the program is an opportunity for residents to participate.
“It’s extremely expensive to buy tickets for the World Cup anywhere. We had the same kinds of challenges with the 2028 Games,” Krekorian told CNS. “It was very important to Mayor Bass to have free opportunities for people, not only to see the games, but to come together as a community.”
He estimated the program will cost approximately $6,000 per activation, noting the LED screens were one of the “big cost drivers.”
“We bought them in time for the World Cup, but we’ll also be able to (use) them for other kinds of activations throughout the year — for our summer night lights program and then also in 2028 for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
Krekorian said as many as 1,000 people might show up for the watch parties.
Some of the watch parties will be held at indoor venues, as some participants may feel apprehensive about being in an outdoor large event for any number of different reasons, Krekorian said.
“If you look at those 48 teams, a lot of them have their largest global diaspora in Los Angeles, and if not their largest, a significant diaspora population,” Krekorian told CNS. “Most of those 48 teams, when we put their games on the screens, are likely to have hometown fans right here in Los Angeles, who are pulling for their national teams.”
“That’s the beauty of Los Angeles is that we really bring the world together in one place,” Krekorian added.
More information is available at kickit.lacity.gov.