World Cup was here. Catch free soccer action on the South Shore
Article excerpt
Quincy is hosting two days of free World Cup watch parties at Kilroy Square on June 19 and 20, offering soccer fans a chance to catch the action without a ticket or subscription. The South Shore community event brings together residents to experience the tournament's matches on the public square. Details about which matches will be shown and additional activities weren't specified in the announcement.
The world's most popular game has brought its signature event to North America for the first time since 1994, and the city of Quincy is offering fans a chance to take part in the pageantry without paying the steep ticket prices for the matches at Boston Stadium.
Tickets to the FIFA World Cup matches at Foxboro's Gillette Stadium, which has been renamed Boston Stadium for the Cup matches, start at close to $1,000 apiece. So, the City of Presidents stepped in.
Presented by Mayor Tom Koch and the City of Quincy, Kilroy Square in Quincy Center will play host to two days of watch parties on Friday, June 19, and Saturday, June 20, and a match featuring Team USA will be part of the festivities.
Who will be selling refreshments at the watch parties?
The watch parties will offer people of all ages to celebrate the World Cup as well as enjoy food and beverage options from Quincy businesses. Vendors scheduled to sell food and beverages include Evviva Trattoria, The Fours and Espresso East Coffee & Co.
What games will be shown during the watch parties?
The Friday, June 19, edition of the watch party kicks off at 2 p.m., ahead of the 3 p.m. match between the United States and Australia in Seattle. The party will continue for the 6 p.m. match between Scotland and Morocco in Foxboro. The watch party ends with the conclusion of this match.
The festivities get started even earlier on Saturday, June 20, with a noon start time ahead of the match between the Netherlands and Sweden in Houston. The party continues for the match between Germany and the Ivory Coast at 4 p.m. from Toronto. The watch party also ends with the conclusion of this match.
What to know about Kilroy Square
Kilroy Square, at 25 Cottage Ave., was dedicated in 2021 with a nod to the city's shipbuilding past. The phrase "Kilroy Was Here" gained popularity during World War II and is credited to Fore River Shipyard inspector James J. Kilroy. The square is the regular home to public gatherings like farmers markets and beer gardens, and hosted an Arts and Artisans Market on Saturday, June 13. The square is also home to a large holiday market in December and music events throughout the summer.
More: Kilroy is here again: What you need to know about Quincy's Kilroy Square
There is ample parking space for attendees at the Kilroy Square Garage, 25 Cottage Ave. Rates are $1 an hour for the first six hours on weekdays and $1 an hour for the first 12 hours on weekends.
When is the first World Cup game?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup got underway with matches on Thursday, June 11. Mexico defeated South Africa, 2-0, in a game in Mexico City. In the nightcap, South Korea rallied for a 2-1 victory over Czechia in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Team USA's first game in the group stage of the tournament is Friday, June 12, at 9 p.m. against Paraguay in Los Angeles.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Team USA match to be part of Quincy World Cup watch party