ArtsQuest has announced SoccerFest, its monthlong celebration of the FIFA World Cup™ 2026, drew more than 38,600 fans to SteelStacks for free live watch parties of all 104 matches, youth programming, live music, cultural festivals, family activities, historical exhibits and artistic experiences.

From June 11 through July 19, SoccerFest transformed SteelStacks into a gathering place where fans representing countries from around the globe came together to cheer, celebrate and share in one of the world’s most beloved sporting traditions on American soil for the first time since 1994. Throughout the tournament, SoccerFest featured watch parties for every World Cup match on giant outdoor screens, drawing thousands of fans for marquee matchups.

Building on a tradition of World Cup watch parties dating back to 2014, SoccerFest expanded the experience into an extended celebration, eclipsing previous tournaments in both scale and community participation.

“When we envisioned SoccerFest for the FIFA World Cup in the U.S. this year, our goal was never simply to show the World Cup matches on big screens,” said Chief Operating Officer Curt Mosel. “We wanted to create a place where families, neighbors and visitors from every background could experience the excitement of the world’s biggest sporting event together alongside live music, art and festivals. What unfolded over the course of the tournament exceeded every expectation. We watched complete strangers celebrate goals and dance together, children wearing jerseys from countries around the world play and create side by side, and our campus become a true reflection of the diversity and spirit of the global soccer community.”

More than 16,000 fans attended Team USA watch parties alone, cheering on the Americans versus Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Australia and Paraguay, and 4,000 turned out for the World Cup final with Spain defeating Argentina. ArtsQuest offered free parking and free admission to create an accessible and enjoyable experience for the entire community, rain or shine, with viewing locations including the Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks lawn, PNC Plaza, Air Products TownSquare, Palette & Pour, Musikfest Café and Blast Furnace Room.

A Celebration of Arts, Culture and History

The event coincided with ArtsQuest’s slate of summer festivals and programming, including fan favorites ¡Sabor! Latin Festival, One Earth Reggae Festival, Blast Furnace Blues Festival, 4th of July festivities and America’s 250th birthday and Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks concerts. In addition, fans were able to experience soccer-themed films at Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas and hot glass experiences featuring World Cup-inspired paperweights.

SoccerFest also celebrated Bethlehem’s unique place in American soccer history. An exhibit highlighting the legendary Bethlehem Steel Soccer Club was capped off through presentations by local historian Daniel Paul Morrison, whose talks explored the team and city’s role in shaping the early growth of professional soccer in the United States.

Inspiring the next generation

More than 500 young athletes also participated in free youth clinics, an adaptive soccer experience, a Spanish-language clinic, goalkeeper training, community center field trips with clinics and 3v3 tournaments hosted throughout June by Penn Rising XI, and supported by EPYS, Parkland Area Soccer Club and Perfect Touch Sports.

“Soccer has an incredible ability to bring people together, regardless of age, background or experience,” said Greg Ramos, Executive Director of Penn Rising XI. “Throughout SoccerFest we saw young players learning new skills, meeting teammates from different communities and experiencing the excitement of the World Cup in a way they’ll remember for years. That’s how the game continues to grow.”

Putting the Lehigh Valley on the

world stage

SoccerFest also reinforced the Lehigh Valley’s growing reputation as a destination for major sporting events and international visitors during one of the most watched sporting events in the world.

“The FIFA World Cup provided an incredible opportunity to showcase the Lehigh Valley to visitors while celebrating the cultures and communities that make our region so special,” said Alex Michaels, President & CEO of Discover Lehigh Valley. “SoccerFest demonstrated what makes this region unique—a community that welcomes people from around the world and creates unforgettable shared experiences through sports, arts and culture.”

Throughout the month, SoccerFest welcomed supporters representing dozens of nations, creating an atmosphere that reflected both the international nature of the World Cup and the diversity of the Lehigh Valley itself. SteelStacks became a sea of jerseys representing dozens of nations. Families gathered on blankets, children kicked soccer balls between matches, and strangers celebrated goals together regardless of which country they supported.

“One of the greatest legacies of this World Cup wasn’t simply who won the championship,” Mosel said. “It was seeing communities come together. Across North America, from Vancouver to Monterrey and right here in Bethlehem, we witnessed people from different cultures, languages and backgrounds sharing the same excitement. That’s what sports can do at their very best, and we’re incredibly proud ArtsQuest could provide that space for more than 38,500 fans throughout SoccerFest.”

SoccerFest was made possible through tremendous community support from a grant from Northampton County, youth soccer organizations Penn Rising XI, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer and Parkland Area Soccer Club, sponsors ABARTA Coca-Cola, Anheuser Busch | Michelob Ultra, Air Products, B. Braun Medical, Inc., Discover Lehigh Valley, Klunk & Millan Advertising, Kwik Goal, Lehigh Valley Health Network, part of Jefferson Health, Monster Energy, NUTRTL, Soccer Post, TWG Security and media partners Adams Outdoor Advertising, LA Mega, Loud Radio and Panorama Latin News.

While the FIFA World Cup has concluded, the excitement continues at SteelStacks with Musikfest, which returns July 31-Aug. 9, bringing more than 500 free performances and hundreds of thousands of visitors back to Bethlehem.

To learn more, visit artsquest.org.

Contributed article