While we may not all be headed to Gillette Stadium (aka Boston Stadium) to take in a World Cup game this summer, that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate with our soccer-loving families! Here are 5 fun ways to celebrate the World Cup at home and locally on the North Shore.

 

 

1. Collect the Panini FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Stickers – First you’ll need the Official Sticker Album ($5) or the Hard Cover Album ($65). Then you can start collecting stickers of each player. Most stickers come 7 to a pack for $2. You can find them at Walgreens, Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods and CVS (while supplies last). But the best deal I’ve seen is for the 25 pack box with bonus Quadrottas online only at Costco. There’s also a free digital version of the album and with free packs of digital stickers available to open daily on the FIFA app or website.

Sorting the stickers and placing them in the book can be a fun family activity. My son and I are working together on our book. My best pull so far has been Cristiano Ronaldo and his has been Lamine Yamal. Siblings could work on a family book! As an added bonus my son is learning the flags for each country and I’m learning more of the players before all the games start.

 

 

2. Go Out For a Game – Many of the games take place during the afternoon or early evening and family-friendly places like Gametime North Shore in Peabody, the Autograph Tavern in Andover, and Plat du Jour Bistro at the Wenham Tea House will be showing the games and serving drinks and food. At Twisted Fate Brewing in Danvers, beers are for sale in the taproom and you can order food to be delivered or bring your own.

 

 

3. Attend a Free Community Watch Party – Swampscott will host 5 free World Cup Watch Parties on the Town Hall Lawn. Matches will be shown on the town’s large outdoor screen. Food vendors will be available, and attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs.

Games scheduled for the public watch party:

• June 11, 3 p.m., Mexico vs. South Africa
• June 17, 4 p.m., England vs. Croatia
• June 19, 3 p.m., USA vs. Australia
• June 22, 1 p.m, Argentina vs. Austria
• June 26, 3 p.m., France vs. Norway
• June 27, 7 p.m., Colombia vs Portugal

Field of Play is Revere’s citywide World Cup celebration that includes public watch parties mostly taking place at The Yard at Suffolk Downs. Find the full schedule here. 

 

 

4. Host Your Own Watch Party – If I was hosting a watch party I would rent this Soccer Fever Inflatable from Busy Bee Jumpers, and get this Projector Screen for the yard along with a projector. This Soccer Charcuterie Board would be amazing or serve everyday snacks in these stadium trays.

 

 

5. Visit the World’s Largest Soccer Ball – The Massachusetts Port Authority will showcase the organization’s attempt at the Guinness World Records title for World’s Largest Soccer Ball at Piers Park II in East Boston June 12 – 18. Standing 45 feet, the soccer ball will attempt to officially break the current Guinness World Records mark of 38 feet, 11.8 inches, making it the largest soccer ball ever displayed. The last record was set in Doha, Qatar in 2013. In addition to the weeklong display, Massport will host a community celebration at Piers Park II on Saturday, June 13, from 12-4pm, featuring family activities, games, and entertainment. World Cup matches will not be televised.

 

 

6. Participate in the Holy Cow World Cup (of flavors) – Stop by Holy Cow in Gloucester, Peabody or Salem to try 8 never before made ice cream flavors highlighting the top 8 ranked teams of the World Cup. Beginning June 11th and continuing for three weeks, vote for your favorite flavor until a winner is selected. Winning flavor will be released in limited supply for the final week of the World Cup tournament.

 

 

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