Looking for a World Cup watch party? Bellingham Sportsplex among sites preparing
The Bellingham Sportsplex is among 18 local sites that will host watch parties for the 2026 World Cup, which will hold matches in Seattle and Vancouver, B.C.
“We are so dang excited,” said Mack Jones, assistant executive director at Sportsplex. “This is awesome.”
Sportsplex is able to host the watch parties following a $15,000 grant from the city of Bellingham. Using the grant, the organization has purchased a projector and 25-foot screen, along with two flat screen TVs to show the matches.
Sportsplex has also rented out several games, such as soccer darts, billiard soccer, soccer tennis, bubble ball and foosball.
“We are putting on a number of fan zone events. Throughout the World Cup tournament we will have a lot of family friendly activities,” Jones said. “We are trying to create a fun, festival-like atmosphere where you can bring your kids while you watch the game.”
The city of Bellingham announced around $200,000 in grants to cover the expenses of all the fan zones, which are funded through the city’s lodging tax. The other fan zones are being hosted at:
- Archer Ale House
- Aslan Brewing Company/Aslan Depot
- Beach Cat Brewing South Paw
- Chuckanut Bay Distillery
- COF&
- Hammerhead Coffee
- JUXT
- Kulshan Brewing/K2
- Menace Brewing
- Paws for a Beer
- Stemma Brewing
- Uisce Irish Pub
- Wander Brewing
- Whatcom Family YMCA
- Trackside Beer Garden hosted by Kulshan Brewing
- Commercial Street watch party hosted by The Den
- Wild Buffalo
Entrance to Sportsplex to watch the games is free, and everyone is welcome to attend, although there is a $5 fee to partake in any of the extra activities and games.
Jones said not every World Cup game will have a watch party, but every game will be shown live on the TV screens in the complex.
“The Sportsplex, and Whatcom Sports and Recreation, we all love soccer so much. We all love soccer so much,” Jones said. “We will be showing every single game in the tournament, but the level of which we show it will change … for the larger games, we will bring the projector on the field and create a stadium-like atmosphere where you can watch the game on the big screen.”
Fans can watch the game from bleachers that are set up outside the field or bring their own chairs and blankets and sit on the field next to the projector.
World Cup games are scheduled from June 11 to July 19 at sites across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Food and beverages will be sold at the concession stand, including some alcoholic options. Rotating food trucks will also serve food during the watch parties.
Bellingham is one of nine Washington cities that are official World Cup “fan zones.” The city initially planned for larger events, but had to scale down and enlist local businesses due to the city’s budget.
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