Thousands flock to ‘Miami’s second stadium’ for full World Cup experience. See the photos
By Kevin Scott and
Matias Ocner
The most visible sign of all that the FIFA World Cup is upon us in South Florida, is the transformation of 32-acre waterfront Bayfront Park into FIFA Fan Festival Miami. The mega watch party is free of charge and runs through July 5, with capacity for 30,000 daily attendees.
Beyond live match broadcasts on four massive screens, the festival will feature an 8,000-capacity amphitheater, concerts, cultural programming tied to matches of the day, food booths, family-friendly games, mini soccer pitches, face-painting and interactive activations (including one called “Beckham’s Back Yard” in which fans kick the ball around with a video version of the English icon and Inter Miami co-owner).
They are billing Bayfront Park as “Miami’s second stadium,” a gathering place for fans who don’t have tickets to matches and for ticketholders on off days.
Fans saw Qatar and Switzerland battle to a 1-1 draw in Group B play, while Brazil and Morocco also tied at 1-1 to kick off Group C play. In the nightcap, Scotland shut out Haiti, which returned to the tournament after a 52-year absence.
See the scene on Saturday:
David Schaeffer, from North Carolina, gets a whistle airbrushed on his head during the FIFA Fan Festival Miami at Bayfront Park on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in downtown Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
People make their way through the FIFA Fan Festival Miami at Bayfront Park on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in downtown Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Fans arrive to the FIFA Fan Festival Miami at Bayfront Park on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in downtown Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Paola Trivino takes a photo in front of a large soccer ball during the FIFA Fan Festival Miami at Bayfront Park on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in downtown Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Moses Spencer, Lewis Gods, Harry Smart and Joe Pratley Jones visit the FIFA Fan Festival Miami at Bayfront Park on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in downtown Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Eloisa Perez, center-left, and Victoria Cefaly , react as they arrive to the FIFA Fan Festival Miami at Bayfront Park on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in downtown Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
People arrive to the FIFA Fan Festival Miami at Bayfront Park on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in downtown Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
People arrive to the FIFA Fan Festival Miami at Bayfront Park on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in downtown Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
From left to right: Enrique Larios, Atlas Larios, 4, and Jocelyn Larios visit the FIFA Fan Festival Miami at Bayfront Park on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in downtown Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Fans watch a soccer match between Switzerland and Qatar during the FIFA Fan Festival Miami at Bayfront Park on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in downtown Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Children play soccer as they visit the FIFA Fan Festival Miami at Bayfront Park on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in downtown Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Sofia Tamayo, 12, kicks a soccer ball as she visits the FIFA Fan Festival Miami with her family at Bayfront Park on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in downtown Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
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