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The basics:

• SoccerFest26 runs June 25–27 at Wiggins Waterfront Park in Camden
• Free festival features World Cup watch parties, live music
• Also includes international food vendors, beer and wine tastings, family activities

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup enters a pivotal stretch of tournament play, South Jersey is launching what organizers hope will become one of the region’s signature celebrations of the global sporting event.

SoccerFest26 at the Camden Waterfront kicks off June 15, running through June 27, at Wiggins Waterfront Park. The event will transform the Delaware Riverfront into a three-day fan zone featuring:

• World Cup watch parties
• International food vendors
• Live music
• Family activities
• Youth soccer competitions
• Wine and beer tastings
• Cultural programming

The free festival is presented by Visit South Jersey in partnership with Camden County and numerous state and local organizations. SoccerFest26 is expected to draw thousands of visitors eager to experience the excitement surrounding the world’s most-watched sporting event.

Large screens across the waterfront will broadcast 12 World Cup matches over the course of the festival. Several games will take place at nearby venues in Philadelphia and East Rutherford as teams battle through the group stage of the tournament.

Getting in the game

Organizers say the event will ensure that residents throughout South Jersey can participate in the World Cup atmosphere, even if they do not have tickets to matches.

“This is about much more than soccer,” said Michael Snyder, director of operations for Visit South Jersey. “It’s about bringing people together for a once-in-a-lifetime moment. The World Cup is coming to our backyard, and SoccerFest26 at the Camden Waterfront gives everyone a chance to celebrate it. You don’t need a ticket to a stadium. Just come to the waterfront, bring your friends and family, and be part of something special.”

The festival arrives as New Jersey, New York and the Philadelphia region continue to welcome visitors from around the globe for the 2026 World Cup. Officials view the tournament as a major opportunity to showcase local communities and drive economic activity.

Showcasing the region

New Jersey’s World Cup Community Initiative supports SoccerFest26. The statewide effort helps communities create events and experiences tied to the tournament.

“SoccerFest26 exemplifies the events that Gov. [Mikie] Sherrill’s World Cup Community Initiative was designed to support, bringing together residents, small businesses, local vendors, and other partners to showcase the vibrancy of the community and deliver meaningful economic growth across the South Jersey region,” said New Jersey Economic Development Authority CEO Evan Weiss.

For Camden County officials, the event also serves as an opportunity to showcase the waterfront and broader region to visitors.

“SoccerFest26 will bring the energy of the World Cup directly to all corners of South Jersey and most importantly to the Camden Waterfront,” said Camden County Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr.

“The Camden Waterfront will host a three-day festival and draw thousands of fans into our community, giving people the chance to experience the excitement of the World Cup without traveling far or spending an extraordinary amount of money on a ticket,” Cappelli added.

Beyond the pitch

Festival-goers will find an extensive lineup of activities beyond the match broadcasts.

International food trucks and cultural vendors will offer cuisine inspired by countries participating in the tournament. The South Jersey FlavorFest Wine and Beer Village will showcase award-winning wineries and breweries from throughout the region.

The event will also include a marketplace featuring local artisans and businesses, along with games, giveaways and family-friendly attractions.

Officials are planning additional promotions throughout the weekend, too. On June 26, beginning at 1:30 p.m. ahead of the afternoon matches, attendees will have opportunities to receive $10 vouchers to redeem with food and merchandise vendors, as well as to enter to win a special World Cup prize package.

“We are going to make this one of the best fan experiences in the nation right here on the Camden waterfront,” Cappelli said. “We will have every amenity a fan could want right on banks of the Delaware River. And I would be remiss if I didn’t thank Gov. Sherrill who ensured us in South Jersey that we would have the same amenities as our counterparts in the northern half of the state.”

Get moving

The festival will also spotlight South Jersey’s music scene with live performances throughout.

Band CraVed is scheduled to perform Thursday, followed by Matt Cappy and Tonks on Friday, and Tara Hendricks and Cintron on Saturday.

We want people to come early, stay late, and experience everything the festival has to offer.
– Michael Snyder, director of operations, Visit South Jersey

Another major component of SoccerFest26 takes place before the festival gates officially open each day.

Approximately 300 young athletes are expected to participate in the SoccerFest26 Live Play Zone, presented in partnership with Rutgers University-Camden Athletics and the New Jersey Youth Soccer Association. Held each morning at the Rutgers-Camden Athletic Complex, the sessions will feature small-sided games and skills activities led by Rutgers-Camden student-athletes and coaches.

“We want people to come early, stay late, and experience everything the festival has to offer,” said Snyder. “Watch a match. Try food from another country. Discover a new local winery. Listen to great music. Let your kids play soccer. This is the kind of event where every hour offers something new.”

‘Unifying spirit’

Local leaders say the event reflects soccer’s unique ability to bring together people from different backgrounds and communities.

“When it comes to athletics, it doesn’t get bigger than the greatest of all tournaments, the FIFA World Cup 2026,” said Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen, noting how the tournament is boosting New Jersey on the world stage as well as small businesses.

“There is so much excitement as residents from the City of Camden, Camden County, and South Jersey are eager to participate in SoccerFest26 along the Camden Waterfront,” Carstarphen continued. “Soccer is a sport which brings people from all different backgrounds and cultures together. We expect the same unifying spirit to take hold in the City of Camden during SoccerFest26.”