A family event celebrating the world’s biggest soccer tournament is planned Monday in MacArthur Park after a series of recent large-scale drug crackdowns at the location that federal authorities said has operated for years as an open-air illegal drug marketplace.
The city of Los Angeles’ Kick It In the Park event in the park west of downtown Los Angeles is one of several free community watch parties during the World Cup. The neighborhood gathering featuring games on large LED screens comes less than two weeks after the most recent anti-drug enforcement operation involving dozens of Los Angeles Police Department officers and agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
More than a dozen people were arrested in the June 4 sweep, part of what authorities are calling “Operation Free MacArthur Park.” The arrests were for drinking in public, being under the influence of narcotics and having bulky items inside the park, while the citations were for smoking in public and other quality of life issues.
Federal authorities said the park has operated for years as a open-air illegal drug market. In a May operation, federal agents and Los Angeles police searched locations in MacArthur Park, South LA and Calabasas as part of the narcotics investigation. Some of the people sought in that operation carried out by more than 300 law enforcement personnel had connections to street gangs with ties to the MacArthur Park area, according to authorities.
The DEA and LAPD have said operations will continue in the park.
MacArthur Park is a neighborhood where generations of immigrant families built lives, but crime, drugs and public safety concerns have plagued the residents for decades. Mekahlo Medina reports for the NBC4 News at 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, 2026.
“Our presence will remain. You will continue to see decisive enforcement around the park. We mean business,” Anthony Chrysanthis, special agent in charge of the DEA, said after this month’s operation.
The Kick It In the Park events are a partnership between the Office of Mayor Karen Bass, Los Angeles City Council district and Los Angeles Recreation and Parks. Nineteen parks will host celebrations on 34 match days with match screenings, soccer clinics and family events.
The event is separate from 10 Fan Zones planned around Southern California.
Monday’s World Cup schedule kicks off with Spain and Cabo Verde at 9 a.m. Belgium and Egypt square off at noon, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay play at 3 p.m. and Iran meets New Zealand at the Los Angeles Stadium at 6 p.m.
Community complaints about drug dealing and violent crime in the area led to efforts from the city of Los Angeles and the LAPD in 2025, when extra patrols were assigned to the park and neighborhood west of downtown Los Angeles.
In early 2025, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said extra patrols had helped reduce reports of violent crime in the area. Mayor Karen Bass, who is projected to face either reality TV star Spencer Pratt or Councilmember Nithya Raman in the November runoff after this week’s primary election, said the city’s homeless and mental health response teams were effective in reducing the number of encampments and open drug use.
The park in LA’s Westlake neighborhood dates to the 19th century. It was renamed after Gen. Douglas MacArthur, a top commander in World War II and the Korean War, in the 1940s and designated City of Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument.
About the 2026 World Cup
The World Cup kicked off Thursday,. The 48-team group stage lasts until June 27, then the top two teams in each group along with the eight best third-place finishers will advance to the Round of 32 beginning on June 28.
The remaining winning teams will then play in the Round of 16 starting on July 4. The quarterfinals will be held on July 9, and the semifinals will be July 14 and July 15, leading up to the championship match at MetLife Stadium on July 19.
Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium, renamed Los Angeles Stadium for the tournament, is one of the venues that will host the international soccer tournament. There are five group stage matches at the stadium and three knockout phase games
There are five group stage matches at the stadium and three knockout phase games
June 12: USA v. Paraguay
June 15: Iran v. New Zealand
June 18: Switzerland v. Bosnia and Herzegovina
June 21: Belgium v. Iran
June 25: USA v. Türkiye
June 28: Round of 32 match
July 2: Round of 32 match
July 10: Quarterfinal
Other U.S. host cities are Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Seattle and the Bay Area.
Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey are Mexico’s host cities. Toronto and Vancouver will host matches in Canada.