A free two-day open streets event featuring World Cup watch parties opens Friday on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles’ MacArthur Park.

Park to Park 2026, which includes live entertainment and other activities, is scheduled for noon to 5 p.m. Friday on Wilshire Boulevard between South Alvarado Street and South Carondelet Street. The event coincides with the noon World Cup quarterfinal between Spain and Belgium at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood.

The Saturday event will expand westward to South Hoover Street and continue from noon to 9 p.m., featuring additional World Cup screenings at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. when Norway clashes with England and Argentina faces Switzerland.

The events, hosted by Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez in partnership with Metro, will offer watch parties, live music, local vendors, family activities, youth soccer clinics, community and health resources, art activations and bicycle-friendly programming.

Most fans think Lamine is his first name and Yamal is his last name. But the Spain star’s name tells a heartfelt story of two strangers whose kindness helped his family before he was born.

Scheduled performers Saturday include Plenazo Tribe at 12:30 p.m. and the Boogaloo Assassins at 4:30 p.m.

The event is part of the city’s “Reconnecting MacArthur Park” initiative. A section of Wilshire Boulevard divides the park west of downtown Los Angeles in two. The initiative launched in 2023 with the goal of reuniting the north and south sides of MacArthur Park as a pedestrian-friendly public space.

The project is being developed in partnership with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, Central City Neighborhood Partners and the Southern California Association of Governments.

Casey Settleman of Snapback Sports is going to a World Cup match every single day of the tournament. He breaks down the streak, the rivals chasing it and why nothing compares to Mexico vs England at Estadio Azteca.

Friday’s Spain-Belgium game is the last of eight matches played at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood.

Spain, which has yet to allow a goal in five tournament matches, needed a late-game goal to escape with a 1-0 victory over neighbors Portugal in the Round of 32. Belgium advanced with a 4-1 drubbing of the United States.

The winner advances to a semifinal against France, which defeated Morocco Thursday.