{"id":271500,"date":"2026-06-19T00:21:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T00:21:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/271500\/"},"modified":"2026-06-19T00:21:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T00:21:10","slug":"council-member-justin-sanchez-hosts-senegal-france-world-cup-watch-party-at-santa-yallah-african-restaurant-bronx-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/271500\/","title":{"rendered":"Council Member Justin Sanchez hosts Senegal-France World Cup watch party at Santa Yallah African Restaurant \u2013 Bronx Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Council Member Justin Sanchez hosted a watch party for the FIFA World Cup Senegal vs. France game on June 16 at Santa Yallah African Restaurant<\/a>, in collaboration with Bridging Africa & Black America Inc.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Santa Yallah was decorated with balloons and a flag in support of Nepal; one of 10 African countries competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

The restaurant had two TV\u2019s on opposite walls playing a Spanish-language Peacock stream of the game. Though a select few attendees spoke in support of team France, the audience cheered loudest when Senegal\u2019s Ibrahim Mbaye scored a goal in the second half.<\/p>\n

Seconds after Senegal scored their first and only goal in the match.\n<\/p>\n

Directly outside, Sanchez\u2019s Deputy Chief of Staff Mayra Molina participated in handing out flyers, brochures and pamphlets to watch party attendees and passerby.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is why we\u2019re here, to make it easier for constituents to access their resources or get their issues resolved in a timely manner,\u201d Molina said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"\u201cAnytime we\u2019re bringing [the] community together and just experiencing all the different vibrant restaurants and supporting our small businesses that we can do in [the] community, always a huge success for team Sanchez,\u201d Sanchez said. Photo by Maurice BurbridgeAmong others, these resources included a Residential Tenants\u2019 Rights Guide, tips for handling a potential increased ICE presence during the World Cup, the NYC Workers\u2019 Bill of Rights (in Spanish), and Justin Sanchez brochures (in Spanish, French and English).\u00a0<\/p>\n

Molina said Sanchez\u2019s office hopes to increase the amount of resources available in French and Spanish in the future.\n<\/p>\n

Sanchez said that it\u2019s nice to have events like the World Cup that can bring all members of the community together and offer opportunities for cross-cultural connection. He recalls the 2002 FIFA World Cup as his first.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Last Thursday, Sanchez hosted a World Cup Kickoff event in collaboration with four local restaurants: Noches de Palenque, La Patrona Restaurant, Taqueria El Cebollin JR and Cantina Tarasca.<\/p>\n

Even though Senegal lost against France, to the dismay of most attendees, Sanchez still considers the event a success.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\u201cAnytime we\u2019re bringing [the] community together and just experiencing all the different vibrant restaurants and supporting our small businesses that we can do in [the] community, always a huge success for team Sanchez,\u201d Sanchez said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Maurice Burbridge is an intern at the Bronx Times. He can be reached at mburbridge@schnepsmedia.com<\/a>. For more coverage, subscribe to our newsletter<\/a> and follow us on Twitter<\/a>, Facebook<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>!<\/p>\n