SCRANTON — The FIFA World Cup Soccer Tournament Fan Zone at Lackawanna County Courthouse Square downtown on four days in July will feature a full slate of fun, family-friendly, free activities, organizers said Thursday.
Representatives of the county, city, Lackawanna County Convention and Visitors Bureau and Times Shamrock Media announced the fan zone watch party schedule and activities at the square in Scranton for the FIFA World Cup Soccer Tournament rounds scheduled for July 4-5 and July 18-19.
With Philadelphia as a U.S. host city for World Cup matches at Lincoln Financial Field, an organization called Philadelphia Soccer 2026 is the host committee planning and executing World Cup matches there.
In March, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Scranton will serve as one of just three “Pennsylvania World Cup Fan Zones” hosting FIFA World Cup watch parties between Independence Day and July 19, the date of the 2026 World Cup Final. Pittsburgh and Reading will host the other two fan zones in the state.
“It is an honor to be selected. It shows that the governor and that Philly Soccer know that we can pull off a great, safe party right here in Scranton,” city Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti said.
Scranton Fan Zone Schedule and Hours of Operation
(Note: Start times reflect when gates open and live entertainment begins. All events are free and do not require tickets.)
• July 4, Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
1 p.m.: Round of 16 Knockout Match
5 p.m.: Round of 16 Knockout Match
• July 5, Sunday, 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.
4 p.m.: Round of 16 Knockout Match
8 p.m.: Round of 16 Knockout Match
• July 18, Saturday, 3 p.m to 8 p.m.
5 p.m.: World Cup Bronze Final (Third-Place Match)
• July 19, Sunday, 1 p.m to 6 p.m.
3 p.m.: FIFA World Cup Final
Others also spoke of the local fan zone having the potential to draw thousands of people per day and providing an opportunity to showcase and promote the city, county and Northeast Pennsylvania and all of its various tourist attractions and businesses.
Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan speaks during a press conference for the upcoming FIFA Fan Zone at Courthouse Square Thursday, May 28, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan said: “This afternoon is more than just about soccer and more than just about FIFA. Today is about Scranton and Lackawanna County stepping onto a global stage and reminding the world who we are. For generations, this region has been built by hard-working people who welcomed others, who showed pride in their neighborhoods and who understood the meaning of community. And now, during one of the biggest sporting events on Earth, the eyes of the world will turn to courthouse square and downtown Scranton and that is really something very special.”
While the region is known for its history involving coal mines, railroads and factories, the FIFA fan zone presents an opportunity to showcase the area’s future “that’s vibrant and welcoming, family-friendly and alive with culture and alive with possibility,” Gaughan said. “When we first started discussing the possibility of this event, we understood from the very beginning what this could mean — not just excitement for soccer fans, not just visitors filling our hotels and our restaurants, but a chance to inject energy, pride and optimism into our downtown and into our entire county. And that matters, because communities like Scranton and Lackawanna County deserve moments like this.”
Lackawanna County Commissioner Thom Welby speaks during a press conference for the upcoming FIFA Fan Zone at Courthouse Square in Scranton Thursday, May 28, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Organizers hope the event promotes the region by showing “This is just a great place to live and a great place to work and a great place to play,” Lackawanna County Commissioner Chairman Thom Welby said.
Curt Camoni of the visitor’s bureau noted the Meadowlands in northern New Jersey also will serve as World Cup host for games, and Scranton’s fan zone possibly could draw fans from New Jersey and New York, as well from Pennsylvania. Travelers attending a fan zone might use it as a two-week vacation, he said.
“We want people to understand we are an outstanding destination” for tourism, Camoni said. “It’s an affordable, family-friendly destination.”
Dave Mehall of Times Shamrock Media said the Scranton Fan Zone will have a 24-foot-by-32-foot stage with a 13-foot-by-29-foot screen, as well as four additional 6-foot-by-9-foot screens for viewing the games. Activities will abound around the square.
“There’s four days full of all kinds of great games and entertainment for everybody — younger, older,” Mehall said. “We just want to bring as many people to the downtown as we possibly can and we know we’re going to do that.”
Terry Deitz, senior vice president and marketing manager for NEPA radio and digital for Times-Shamrock Communications, speaks during the FIFA Fan Zone press conference on Courthouse Square in Scranton Thursday, May 29, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Some of the activities will include:
• An Onvo Kids Zone on Adams Avenue, featuring and inflatable soccer game and target, obstacle course and slide.
• Skills & Drills Clinics hosted by local soccer clubs in designated areas throughout the event.
• An LED Soccer Simulator, a 15-foot-by-15-foot simulator tentatively scheduled for fan use during the event.
Terry Deitz of Times Shamrock Media noted the Scranton police and fire departments have been working “tirelessly and effortlessly behind the scenes” to ensure public safety during the fan zone days.
“We really hope that everyone in the area will get behind this,” Deitz said. “It’s going to be one heck of an opportunity to celebrate our community.”