The beer showers started less than seven minutes after kickoff. Thousands of spectators packed into Pine Avenue in downtown Long Beach last Friday, erupting in joy as the U.S.
men's national team scored its opening goal of the 2026 World Cup. American flags draped over backs, and red, white, and blue scarves waved in the air.
The scene was a far cry from just 12 months ago, when the concept of such a community-uniting event was merely a vision.
Over the past year, MLS Club LA Galaxy worked tirelessly to organize its Soccer Celebration across the greater Los Angeles area. The estimated 4,500 people who turned out in downtown Long Beach for America's 4-1 victory over Paraguay on Friday validated a year's worth of planning.
"We like to say 'soccer is better together,' and there is no better way to watch the first U.S. game of the 2026 World Cup than with your 4,000 closest friends and family," said Kara Korber, LA Galaxy's Senior Director of Business Development and one of the primary organizers.
"To see it all come together was really rewarding."
The Long Beach portion of the celebration originated like many modern ideas: on a Zoom call. Korber and her colleagues mapped out areas for a large screen, fan zones, and brand activations.
They also partnered with local businesses, making the block of Pine Avenue—lined with restaurants and bars—an ideal location. [image_1]
Crafting a schedule proved challenging. The Long Beach watch zone covers the entire World Cup group stage, a continuous two-and-a-half-week event.
"There's a lot of logistics that go into an event that is that long, especially when street closures are involved," Korber said. The U.S.
matches have been the most popular draw, but organizers ensured that 47 of the 72 group-stage matches were broadcast on Pine Avenue. [image_2]
"This is the largest World Cup that we've ever had, so we wanted to make sure that we were a home base for every community," said Jaime Alvarez, LA Galaxy's Senior Vice President of Communications and Community Impact. There is no entry fee for any matches, reaffirming the Galaxy's commitment to accessibility.
The watch area features a 23-foot screen, foosball, and cornhole. An additional fan zone on West Broadway operates on select days, offering World Cup merchandise, soccer skill games, and giveaways.
[image_3]
Organizers estimate that hundreds of people worked on the project over the past year. The collective effort has created a unified viewing experience in the heart of downtown Long Beach.
Although several matches will be played at nearby SoFi Stadium, the city's World Cup hub will remain on Pine Avenue and West Broadway through June 27. "Long Beach is our home," Alvarez said.
"We have a long history of working closely with the city and with families here in Long Beach. So to come here, celebrate, and have a footprint here was really important to us." [image_4]