If there is one place in Santa Cruz County where World Cup fever is expected to burn brightest, it may be Watsonville.
“Soccer in Watsonville is extraordinarily unique,” Watsonville Parks and Recreation Director Jason Hall said during a countywide World Cup kickoff press conference on Monday. “On any given day, all you need to do is drive through Watsonville and you’ll see people playing soccer. If you just close your eyes and listen, you’ll hear people shouting.”
Hall described soccer as the unifying force of the greater Watsonville-Pajaro region, stretching from Watsonville and Pajaro to Corralitos and beyond.
“I think that soccer is probably, if there’s going to be any sport that I would call the glue, for Watsonville, for that whole area, for that whole region,” he said. “That whole region is really about soccer.”
Hall said the city’s recent investment in Ramsay Park — including new natural-grass fields and a World Cup-sized artificial turf field — reflects the community’s commitment to the sport. He said soccer helps teach teamwork and cooperation while providing opportunities for residents of all ages to come together.
That passion will be on full display during FIFA World Cup 2026.
Watsonville plans multiple watch parties throughout the tournament. At the Gene Hoularis and Waldo Rodriguez Youth Center, young people ages 11 to 17 will be able to watch every World Cup match. Organizers also plan to serve food tied to the countries competing in each game.
The city will also host an EA Sports FC 26 2-on-2 tournament sponsored by the San Jose Earthquakes. The 64-player, 32-team competition is open to the public, and winning players will receive a PlayStation 5.
The Watsonville events are part of a broader countywide celebration announced at a press conference attended by Santa Cruz County officials, the cities of Santa Cruz, Watsonville and Scotts Valley, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, United Way of Santa Cruz County, the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, Santa Cruz County Parks and Scotts Valley Parks & Recreation.
Even in a county better known nationally for surfing, skateboarding and redwood forests, local leaders say soccer has long been woven into the community’s identity.
“The game has become an intractable part of local culture,” Visit Santa Cruz County CEO Terence Concannon said. “It is more than a sport or an activity. It is a passion and a huge part of the culture. We see this throughout the county with all the soccer clinics and organizations that fuel that passion.”
Santa Cruz County Supervisor Justin Cummings said his connection to the sport began during the 1994 World Cup.
“That moment actually inspired me to become a soccer player,” he said.
Years later, while backpacking through Europe during the 2006 World Cup in Germany, he experienced firsthand the public celebrations that accompany the tournament.
“In every city we went to, in every country we visited, we saw watch parties out on the streets, we saw watch parties in restaurants and bars, but most importantly, we saw so many people from so many different cultures from around the world coming together and having fun with one another and enjoying everyone’s company.”
Now, with several World Cup matches scheduled at nearby Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Cummings sees an opportunity for Santa Cruz County to welcome visitors from around the globe.
“So, this presented us with a great opportunity to be able to say, here in this soccer community, to the rest of the world, come over here, have some fun, come check out Santa Cruz.”
The county’s largest public celebration will take place at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
On June 26, the Boardwalk’s World Soccer Celebration begins with a watch party for Mexico’s match at Coasters Bar & Grill, accompanied by a mariachi band. The following evening, a free beach watch party for a United States match will be held in front of the Colonnade.
Additional events include another Coasters watch party for Spain versus Uruguay, followed by a beach screening of the soccer-themed film Kicking and Screaming.
Boardwalk Promotion and Special Events Manager Gladys Rodriguez said the celebration will also feature an exhibition by Leah Morales, the top-ranked female Footvolley player in the United States, along with a beach soccer showcase featuring members of the U.S. Beach Soccer National Team.
Elsewhere in the county, restaurants and gathering places are preparing for the tournament. Lúpulo Craft Beer House plans to show every match, Woodstock’s Pizza will open early for games and broadcast them on its giant “Mondo Matrix” screen, and Pono Hawaiian Grill is creating an island-style fan zone atmosphere with themed watch parties and specials.
Community events are also planned throughout the tournament. Santa Cruz County Parks and Scotts Valley Parks & Recreation will host a free youth soccer clinic at Anna Jean Cummings County Park and a family-friendly “Wacky Soccer Tournament” at Skypark in Scotts Valley featuring oversized soccer balls, costumes and a raffle for World Cup tickets.
The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History has transformed its iconic red ball sculpture into a giant soccer ball and plans to host public watch parties, including one for the World Cup Final.
Taken together, the events reveal a side of Santa Cruz County that often receives less attention than its beaches and surf culture: a deep-rooted soccer community that spans generations, neighborhoods and cultures from Scotts Valley to Watsonville.
As Cummings put it: “Santa Cruz, yes, we’re a surf and skate town. But we also are a soccer town.”
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For a list of activities, visit santacruz.org/kick-off-santa-cruz/
Now, with several World Cup matches scheduled at nearby Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Cummings sees an opportunity for Santa Cruz County to welcome visitors from around the globe.
“So, this presented us with a great opportunity to be able to say, here in this soccer community, to the rest of the world, come over here, have some fun, come check out Santa Cruz.”
The county’s largest public celebration will take place at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
On June 26, the Boardwalk’s World Soccer Celebration begins with a watch party for Mexico’s match at Coasters Bar & Grill, accompanied by a mariachi band. The following evening, a free beach watch party for a United States match will be held in front of the Colonnade.
Additional events include another Coasters watch party for Spain versus Uruguay, followed by a beach screening of the soccer-themed film Kicking and Screaming.
Boardwalk Promotion and Special Events Manager Gladys Rodriguez said the celebration will also feature an exhibition by Leah Morales, the top-ranked female Footvolley player in the United States, along with a beach soccer showcase featuring members of the U.S. Beach Soccer National Team.
Elsewhere in the county, restaurants and gathering places are preparing for the tournament. Lúpulo Craft Beer House plans to show every match, Woodstock’s Pizza will open early for games and broadcast them on its giant “Mondo Matrix” screen, and Pono Hawaiian Grill is creating an island-style fan zone atmosphere with themed watch parties and specials.
Community events are also planned throughout the tournament. Santa Cruz County Parks and Scotts Valley Parks & Recreation will host a free youth soccer clinic at Anna Jean Cummings County Park and a family-friendly “Wacky Soccer Tournament” at Skypark in Scotts Valley featuring oversized soccer balls, costumes and a raffle for World Cup tickets.
The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History has transformed its iconic red ball sculpture into a giant soccer ball and plans to host public watch parties, including one for the World Cup Final.
Taken together, the events reveal a side of Santa Cruz County that often receives less attention than its beaches and surf culture: a deep-rooted soccer community that spans generations, neighborhoods and cultures from Scotts Valley to Watsonville.
As Cummings put it: “Santa Cruz, yes, we’re a surf and skate town. But we also are a soccer town.”
•••
For a list of activities, visit santacruz.org/kick-off-santa-cruz/
