The Summer Soccer Kick-off Watch Party was a family-friendly community event held at Heurich Park on June 27th,2026, bringing neighbors together to celebrate the global excitement of the World Cup with a local twist. Hosted by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission in partnership with the City of Hyattsville, the Hyattsville Community Development Corporation and other community organizations, the event turned the park into a lively outdoor viewing space with a big-screen broadcast, food vendors, and soccer-themed activities.
The day featured a youth soccer clinic and mini-tournament in the afternoon, where coaches from the First Touch Foundation led players through passing, dribbling, and shooting drills before overseeing short, fast-paced matches. Afterwards, the focus shifted to game screenings, with fans gathering on lawn chairs to watch the World Cup games together on the big screen. Families and neighbors brought blankets, chairs, and snacks, creating a festive, stadium-like atmosphere under the open sky.
A special highlight of the watch party was the participation of guests from Fundación Panamá and DMV Percussion, who joined the celebration and contributed to the event’s international spirit, connecting Hyattsville to the broader global soccer cultures represented in the World Cup.
Photo credit: M-NCPPC
