World Cup Watch Party to Be Held at East End Social

The U.S. Men’s National Team will begin World Cup play on Friday night, and community members can celebrate the occasion with a free outdoor watch party in State College.

Centre Soccer Association, with support from Centre Region Parks & Rec, is sponsoring the family-friendly event at East End Social, the Downtown State College Improvement District’s seasonal pocket park on the 100 block of Hiester Street.

The gathering will begin at 7:30 p.m. with a giant outdoor screen showing pregame livestream coverage. Kickoff is at 9 p.m. as the U.S. and Paraguay meet in group D action at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

No alcohol will be sold or permitted during the watch party. State College Borough Council granted a noise waiver for the event during its June 1 meeting.

Another watch party at East End Social is tentatively scheduled for June 19, when the Americans meet Australia for a 3 p.m. kickoff, according to the Downtown State College Improvement District’s lineup of events. Details are to be announced.

Several bars also will be hosting World Cup viewings on Friday.

• Axemann Brewing, 2042 Axemann Road, Bellefonte, will hold watch parties for each of the USMNT’s upcoming games on June 12, June 19 and June 25. Hours will be extended for matches that go beyond the brewery’s regular hours, and $4 drafts in tailgate cans will be offered all day.

• Brothers Bar & Grill will hold World Cup watch parties throughout the tournament. During the June 12, June 19 and June 25 USMNT games, every Michelob Draft purchase comes with a 22-ounce World Cup Stadium Cu

• Champs Downtown, 139 S. Allen St., State College, will have World Cup matches on its screens throughout the 39-day tournament. The bar $10 Happy Dad hard seltzer buckets and $10 Michelob Ultra Buckets during all World Cup matches, and $8.50 Big Casamigos margaritas during U.S. matches.

• HiWay Pizza Pub, 1301 W. College Ave., State College, has watch parties scheduled for the USMT games on June 12 and June 19. The matches will be on with sound on the main TVs indoors, outside on the terrazza and downstairs at Alla Spina. Seating assignments will be on a first-come, first-served basis, and some seats have partial views. Michelob Ultra 16-ounce drafts and Truly WIld Berry 16-ounce cans — the official beer and seltzer of U.S. Soccer — will be on special for $4 each.