ArtsQuest has announced the return of SoccerFest, a monthlong celebration of the FIFA World Cup 26™ set to transform the SteelStacks campus into a premier destination for soccer fans from June 11 through July 19.
The festival will broadcast every tournament match live via FOX Sports on large screens throughout the campus. The event, which has been an ArtsQuest tradition since 2014, will be expanded this year to coincide with the World Cup being hosted in the United States.
In addition to live viewing parties, the event will highlight Bethlehem’s history as a significant location in American soccer development. A special exhibit at the Bethlehem Visitor Center, presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network, will focus on the Bethlehem Steel Soccer Club. The legendary team earned 11 championships, including five U.S. Open Cup titles, between 1907 and 1930.
History professor Dan Morrison is scheduled to deliver two talks on the region’s soccer legacy on June 20 at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.
“SoccerFest is about more than watching matches—it’s about bringing people together through a shared global experience right here in Bethlehem,” said Curt Mosel, ArtsQuest Chief Operating Officer.
The programming includes several key dates for the United States national team matches:
- U.S. vs. Paraguay: June 12
- U.S. vs. Australia: June 19
- U.S. vs. Türkiye: June 25
The festival also incorporates youth-focused initiatives, including clinics and 3v3 tournaments led by regional coaches such as Lehigh University men’s head coach Dean Koski and officials from Penn Rising XI and Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer.
Cultural programming will run concurrently with the tournament, featuring the ¡Sabor! Latin Music Festival from June 25-27, the One Earth Reggae Festival on July 11, and Blast Furnace Blues on July 18. Independence Day celebrations on July 4 will also honor America’s 250th anniversary with live music and fireworks.
During the event, organizers will collect new and gently used soccer equipment at SteelStacks and the Lou Ramos Center in Allentown to benefit the Allentown School District’s inaugural elementary athletic league.
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