Everett kicks off World Cup in style
EVERETT — As Mexico and South Africa kicked off the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Thursday, the city of Everett opened the tournament with its first Waterfront Watch Party under clear skies at Boxcar Park.
“Any time we can bring the community together to celebrate something like sports and show off our beautiful waterfront, it’s a great idea,” Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin told The Herald. “The World Cup is the biggest sporting event in the world, and we were honored to be a fan zone. There’s no better place to host it than right here on the waterfront.”
Both local fans and those visiting from abroad gathered in front of a large stage with a big screen broadcasting the game. Seven food trucks, a beer garden and activity tents sponsored by local businesses surrounded the majority pro-Mexico crowd, which went into a frenzy following Julián Quiñones’ goal in the ninth minute to put El Tri ahead 1-0.
But before the game got underway, Jaime Mendez and Diana Oliveros from Se Habla Media emcee’d multiple activities on the main stage beginning when the Watch Party opened at 10 a.m. until the game kicked off just after 12 p.m. One of those happened to be a longest ‘Gol’ call contest, which Kelvis Mulima won against five other contestants with a call lasting over 19 seconds.
https://www.heraldnet.com/2026/06/10/everett-kicks-off-world-cup-in-style/