Thursday, October 1, 2026
More than 40 people set up chairs and blankets at Sea Cliff’s Roslyn Park for a World Cup watch party, celebrating together as the United States beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 on July 1.
Sea Cliff resident John Gonzelez organized the watch party, securing signatures from neighbors who live near the park and a permit from the village. He showed the game using a projector and 21-foot inflatable screen, streaming the game on his iPad.
Gonzalez, originally from Colombia, said he is a big soccer fan and loves the World Cup. He added that he has been to watch parties in places like Brooklyn and Latin America.
“I was kind of surprised that we weren’t doing anything,” Gonzalez said. “So, I just said, ‘Hey, let’s do it,’ and everybody was in favor, and it was great.”
Attendees included both adults and children, bringing food, drinks and bicycles along with their chairs and blankets. Chants of “U.S.A!” broke out multiple times.
“The game was amazing,” Gonzalez said. “People were like, ‘Hey, can we do this again?’”
With a controversial red card call on Folarin Balogun (overturned by FIFA President Gianni Infantino following a call from President Donald Trump) and a free kick goal by Malik Tillman, the game gave United States fans much to talk about. Gonzalez said energy was high throughout the watch party, especially after Tillman’s goal to put the team up 2-0.
“It was jubilation,” he said. “People just getting up and hugging each other, high fiving each other. It was awesome.”
Gonzalez added that the World Cup created a “community feel,” giving everyone something to come together and support.
“Sometimes it’s hard to find things for everyone to be able to get behind,” he said, “and this is an easy thing to get behind.”
Residents and soccer fans gathered at Campground Craft Beer & Coffee to watch the United States take on Belgium on Monday. The United States was eliminated from the tournament, losing 4-1.
