WASHINGTON — The National Mall will be transformed into a FIFA World Cup fan zone this summer, with events tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary, organizers announced Tuesday.

The fan zone, part of the White House planning commission Freedom 250’s broader celebration, will be set up on the section of the Mall closest to the Capitol. It will open for every U.S. match and other games starting before 7 p.m. EDT during the tournament, which runs from June 11 to July 19.

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino hailed the collaboration as an “extraordinary partnership,” saying in a statement: “We are proud to bring the celebration of the world’s game to the National Mall, and together, we are creating a global experience in the heart of the nation’s capital that unites people from all backgrounds and connects this historic FIFA World Cup 2026 with America’s 250th anniversary through football, culture, and community.”

The fan zone will feature live match screenings, food, music, and youth and cultural programming, according to Freedom 250. Eleven U.S. cities are hosting matches as part of the World Cup, with the final scheduled at New York-New Jersey Stadium.

“The FIFA World Cup 2026 Fan Zone on the National Mall will help welcome the world to America during the nation’s 250th year,” said Freedom 250 CEO Keith Krach. “This will be a place where people from every corner of the globe come together through sport, freedom, and shared human experience in the shadow of America’s most iconic monuments.”

Additional details, including participating partners and a schedule, are expected in the coming weeks.

The fan zone is one of several events planned for the anniversary. Others include a weeks-long “Great American State Fair” on the Mall, featuring exhibits from federal agencies and all 56 U.S. states and territories. Freedom 250 is also organizing a large-scale fireworks display for Independence Day, as detailed in a separate announcement, an IndyCar street race, and a UFC fight on the White House’s South Lawn — the same venue where the White House Octagon was erected for President Trump’s birthday UFC event.

The fan zone announcement comes amid other World Cup-related developments, including a 23% drop in resale ticket prices as demand softens, and a controversial 21-day isolation imposed on the Congo team over Ebola concerns.