The streets of Miami turned into an explosion of color, music, and soccer since the kickoff of the .
The account @onlyindade, one of the most followed in Miami-Dade on Instagram, captured the atmosphere in South Beach and Ocean Drive with images that reflect what the city is experiencing: «The World Cup is underway and the streets are alive».
The images show crowds on the beach wearing shirts from Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia, flags waving in the wind, drums painted with Messi's face, and even a fan dressed as El Chavo del 8. In the background, the iconic Art Deco backdrop of Ocean Drive stands witness to the celebration, with the Waldorf Towers Hotel in view.
The official epicenter of the party is the FIFA Fan Festival at Bayfront Park, in downtown Miami, which opened last Friday and will continue until July 5th, featuring 23 consecutive days of free and family-friendly programming.
The inaugural day started at 2:00 p.m. and concluded with a surprise concert by Pitbull at 8:00 p.m., before a crowd that filled the park with their arms raised. The festival's music lineup features artists such as Lyanno, Brytiago, Juan Duque, Mario Bautista, Cris Cab, and Afro Beta, among dozens of others.
On the main stage, the phrase "WE ARE MIAMI" is displayed in giant letters alongside the official FIFA World Cup logo, an image that has already emerged as a symbol of the city's welcoming spirit.
Miami Beach adds its own celebration program with free watch parties at the Miami Beach Bandshell and Lummus Park, where REEFLINE, a cultural experience tied to the tournament, was also launched this Sunday along the Ocean Drive corridor.
The city has plenty of reasons to buzz: Miami will host seven matches of the 2026 World Cup at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, which has a capacity of around 65,000 spectators. The schedule includes four group stage matches, one match in the Round of 16, one in the quarter-finals, and the match for third place.
The first match in Miami is scheduled for tomorrow, Monday: Saudi Arabia will face Uruguay in what will be the stadium's World Cup debut. This will be followed by Uruguay vs. Cape Verde on June 21, Brazil vs. Scotland on the 24th, and Portugal vs. Colombia on the 27th.
Miami's large Latin community—Cuban, Colombian, Venezuelan, Argentine, and Mexican—makes the city one of the most vibrant epicenters of the tournament.
The arrival of Lionel Messi at Inter Miami in 2023 ignited local football fervor, and his impact is evident in every corner of South Beach: sky-blue and white flags, jerseys with the number 10, and chants that blend Spanish with English.
For those planning to join the celebration, authorities recommend using public transport due to the street closures expected in downtown and Miami Gardens throughout the tournament: Metrorail, Metromover, Brightline, and Tri-Rail are the available options.
Miami has already arrived at the World Cup with a remarkable achievement: on June 7, it set a Guinness record for balloon control as part of the events leading up to the tournament, showcasing that the city aimed not only to host but also to play a leading role.
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