Hundreds of residents gathered at Count Basie Field on June 18 to watch Mexico’s 1-0 victory over South Korea in a public World Cup watch party hosted by the Borough of Red Bank. The night ended happily for Mexico fans, with the team becoming the first in the tournament to secure a spot in the knockout round 2026 World Cup.
The watch party was the second in a series of community watch parties funded through a $50,000 state grant supporting local celebrations of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Families, soccer fans, and local officials filled the field to watch the match on a large outdoor screen.
The watch party followed an opening-day event on Broadwalk and highlighted the enthusiasm for the tournament within Red Bank’s diverse and soccer-loving community.
Councilman Ben Forrest said the event reflected the close connections that define life in the borough. “This is really what being a small town is all about,” Forrest said.
The final watch party in the series is scheduled for Friday from 1 pm to 5 pm, (game time is 3 p.m.) when fans will gather at Count Basie Field to watch the United States face Australia.
Submitted by Kenny Katzgrau. Additional photos by Mark Gregory and drone photography by Paul Gregory.
