We’re excited to announce that FIFA President Gianni Infantino will take part in a special day of events, happening on June 7 2026, dedicated to the Italian and Italian-American community in New York City ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026TM.
The initiative was created through a collaboration between FIFA, Don Luigi Portarulo, and the Grow Together Foundation. The entire day will celebrate the values of sport, friendship, and community, bringing together representatives from various cities across the United States.
The program will begin at 12:00 PM with a Holy Mass celebrated in Italian by Don Luigi Portarulo at the historic Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral (261 Mott Street), an iconic landmark for the city. Football fans, families, associations, Italian clubs, guests, and members of the community will gather to share a moment of faith, connection, and participation.
The day will continue at 5:00 PM at the Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium in New York, located at Pier 5 in New York (353 West 21st Street, New York, NY), where a friendly FIFA Legends match will be held against a team made up of representatives of the Italian community, guests, and personalities involved in New York’s Italian-American community activities.
Confirmed participants include: Marco Materazzi, Roberto Baggio, Christian Vieri, Alessandro Del Piero, Alessandro Nesta, Vincenzo Iaquinta, Christian Panucci, Cristian Zaccardo, and Gianluca Pagliuca.
Before the start of the match, a commemorative moment led by Giuseppe B. Commisso will also take place at the stadium dedicated to his father, alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
The event will be open to the public free of charge until full capacity is reached. Admission will be granted upon mandatory registration here.
This initiative represents an important opportunity for the Italian community in the United States to come together and celebrate the values of community, inclusion, and friendship, reflecting FIFA’s commitment to promoting unity through soccer ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026TM.