Fanatics Fest Promises a Football-Filled Experience

This year’s Fanatics Fest is all about soccer.

Set for July 16th to 19th at New York City’s Javits Center, the event, led by Fanatics director Michael Rubin for the third year running, will host some major soccer figures, including David Beckham. Attendees can look forward to unique insights into the sport.

On the second day, Beckham will join Kaka for a panel discussion, and other stars like Jozy Altidore and Rio Ferdinand are expected to be there as well.

Notably, captains and coaches from the 2026 World Cup finalists will hold a press conference on July 19, offering a preview of what’s to come at the championship match at MetLife Stadium.

Rubin shared his excitement about the event in a recent interview, expressing, “If this was a repeat of ’22, we would have had Mbappe and Messi at Fanatics Fest on July 17th. Nothing could be more incredible.”

The shift toward a soccer-centric lineup originated from last year’s Fanatics Fest, where FIFA representatives were present. They suggested moving the event to mid-July rather than the traditional weekend after Father’s Day.

Rubin recounted, “They saw how great it was and said, ‘Look, if you move it to finals weekend, we’ll do the press conference at Fanatics Fest.’ I was like, ‘Okay, let’s go.’”

This adjustment apparently is a win-win for both FIFA and the event, allowing press conferences to be accessible to media and fans alike. Rubin noted, “There will be press and tens of thousands of fans there. It’s going to be incredible.”

Beyond soccer, fans can expect to see numerous stars from various entertainment sectors. This includes Tom Brady and the starting five from the NBA champion Knicks. LeBron James, Jay-Z, Kevin Hart, Aaron Judge, and more will also be featured, creating opportunities for discussions and autographs.

Rubin remarked on the line-up, saying, “I saw it a few weeks ago and thought, ‘This is insane.’”

Single-day tickets are currently available for around $80.