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Friday, March 29, 2024

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A Tuesday watch party drew soccer fans Tuesday to University Park Common, as shown in this image shared on Twitter. More watch parties come this weekend. (Photo: Jack Tatty)

A Tuesday watch party drew soccer fans Tuesday to University Park Common, as shown in this image shared on Twitter. More watch parties come this weekend. (Photo: Jack Tatty)

The weekend’s final two World Cup games are watchable in a warm, sunny setting on a screen that’s probably bigger than yours: a 9-foot by 12-foot viewing screen set up at Forest City’s University Park near Central Square.

Showings Tuesday and Wednesday drew respectable crowds for semifinal games, as predicted in a June 2 request for the screenings by city councillors Dennis Benzan and Marc McGovern. It noted that many Cambridge residents had roots in countries represented in the games, including Mexico, Brazil, Portugal, France and Senegal.

“Cambridge is a world city, and as one the people who live, work, play, learn and pray here should be able to also gather and celebrate their love for sports here,” their policy order said.

Original plans called for a 20-foot by 16-foot screen that was expected to be put up in Market Square off Sidney Street for about $2,000, City Manager Richard Rossi told the Cambridge Chronicle, calling it not “a huge cost for such a great event.”

The remaining watch parties, hosted by the city and developer Forest City are at University Park Common on Sidney Street, are also free and touted as family-friendly. Saturday’s third-place game has a 4 p.m. kickoff, and Sunday’s final game has a 3 p.m. kickoff. The weather on each day is expected to be partly cloudy and in the low 80s, falling only slightly as play goes on.

University Park Common is accessible from the Central Square red line stop and MBTA buses. No alcohol will be allowed in or served.