Gotham FC is set for a landmark night at Citi Field, where more than 40,000 fans have already secured seats for The Queens Classic, presented by CarMax. The club says the crowd is on track to challenge the New York City attendance record for a women’s sporting event.
The match brings added weight beyond the stage itself. Gotham FC, the reigning NWSL champion, will face the Washington Spirit in a rematch of the 2025 NWSL Championship, with ESPN carrying the national broadcast on Wednesday, July 15 at 8 p.m. ET.
A first for Citi Field
This will be the first women’s professional sporting event ever held at Citi Field, the home of the New York Mets. For Gotham FC, the setting matches the scale of the occasion as the club prepares for one of its biggest home atmospheres yet.
The night also comes wrapped in a full slate of pregame and in-game programming. Fans can arrive early for an expanded Footy Fest presented by CarMax from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m., with Sam Mewis hosting the festival.
What fans will see before kickoff
| Activation | Time | Featured Guests or Details |
|---|---|---|
| Footy Fest presented by CarMax | 2:30-7:30 p.m. | Hosted by Sam Mewis |
| FIFA World Cup 2026™ Semifinal Match Watch Party presented by Dove | Starting at 3 p.m. | In collaboration with U.S. Soccer and the FIFA World Cup 2026™ New York New Jersey Host Committee |
| Welcome to the Party live recording | 6-6:45 p.m. | Hosted by Julie Foudy and Abby Wambach with Lucy Bronze |
| The Queens Collective | 5:30-7 p.m. | Networking event for women leaders, professionals and rising voices |
Several high-profile names are set to appear around the Torch Lighting ceremony, Gotham FC’s signature prematch tradition. Mewis, Julie Foudy, Abby Wambach, Sue Bird, Donovan Mitchell and Gloria Steinem are all part of the lineup tied to the ceremony’s finale.
The gameday experience also includes a first-come giveaway for the opening 7,500 fans, who will receive a Rose Lavelle bobblehead featuring her dog, Wilma Jean. The halftime show will feature New York-based sibling band Infinity Song after the group performs the national anthem.
Inside Footy Fest and the matchday activations
Footy Fest will be held on the road next to Citi Field’s Seaver and Stengel entrances and will include live music from DJ Been Blackin’ and DJ Ria, the NWSL Summer of Soccer bus, and a beer garden for fans 21 and over. Additional activations will come from Bank of America, Dove, Gruns, Panini, RWJBarnabas Health, TYLENOL®, Lendistry, Yoggies and Travel + Leisure.
Among the featured experiences are Bank of America’s Fan Band giveaway, Dove’s Bead Bar and Confidence Wall, Gruns sampling with mascot Barry, Panini’s Create Your Own Trading Cards, the RWJBarnabas Health Mini Pitch and the TYLENOL® Zone with Precision Kick and One Touch experiences. Fans will also find trivia presented by Flamingo, the CarMax Kids coin toss and the match ball delivery representing Elevate Play, presented by Bank of America.
After the final whistle, supporters can vote for the CarMax Player of the Match through Gotham FC’s social media channels. As fans leave Citi Field, Dove and Khloud will distribute complimentary products, including Khloud Protein Popcorn.
To round out the evening, the club is also highlighting Lendistry Small Business of the Match, the Aligne Fan Fit of the Match and a long list of partner activations that make the night feel more like a citywide celebration than a standard home game. With the crowd already past 40,000, Gotham FC’s move to Citi Field is poised to be one of the most notable attendance moments in the club’s history.