Dearborn World Cup Watch Party: Everything You Need To Know

DEARBORN, MI — Dearborn city officials are hosting a World Cup watch party Wednesday at the Michael A. Guido Theater, as some in the city celebrate the first Arab nation to make the semi-finals.

City officials expanded the free event Tuesday after registration reached the theater's 1,200 capacity within just hours. The Lincoln Ballroom in the theater will also open to allow hundreds more spectators in to watch the soccer match.

The theater, located at the west entrance of the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, will open its doors at 1 p.m. You can register here. Attendees are encouraged to park on the south side of the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center and to enter from the east off of Greenfield Road. Parking will be limited between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

The event will include concessions, food trucks, and food vendors, including, Zo’s Good Burger, Keaik’s Truck, Buffs Pizza, Haraz Coffee, Custard Co. and Abu Kunafa. The first 500 entrants will receive a free Moroccan flag.

"The response from the public has been incredible. We couldn’t be more excited to pair Dearborn’s community spirit with the thrill of a historic World Cup matchup," Dearborn Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud said. "If you're cheering for Morocco, bring your flags! If you're cheering for France, bring your tissue boxes."

The semi-final match features the defending 2018 World Cup champions France against Morocco, the first ever Arab and African nation to reach the semi finals. France is heavily favored to end Morocco's Cinderella run, as some are calling it "a true David vs. Goliath" matchup. The match kicks-off at 2 p.m. eastern from the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor. The winner will face Argentina in the World Cup Final on Sunday at 10 a.m. eastern.

Arab Americans make up 47 percent of Dearborn's population, which is the highest percentage of residents with Arab ancestry among cities in the U.S., according to the census.

Moroccans, however, make up a tiny percentage of the city's Arab population, accounting for only 64, which is much smaller than the thousands of Lebanese, Iraqi and Yemeni American residents, according to 2019 census data.