World Cup Family Fun at CMOM

GOOOAL! CMOM Celebrates the World’s Game

Looking for fun things to do with kids in NYC during the 2026 World Cup? We are your football destination! This summer, CMOM transforms into a hub of soccer-inspired creativity, movement, and cultural celebration – right here on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

From mid-May through mid-July 2026, CMOM offers hands-on family programs inspired by the World Cup’s global spirit. Whether your family is visiting New York City for the matches or you’re a local looking for meaningful activities for young children, CMOM’s programming connects the excitement of the world’s game to art, culture, and play.

All programs are included with museum entry. CMOM is best suited to families with children ages newborn through 6.

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May 2026 – World Cup Weekend

May 16 – 17*

Kick off World Cup season at CMOM! CMOM invites families to celebrate the global spirit of soccer through art-making, team spirit activities, and special guest programming. Show your colors, decorate your gear, and get ready for the world’s game.

Yoga with The Culture Tree x Baby Prana
Saturday, May 16 | 10:30 am – 10:50 am & 11:15 am – 11:35 am | Ages 3 – 6 | 1st Floor | Inside Art
Join our partners The Culture Tree x Baby Prana for a fun yoga session that helps kids build strength, flexibility, and focus. Yoga can help children discover the power of their bodies, teach them mindfulness in daily life, and build mental and emotional resilience.

I Am a Lotus By Anu Sehgal of The Culture Tree
Saturday, May 16 | 11:45 am – 12:15 pm | Ages 3 – 6 | 1st Floor | Inside Art
Join us for an engaging and interactive read-aloud session with the author of I Am a Lotus! Designed for children and families, centered on mindfulness, nature, and resilience. Children will understand the biology of the lotus plant, learn the lotus pose and mindful breathing, and create their own craft lotus flower.

Go Team, Go! Hat Decorating
Saturday & Sunday, May 16 – 17* | 2:00 pm – 4:15 pm | All ages | 1st Floor | Makerspace
Which team are you cheering for? Doodle your own team hat and show your World Cup spirit!

*On Sunday, May 17, the 3rd floor and bathrooms will open by 12 pm.

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June 2026 – Kick It with Color!

June 2 – 7

Tiny Teammates
Tuesday – Sunday, June 2 – 7 | 10:30 am – 12:30 pm & 2:00 pm – 4:15 pm | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace
Create your own mini soccer field and players and score epic goals. Give yourself a soccer uniform and protective gear — don’t forget your mini soccer ball!

Performance: Calpulli Mexican Dance Company
Saturday, June 6 | 11:00 am – 11:30 am & 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm | All ages | 1st Floor
Mexico is one of the host countries for the World Cup. In this fully interactive program, audiences learn simplified movements and choreographies of several Mexican dances from a teaching artist. Audiences can wear hats from the little old men (a four-century old indigenous dance), move flowing skirts from Jalisco (set to Mariachi music), fan handkerchiefs from Guerrero (reminiscent of its South American influence), and dance around the sombrero in the world-famous Mexican hat dance (El jarabe tapatio). A caring teaching artist describes the history and background of all dances for audiences to have a deeper understanding of Mexican culture.

Workshop: Make Your Own World Cup Superhero with Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez and Kyung Jeon-Miranda
Sunday, June 7 | 11:00 am – 11:45 am & 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm | All ages | 2nd Floor
La Borinqueña is an original superhero whose powers are drawn from the history and mysticism of Puerto Rico — and she lives in an exhibition on CMOM’s second floor. Join her creator, Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez, and Teaching Artist Kyung Jeon-Miranda in a hands-on workshop where families create their own superheroes inspired by where they’re from, family stories, or their favorite World Cup team!

June 9 – 14

Finger Puppet Mascots
Tuesday – Sunday, June 9 – 14 | 10:30 am – 12:30 pm & 2:00 pm – 4:15 pm | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Learn about the 2026 World Cup mascots and make your own team mascot finger puppet to cheer your team on!

Explore the shapes of soccer! Use shape stamps to transform a circle into a soccer ball. Add collage materials around the soccer ball to make a soccer field.

Join CMOM and West Side Soccer League for exciting movement activities, and team games. Kick back at CMOM’s Huddle Hub, where you can read books about countries participating in the World Cup, make art, and learn about professional players and their amazing skills!

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July 2026 – Goal! Art in Motion

July 13 – 19

It’s the finale of the World Cup! Celebrate teamwork, movement, and global connection with us through soccer-inspired artmaking.

Soccer Stations with CMOM and West Side Soccer League
Saturday, July 18 | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Select stations Sign-up* | All ages | 1st Floor | Inside Art
The World Cup Final is tomorrow! Join CMOM and West Side Soccer League for exciting movement activities and team games. Kick back at CMOM’s Huddle Hub, where you can read books about countries participating in the World Cup, make art, and learn about professional players and their amazing skills!

Performance with Puppetsburg: Arlo the Awkward Giraffe’s World Cup Adventure! 
Sunday, July 19 | 10:30 am – 11:00 am & 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm | All ages | 1st Floor | Inside Art
Join us for an interactive Puppetsburg show! When Arlo the Awkward Giraffe hops on a bus to the park, he is instead swept up on a surprising adventure– to the World Cup Final! Arlo meets friends from all over the world who each have something special to teach him: about the magic of the global community, finding grace in individual strengths, and the international phenomenon that is the World Cup! When they arrive at the game, Arlo’s new friends help him discover he has a super soccer skill of his own…and that being a team means being stronger together. Arlo’s journey to the World Cup gives him more to cheer for than he ever could have imagined…

Music and Marks Performance: Hire Juilliard Performers
Thursday, July 16 | 11:00 am – 11:30 am & 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm | All ages | 1st Floor | Inside Art
Join Hire Juilliard Performers for an exciting performance with trailblazer jazz vocalist Olivia Chindamo and guitar accompaniment! Make your own marks along with the changing tempos of the music.

Goal Getter Metals
Monday – Friday, July 13 – 17 | 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks
Saturday & Sunday, July 18 – 19 | 11:15 am – 12:15 pm & 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks
Decorate a cardboard circle with numbers, letters, and colors that represent you and who you are rooting for in the final! Attach the circle to a ribbon and proudly sport your metal.

CMOM is easily accessible by subway (1, 2, and 3 trains to 86th Street; B and C trains to 81st Street – Museum of Natural History). World Cup matches in the New York/New Jersey region are hosted at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ – CMOM is a perfect family stop before or after your match day!