The Chopped Cheese Classic Returns — And This Year, the Whole World Is Watching

Pablo's Mate, The Footy League, De Nos, and TÁCTICO 90 bring back New York City's boldest soccer block party on the eve of the 2026 World Cup Final.

BROOKLYN, NY One day before the world's eyes turn to the FIFA World Cup Final, New York City will already be showing the world what it's made of. The Chopped Cheese Classic returns to McCarren Park on Saturday, July 18, 2026 — more vibrant and more competitive than ever — celebrating the borough ballers, bodegas, and block party culture that make New York the greatest city on earth.

With thousands of international football fans descending on NYC for the biggest sporting moment of the decade, the Chopped Cheese Classic will be exactly the kind of event they stumble into and never forget: a full-day tournament and community block party that showcases the game the New York way.

The Origin Story

The Chopped Cheese Classic started as a seed of an idea with Pablo’s Mate founder Danny Rose: what if there was a tournament where every team represented a bodega?

The idea found its moment at Beco, a Brazilian bar and staple of the soccer community. Danny brought it to the table — literally — during a watch party alongside Ivan Gaton of De Nos; Kyros Morales, a soccer photographer and connector; and Steven Macias, a pillar of New York soccer culture. The room got loud fast. What if we threw a block party after the tournament? What if we did it right here, on this block? By the end of the match, the concept had a shape. A few weeks later, tournament operator NYC Footy came on board — and the Chopped Cheese Classic became real.

The bodegas of New York are the original holding midfielders: always there, always open, holding the block down no matter the season. This tournament is for them.

"The independent market in NYC is like nothing else in America — where hustle can actually pay off if your product is good. It's very important to me, and to Pablo's Mate, that we protect this. Markets aren't guaranteed. It's our job to build and maintain institutions to keep this foundation strong, even if it starts with a soccer tournament and a party."

— Danny Rose, Founder, Pablo's Mate

Two Divisions. More Ballers. No Excuses.

Year one was a proof of concept. Year two is the real thing.

Last year's inaugural event set the bar high, and made clear this was something the city had been waiting for. Activations ranged from CLUBELEVEN's mobile soccer museum inside a retrofitted school bus to Jola Jewelry, the line designed by local professional player Jojo Cotto. New York's biggest pro soccer organizations — NYCFC, Brooklyn FC, the New York Red Bulls, and NJNY FIFA — all showed up, turning the block into a rare moment where rivals stood shoulder to shoulder under a shared love for the city and the game.

New for 2026: the Chopped Cheese Classic will feature both a competitive division and a casual division, opening the tournament to a wider field of players, from serious club-level talent to weekend warriors who just want to run the field on the biggest soccer weekend of their lives. Whether you're fighting for a trophy or showing up for the culture, there's a spot for you on the pitch.

This year, that energy meets a global backdrop. As international fans pour into New York in the final days of World Cup 2026, the Chopped Cheese Classic will be the block party that shows them what the local scene is actually built on.

"Last year proved that this city was hungry for exactly this kind of event. We ran the pilot, and now we’re establishing the tradition. And there’s no better weekend to do it than the one the whole world is already here for."

— Maggie Hogan, Executive Producer, Chopped Cheese Classic

Event Details

Chopped Cheese Classic Second Annual Soccer Tournament & Block Party

Saturday, July 18, 2026

Tournament: McCarren Park | 9-1 | Registration starts May 26

Block Party: Bayard St. (btw. Union & Lorimer) | 12-7 | Free and open to the public

About the Organizers

Returning host Pablo's Mate is co-organizing alongside The Footy League, De Nos, and TÁCTICO 90: four organizations that together represent the diversity, hard work, and pride of the New York soccer scene.

Pablo's Mate

The Unofficial Beverage of the World Cup and New York’s own proverbial yerba mate brand.

Pablo’s Mate created the Chopped Cheese Classic to celebrate the American Dream as it plays out in NYC: hustlers, creators, and grinders chasing greatness—on the pitch, in small businesses, and in life.

The Footy League

The Footy League is the largest adult soccer league in the United States, with over 50,000 players in NYC alone. Built on inclusivity and community since 2011, The Footy League has produced some of the city's most beloved soccer tournaments — including the Vice Cup, Gov Cup, and KOTN Cup — and continues to be the backbone of grassroots adult soccer nationwide.

De Nos

De Nos is a New York City agency that bridges Caribbean culture and the US media landscape — building community, visibility, and cultural connection across the diaspora.

TÁCTICO 90

TÁCTICO 90 is an interdisciplinary studio documenting and celebrating fútbol culture in New York City through photography, video, event production, and digital storytelling — preserving and amplifying the city's deep soccer history one frame at a time.

Follow along on Instagram @choppedcheeseclassic