Nearly 3,000 soccer fans packed Port Plaza on Friday, June 19, to watch the U.S. men's national team beat Australia 2-0 in the FIFA World Cup.

The Olympia-Lacey Fan Zone is back this week with two more match days.

The watch party drew close to capacity for its debut, according to event coordinator Jennie Foglia-Jones. The U.S. victory, played 60 miles north at Seattle Stadium before a sellout crowd of 66,925, clinched a Round of 32 berth.

The Fan Zone returns Wednesday, June 24, for Canada vs. Switzerland (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and Thursday, June 25, for USA vs. Türkiye (5 p.m. to 10 p.m.). A fourth event, Spain vs. Uruguay and Egypt vs. Iran, runs Friday, June 26, from 5 to 10 p.m.

Foglia-Jones estimates Thursday's USA match will draw about 2,000 fans. She said on-site ticket sales could be cut off if attendance nears capacity, though advance tickets will be honored.

The Olympia-Lacey zone is the only one of nine official Washington state fan zones charging admission, according to the Olympian's reporting. General admission costs $10, VIP passes run $75, and children under 12 enter free. Wednesday tickets are half price.

"I don't know what the other locations did to be able to get funding," Foglia-Jones told the Olympian. "But we all had to go out and get our own funding, and that's why we're charging, just to help offset the cost."

The Thurston County Chamber of Commerce organized the event on behalf of the county, the Port of Olympia, and the cities of Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater. Funding came from public tourism grants and private organizations, but a deficit remained. If ticket sales don't cover the gap, the Chamber will absorb the shortfall.

Some attendees reported hour-long entrance lines and slow security checkpoints on June 19. Organizers acknowledged the delays but have not publicly detailed what changes they've made for the remaining dates.

Intercity Transit offers fare-free rides to the Olympia Transit Center, with a free shuttle to Port Plaza and a nearby bike valet. Parking near the plaza is limited. Outside food and non-alcoholic beverages are allowed; rolling coolers are not. The event is weapon-free and smoke-free.

FC Olympia, the local USL League Two club, is giving away two VIP tickets and two replica kits (total value $250) for Thursday's USA vs. Türkiye match through a contest on its website.

Advance tickets for all remaining dates are available at thurstonchamber.com/fanzone.