Arizona Athletic Grounds to host community day for Turkish soccer team ahead of World Cup

Looking for an evening of fun, cultural food, live music and family-friendly activities as the World Cup approaches?

The Arizona Athletic Grounds complex in Mesa will host a community day for the Turkish soccer team Monday, June 8, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., with a live practice from about 7:30-8:45 p.m. afterward.

The Turkish men’s national team will use the Mesa complex as its 2026 FIFA World Cup training site. It enters the 2026 event in Group D, which also includes the U.S., Paraguay and Australia. Turkey opens play against Australia on June 13 in Vancouver, Canada.

The community day is free and does not require a ticket.

The main attraction of the night is Team Turkey’s live practice, which does require a ticket to watch.

Tickets for the live practice are sold out, but Visit Mesa is doing an Instagram giveaway for the last of the tickets available.

The giveaway will open at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 1, and will go until 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 3. To enter, fans must follow @Visit Mesa, @AZGrounds and @CityofMesa on Instagram and follow the instructions in the giveaway post.

Winners will be notified via an Instagram direct message on Wednesday afternoon.

The practice will directly follow the community day events from 7:30-8:45 p.m. on the AAG Stadium Soccer Field and fans will have the chance to meet players, get autographs and take photos.

The community day will include local Turkish food provided by Güscht Döner Haus, including traditional doner wraps, baklava, world-famous Maras ice cream and live kunefe/kumpir preparation.

The event will also have country music band Campbell Blue Creek performing, soccer activities for kids with Arizona Arsenal Soccer Club and traditional Turkish Ebru art demonstrations, handcrafted goods, jewelry, apparel and artisan booths.

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