Soccer fans and families will have a chance to experience Turkish culture and celebrate the upcoming World Cup during a special community event at Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa on June 8.
The free event will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and is designed to showcase Turkish traditions through food, music and interactive activities. Guests can sample authentic Turkish dishes from Güscht Döner Haus, including doner wraps, baklava, Maras ice cream and freshly prepared kunefe and kumpir.
Entertainment throughout the evening will include a performance by country music band Campbell Blue Creek, youth soccer activities hosted by Arizona Arsenal Soccer Club and demonstrations of traditional Turkish Ebru art. Attendees can also browse artisan vendors offering handcrafted goods, jewelry and apparel.
Following the community celebration, Team Türkiye will hold a live practice session on the AAG Stadium Soccer Field from approximately 7:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Fans attending the practice will have opportunities to meet players, collect autographs and take photos with members of the team.
Tickets for the practice have already sold out, though Visit Mesa is offering fans one final opportunity to attend through a social media giveaway. The contest opens June 1 and runs through June 3, with winners scheduled to be notified via Instagram direct message on Wednesday afternoon.
The event highlights Arizona’s role in welcoming international teams and supporters as excitement builds ahead of the World Cup.
