The World Cup is officially here, with Hard Rock Stadium hosting Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay tonight at 6pm for Miami's very first 2026 FIFA match. The FIFA Fan Festival at Bayfront Park is open daily through July 5, and A$AP Rocky brings his Don't Be Dumb Tour to Kaseya Center tonight as well. Let's get into it.

— Matthew Larsen

World Cup Arrives in Miami Tonight – Hard Rock Stadium hosts its first-ever 2026 FIFA World Cup match on June 15 when Saudi Arabia faces Uruguay at 6pm ET. Miami is one of 16 host cities across North America for the expanded 48-team tournament, and the stadium will host seven total matches through July 18, including a quarterfinal and the Bronze Final.

FIFA Fan Festival Transforms Bayfront Park – The official FIFA Fan Festival opened Saturday at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami, running free and daily through July 5. The 436,000-square-foot waterfront takeover features live match broadcasts on massive LED screens, cultural performances, food and drink, and interactive experiences open to the public without a match ticket.

Human Trafficking Sting Nets 12 Arrests in Homestead – Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announced the arrests of 12 men ahead of the World Cup, caught in an undercover sting where detectives posed as a mother offering minors for sex at a Homestead hotel. The suspects, ranging from 22 to 51 years old, paid between $300 and $800 and face felony charges including human trafficking of a minor, all held without bond.

Virginia Key Marina Deal Heads to November Ballot – Miami commissioners voted unanimously to place an $80 million marina redevelopment proposal before voters this fall. The plan would lease 27 acres of city-owned waterfront on Virginia Key to a joint venture between RCI Marine and Suntex Marinas for 45 years, generating at least $2.2 million annually in rent, with new boat storage, restaurants, and retail space.

Historic Miami-Dade Courthouse Going to Auction – Miami-Dade County has listed the historic downtown courthouse on a government surplus auction site after failing for years to sell the property for more than $50 million. The 28-story building, one of Miami's most recognizable landmarks, has sat largely unused as the county moved to newer facilities.

George Pino Boat Crash Trial Continues – The manslaughter and vessel homicide trial of Doral real estate broker George Pino is ongoing at the Miami-Dade courthouse. Pino is accused of crashing his boat into a channel marker near Boca Chita Key on Labor Day 2022, killing 17-year-old Lucy Fernandez and severely injuring her classmate Katerina Puig.

Cuba Earthquake Rattled South Florida Buildings – A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the northwest coast of Cuba on June 8, described by USGS as the largest ever recorded in the Gulf of Mexico with modern instruments. Several Miami-Dade buildings were evacuated, including the Stephen P. Clark Government Center and the Dadeland Metrorail Station, though no injuries were reported locally.

Dolce and Gabbana Exhibition Closing at ICA Miami – The immersive "From the Heart to the Hands" exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Art in the Design District closes June 14, its final weekend. The show brought together more than 300 Alta Moda pieces and drew visitors from around the world after sold-out runs in Paris, Rome, and Milan.

Dolphins Lock Up Center Aaron Brewer – The Miami Dolphins signed center Aaron Brewer to a three-year, $52.5 million extension through the 2029 season under new head coach Jeff Hafley. Brewer earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2025 and allowed only one sack all season, making him one of the best centers in the NFL.

Miami Baby Flamingo Makes Zoo Debut – A Caribbean flamingo chick hatched and made its public debut at Zoo Miami after its egg was incubated over several weeks. The arrival adds to Zoo Miami's long-running flamingo flock, one of the most visible and beloved animals at the facility.

Mon, Jun 15, 6pm: Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay, Hard Rock Stadium – Miami's first World Cup match of the tournament kicks off at the temporarily renamed Miami Stadium in Miami Gardens. Tickets are extremely scarce but the FIFA Fan Festival at Bayfront Park has free live broadcasts for everyone without one.

Mon, Jun 15, 8pm: A$AP Rocky Don't Be Dumb Tour, Kaseya Center – Rocky's first full album in eight years gets its Miami moment downtown at Kaseya Center. Secondary market still has tickets; expect a high-production show with his six stage alter egos.

Thru Jun 19: Sepia Vernacular, Overtown – More than 80 rare photographs from the 1920s through 1950s document daily life in Overtown, drawn from City of Miami Planning Department archives and including selections from Max Waldman's 1947 Color Town series. Presented by the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA; free admission.

Jun 13–Jul 5, daily: FIFA Fan Festival, Bayfront Park – The city's official free World Cup hub transforms 436,000 square feet of downtown waterfront with live match broadcasts on giant LED screens, food vendors, cultural programming, and interactive installations. No match ticket required.

Jun 13–Jul 19: Let's Wyn World Cup Series, Wynwood – The Wynwood BID's six-week tournament program includes a neighborhood scavenger hunt, public art trail, food festival, and watch parties running through the end of the tournament. Free and self-guided.

Thru Sep 27: Pop Air: Art Is Inflatable, Mana Wynwood Convention Center – Large-scale inflatable artworks fill the Mana Wynwood Convention Center in a walk-through exhibition where visitors can touch and move through the pieces. Tickets at the door.

Thru Sep 27: Extreme Sports: Beyond Human Limits, Frost Science Museum – The Frost Museum of Science's summer exhibition covers wingsuit flying, freediving, parkour, and ice climbing with hands-on stations that let visitors test their own limits. Included with museum admission at 1101 Biscayne Blvd.

Thru Jun 18: 90s Throwback Weekend, Carousel Club – Specialty cocktails, a life-size Barbie box, a giant Gameboy, Play-Doh beer pong, and a full weekend of 90s music running through June 18. Check their social for nightly details and cover.

Sat, Jun 20, 8pm: Josh Groban and Jennifer Hudson, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood – Two powerhouse vocalists share the stage for a ballad-heavy evening at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood. Tickets at the venue box office and online.

Thru Jun 14 (final days): Dolce and Gabbana: From the Heart to the Hands, ICA Miami – The closing weekend of this major exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Art in the Design District, featuring over 300 Alta Moda pieces in immersive installations. Free admission always at ICA, 61 NE 41st St.

Sat, Jun 21, 6pm: Uruguay vs. Cape Verde, Hard Rock Stadium – Miami's second World Cup group stage match brings Uruguay back to Miami Gardens. Tickets still available at FIFA’s website for this one.

Jun 24, 6pm: Brazil vs. Scotland, Hard Rock Stadium – One of the most anticipated group stage matchups comes to Miami later this month, with five-time champions Brazil taking the field. Start planning now; secondary market tickets are already moving fast.

Stand, Coral Gables – Chef Shingo Akikuni's new 24-seat Japanese café opened June 4 at 98 Miracle Mile, operating as a kissaten by day with matcha, single-origin coffee, and milk bread sandos including chicken katsu and Wagyu filet. It will transition to an evening izakaya later this year.

1986 Steakhouse, Coconut Grove – This Argentine steakhouse opened in May at Mayfair Plaza, serving premium beef from Argentina, the US, and Japan cooked over live fire, with cocktails from Buenos Aires' Tres Monos bar team. Located at 2911 Grand Ave., Suite 111.

Séptimo, Brickell – The new cocktail bar on the seventh floor of the Four Seasons Hotel Miami at 1435 Brickell Ave. opened in late April with a Golden Age mixology program from beverage director Jacopo Rosito. The room features velvet drapery, live music, and bites like caviar-topped chicken nuggets and tableside Crêpes Suzette.

Grand Public Kitchen and Bar, Coconut Grove – A 7,400-square-foot all-day dining destination opened at CocoWalk at 3015 Grand Ave., serving modern American fare with Mediterranean touches from happy hour through late dinner. Weekend brunch runs with $25 bottomless mimosas.

Fooq's, Little River – The beloved downtown Miami restaurant that closed in 2021 is making its comeback at 150 NW 73rd St. in a two-story, 14,000-square-foot space. The menu focuses on Mediterranean cuisine with Persian influences from chef Andrew Bazzini, with a vinyl lounge called Lion's Den on the second floor.

Van Leeuwen, Brickell – The New York ice cream shop has opened its second Miami location in Brickell, adding to its existing presence in the city. Known for creative flavors including its cult-favorite vegan options.

Calle Dragones Dinner Cabaret, Little Havana – After success in Colombia, this dinner cabaret opened in Little Havana with red velvet curtains, crystal chandeliers, and live entertainment woven through the meal. A theatrical dining experience new to the Miami market.

World Cup Match Day One: Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay – Miami hosts its inaugural FIFA World Cup match tonight at Hard Rock Stadium, with Saudi Arabia taking on Uruguay at 6pm ET. Miami will host seven total matches through July 18, including a quarterfinal and the Bronze Final on July 18.

Marlins Drop Series to Pittsburgh, Head to Philadelphia – Miami wrapped up a series at PNC Park in Pittsburgh and now travels to Citizens Bank Park to face the Phillies starting June 15. The Marlins sit at 33-35 on the season, fourth in the NL East and 13.5 games behind the division-leading Braves.

Dolphins Sign Brewer to $52.5 Million Extension – Center Aaron Brewer signed a three-year contract extension through the 2029 season worth $52.5 million, locking in one of the team's three identified pillars under new head coach Jeff Hafley. Brewer allowed only one sack in all of 2025 and was a second-team All-Pro selection.

Dolphins Offseason Program Wraps, Training Camp on the Horizon – Miami finished its offseason program this week with veterans heading home for roughly six weeks before training camp reconvenes. Coach Jeff Hafley's first year in Miami marks a near-complete roster rebuild, with RB De'Von Achane and Brewer the two veterans extended so far.

Inter Miami on World Cup Break – With MLS pausing for the FIFA World Cup, Inter Miami CF's next league match does not come until July 22. The defending MLS Cup champions sit second in the Eastern Conference heading into the break at Nu Stadium at Miami Freedom Park.

Scotland vs. Brazil Coming to Hard Rock on June 24 – One of the most anticipated group stage matchups of the entire tournament comes to Miami Gardens when five-time world champions Brazil face Scotland. Secondary market tickets are already in heavy demand.

Mon, Jun 15 – Partly cloudy | high 86°F | low 79°F | 30% chance of afternoon storms.
Tue, Jun 16 – Partly cloudy | high 87°F | low 80°F | 30% chance of rain.
Wed, Jun 17 – Partly cloudy | high 86°F | low 79°F | 25% chance of afternoon showers.
Thu, Jun 18 – Partly cloudy | high 88°F | low 80°F | 30% chance of storms.
Fri, Jun 19 – Partly cloudy | high 86°F | low 78°F | 25% chance of afternoon rain.
Sat, Jun 20 – Partly cloudy | high 88°F | low 79°F | 30% chance of storms.
Sun, Jun 21 – Partly cloudy | high 88°F | low 79°F | 30% chance of afternoon rain.

1986 Steakhouse, Coconut Grove – This newly opened Argentine steakhouse at 2911 Grand Ave. cooks premium beef from Argentina, the US, and Japan over live fire in a dramatic room built around a four-sided bar. The cocktail program comes directly from Buenos Aires' celebrated Tres Monos team, and the raw bar and caviar service make it feel like a proper occasion.

FIFA Fan Festival, Bayfront Park, Downtown – The official World Cup Fan Festival is free, family-friendly, and running daily at Bayfront Park through July 5, with live match broadcasts, interactive football games, cultural performances, and food from around the world. Kids and adults alike can soak up the full World Cup atmosphere without needing a match ticket.

Séptimo, Brickell – The new seventh-floor cocktail bar inside the Four Seasons Miami at 1435 Brickell Ave. offers velvet drapery, live music, ambient lighting, and a menu of Golden Age cocktails alongside refined bites. The Oyster Martini and tableside Crêpes Suzette alone make it worth the trip up.

Overtown – One of Miami's oldest Black neighborhoods, Overtown stretches north of downtown along NW 2nd and 3rd Avenues and was once known as the "Harlem of the South" for its vibrant jazz scene and cultural institutions. The neighborhood is undergoing a slow reclamation of its own history, visible in exhibitions like Sepia Vernacular and in anchors like the Lyric Theater on NW 2nd Avenue.

Miami's Overtown Jazz District, 1940s–1950s – In its heyday, the stretch of NW 2nd Avenue in Overtown hosted performers including Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong, who played the neighborhood's hotels and clubs because they were barred from performing in the segregated hotels of Miami Beach. The district was devastated by the construction of I-95 in the 1960s, which bulldozed through the heart of the community.

Ella Fitzgerald in Miami – Ella Fitzgerald was one of many Black performers who played Overtown during the 1940s and 1950s, staying in the neighborhood's hotels because Jim Crow laws prevented her from lodging on Miami Beach despite performing there. Her visits to Overtown were part of what made the neighborhood one of the most musically vital corridors in the American South.