JERSEY CITY, NJ, JUNE 18, 2026 – This summer is all about Soccer & Science at Liberty Science Center (LSC). As New Jersey’s first FIFA World Cup 2026 match at MetLife Stadium kicked off this weekend, LSC is bringing together New Jersey’s love of sport and STEM by announcing a series of interactive experiences, puppies, professional player appearances, and family-friendly programming running throughout June and July in Jersey City. The Summer of Soccer & Science at LSC is presented by Bank of America.

“Sports and STEM go hand-in-hand,” said Paul Hoffman, President and CEO of Liberty Science Center. “We want to thank our partner, Bank of America, for helping us provide a robust program of educational activities for all ages every day of the week centered around soccer. Liberty Science Center is a place where the community can come together for important moments while also learning something new.”

“The World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium are bringing incredible energy to New Jersey, and the Summer of Soccer & Science is a great way to build on that excitement,” said Lindsay Hans, president and co-head of Merrill Wealth Management at Bank of America, and LSC board member. “By connecting the science behind soccer with hands-on STEM learning, we’re proud to partner with Liberty Science Center to make these experiences accessible and fun for families.”

Pup Cup

The debut event for Summer of Soccer & Science at LSC, the Pup Cup kicked off on June 6 and 7. Visitors watched as puppy competitors tumbled, slobbered, and scored their way through a series of matchups inside LSC’s stadium. The adorable athletes are visiting from The Seeing Eye, a local nonprofit that trains dogs to assist people who are blind or visually impaired. Meaning before the pups go to work changing lives, fans will have the chance to watch them chase glory on the field.

The Pup Cup returns July 18 and 19 with games at 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, and 2:00 pm, each day.

Gotham FC “Meet and Greets”

Meet players from Gotham FC, New Jersey's professional women's soccer team, during “meet and greet” appearances on select dates. Here’s who you can meet and when:

On Tuesday, June 23, from 2 pm–4 pm, meet Gotham FC forward Khyah Harper and midfielder Talia Sommer

On Sunday, June 28, from 11 am–2 pm, meet Gotham FC goalkeeper Shelby Hogan

On Tuesday, June 30, from 2 pm–4 pm, meet Gotham FC forward Katie Lampson

On Sunday, July 12, from 12 pm–2 pm, meet Gotham FC goalkeeper Teagan Wy and midfielder Talia Sommer

LSC After Dark

LSC’s popular adults-only evening program, LSC After Dark, features a rotation of themed events every month on Thursday nights. On Thursday, July 9, from 6 - 10 pm LSC After Dark will host Cleats & Beats, featuring a live DJ, meet and greet with Gotham FC players, and a special Pup Cup activation with The Seeing Eye, open to anyone 21+.

Daily Events

From June 6 through July 19, LSC is hosting daily special events in celebration of soccer and science, including:

Drone Soccer – Become a pilot and fly drones into the opposing team's goals in this fast-paced, science-powered team sport.

LSC Rat-thlete Matches – Watch trained Norway rats face off in daily one-on-one matches in the Wild About Animal exhibit's miniature arena.

Sock-er – Test your striking skills through penalty-shot competitions on the synthetic ice rink.

Subsoccer – Play soccer entirely under a table! Sit across from your opponent and use only your feet to pass, defend, and score.

For more information about the Summer of Soccer & Science at Liberty Science Center, visit LSC.org.

About Liberty Science Center

Liberty Science Center (LSC.org) is a 300,000-square-foot, not-for-profit learning center located in Liberty State Park on the Jersey City bank of the Hudson near the Statue of Liberty. Dedicated to inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers and bringing the power, promise, and pure fun of science and technology to learners of all ages, Liberty Science Center houses the largest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere, 12 museum exhibition halls, a live animal collection with 110 species, giant aquariums, a 3D theater, live simulcast surgeries, a tornado-force wind simulator, K-12 classrooms and labs, and teacher-development programs. More than 280,000 students visit the Science Center each year, and tens of thousands more participate in the Center’s off- site and online programs. Welcoming more than 800,000 visitors annually, LSC is the largest cultural institution in New Jersey and the largest interactive science center in the NYC-NJ metropolitan area.