World Cup England fan zone plans unveiled at Kettering Town Football Club
A new England-themed fan zone, based at Kettering Town Football Club, is set to bring a vibrant, festival-style experience to supporters during the 2026 World Cup. The initiative is a collaboration between MJN Entertainment and Kettering Town Football Club, designed to benefit both the town and the football club, with organisers outlining ambitious plans for a fully immersive match-day environment.
The fan zone will host three confirmed England group games, starting with Croatia vs England on Wednesday 17 June (9:00pm kick-off, fan zone opens 6:30pm). This will be followed by Ghana vs England on Tuesday 23 June (9:00pm, opens 6:30pm) and England vs Panama on Saturday 27 June (10:00pm, opens 7:30pm), giving fans multiple opportunities to experience the atmosphere across the tournament, with more dates potentially to be added if England progress.
Plans include a large LED screen for live match coverage, alongside seating areas, bar facilities, and a packed entertainment schedule.
The site will be fully branded in England colours and themes, with overhead festoon lighting and bunting helping to create a lively and celebratory setting. As part of the setup, a five metre LED video wall will be installed, with additional screens placed throughout the venue, both indoors and outdoors, ensuring clear viewing from all areas.
A professional sound system will cover the entire site, while a dedicated DJ booth and live entertainment will further enhance the fan experience.
MJN Entertainment, a local Kettering-based event production and AV company specialising in corporate events, venues, and live experiences, including sound, lighting, staging and AV installations say the venue will combine the excitement of live football with the atmosphere of a summer festival.
Mat Newman, Director of MJN Entertainment, said the project aims to create something special for the local community. “As a local company, it’s really important for us to deliver something for Kettering that people can be proud of. We wanted to create more than just a place to watch football, this is about bringing the community together, creating an atmosphere, and giving people a shared experience throughout the tournament.”
He added: “We wanted to design a space that goes beyond simply watching the match. This fan zone will feel like an event in its own right, somewhere fans can come together, enjoy the atmosphere, and really get behind England.”
The initiative has also received backing from the host venue. George Akhtar, owner of Kettering Town Football Club “This is a fantastic opportunity to bring the community together at the club. Hosting a fan zone of this scale will create a brilliant atmosphere and give supporters a memorable way to experience England’s games.”
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be one of the biggest tournaments to date, and organisers hope the fan zone will provide a central hub for supporters to come together and share the experience locally.
Fans are encouraged to follow Kettering Town Football Club and MJN Entertainment in the lead up to the games for more what to expect.