Kreshnik Berisha knows that Newark is a global village, where people from around the world have always converged to make it their home.
With the arrival of the FIFA World Cup this week, Newark’s international identity will be front and center as thousands visit the Newark Fan Village, which Berisha, a Rutgers University–Newark alumnus, has created in the city’s Ironbound section, long a hotbed of soccer fandom.
“We wanted to create a fan village that was inclusive and creative and made an impact beyond the tournament,” said Berisha, who graduated with a master’s degree in Global Affairs in 2024. “We wanted to do a boutique, curated, soulful event that pertained to the community and was by the community.”
The Fan Village, which runs the length of the series and coincides with the Ironbound’s Portugal Day Festival the weekend of June 12, reflects the neighborhood's multicultural vibrancy. It is home to large Portuguese, Brazilian, and South and Central American communities, who have made soccer an integral part of local culture.
“There’s a deep love of soccer in the Ironbound,” said Berisha, who heads the Sihana Hospitality Group. “This is where it lives, arguably, in the state and the country.”
In addition to hosting daily watch parties and other activities, the Fan Village will showcase local vendors. It runs from June 11 to July 19.
Participating restaurants will represent the diverse culinary traditions of the Ironbound, including Brazilian, Ecuadorian, Mexican, Spanish, and Italian cuisine.
“Soccer speaks to people the way food speaks to people. It’s a point of connection that’s very seamless. It happens organically and naturally,” said Berisha.
Located in the parking lot of the former Iberia Tavern & Restaurant, where the landmark eatery’s turreted castle still stands, the Fan Village will include two large viewing screens, a marketplace, health and wellness programming, family seating areas, DJs, comedy performances, and cultural events organized in partnership with NJPAC.
Rutgers–Newark is among the sponsors.
“Soccer unites people across continents, languages and cultures, and that spirit of global connection mirrors who we are as an institution,’’ said Rutgers University–Newark Chancellor Tonya Smith-Jackson.
“This partnership underscores our deep commitment to expanding opportunity for students and residents from all backgrounds. We are honored to celebrate it alongside our community on this global stage,’’ she said.
“It’s in our backyard. And every day, it brings an opportunity for us to highlight Rutgers–Newark and provide our support for this community event,’’ said Arcelio Aponte, Rutgers–Newark Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration.
Berisha, the son of an Albanian ambassador to the United Kingdom, Turkey and the United Nations, grew up in Linden and spent a lot of time in Newark as a teen. He developed a love for the city.
In recent years, he opened a handful of Newark restaurants, including Five Corners Ristorante, an Italian eatery, the Sihana Café on Ferry Street, which exhibits art and houses a secondhand bookstore; and Sihana Bistro on Washington Street.
Sihana means “like the moon” in Albanian.
“It also means a celestial status or feeling,” said Berisha, whose background is Albanian.
His goal is to elevate and amplify Newark’s history and its rich legacy of arts and culture.
Berisha credits Rutgers–Newark with preparing him for his entrepreneurial role in the city and the complex task of organizing an international event involving businesses, community groups, government officials, and corporate partners.
“It was a very fulfilling time, intellectually enriching,” he said of his experience at RU–N. “It helped with the work I’m doing here in Newark.”
His education at Rutgers–Newark also equipped him with the skills to navigate bureaucracy and build partnerships.
“These relationships were built on the strength of having attended Rutgers,” he said. “The skills I developed are instrumental when you’re putting together a festival like this.”
The Fan Village, he said, is an extension of what he hopes to accomplish in the city. Soccer is the perfect catalyst, providing a powerful tool for bringing people together, said Berisha.
“It’s the world’s sport,” he said. “That’s why it’s called the beautiful game.”
