Making the most out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Los Angeles 

The FIFA World Cup returns on June 11 and for the very first time, three countries will host the tournament across 16 different locations. Lionel Messi will look to defend his country’s title for Argentina, as 47 other teams look to depose them over the stretch of 39 days across the North American continent. 

Fans can access the vast plethora of tourist destinations, historical landmarks and monuments, and everything encapsulated within each city. Los Angeles is one of the two cities hosting games in California, and there is something in store for all fans whether they want to get lost in the fanfare, or simply engulf themselves in what the city can offer. 

Whether you want to catch the action live in-person, cheer with friends and family at a sports bar, or want to exhibit the fascinating experiences around the city, here is a guide on how to get the most out of this year’s World Cup in Los Angeles. 

Stadium, games and rounds 

For the first time since 1994, Los Angeles will host its first World Cup, this time at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood—home to the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams—instead of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. 

There are 12 different groups consisting of four countries in the World Cup, and SoFi Stadium will be a host site for Groups B, D and G for the first Group Stage from June 11 until June 27. The times and dates of each game are in alphabetical order by group and chronological order. 

Group B 

• Match 26: Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, June 18, SoFi Stadium, 3 p.m. ET

Group D 

• Match 4: United States vs. Paraguay, June 12, SoFi Stadium, 9 p.m. ET
• Match 59: Turkey vs. United States, June 25, SoFi Stadium, 10 p.m. ET

Group G 

• Match 15: Iran vs. New Zealand, June 15, SoFi Stadium, 9 p.m. ET
• Match 39: Belgium vs. Iran: June 21, SoFi Stadium, 3 p.m. ET 

The highlight of these group stage games are easily United States vs. Türkiye and Paraguay. Their World Cup fate will more than likely be determined in these two games one way or another.

The knockout stage will consist of five different rounds for the 32 remaining teams from June 28 until the final game on July 19. 

SoFi Stadium will host the first round between the runner-ups of both Groups A and B (June 28, 12:00 p.m. PT), as well as between the winner of Group H and the runner-up of Group J (July 2, 12:00 p.m. PT). 

SoFi Stadium will host only one match during the quarterfinal round between the winners of Match 93 and Match 94 on July 10 (12:00 p.m. PT). 

Attendance information 

Tickets are widely available for each game across multiple different websites and mobile applications, although time is starting to run out to get your hands on a ticket for any game. 

Tickets can be purchased on sites such as TicketMaster, SeatGeek, Go Tickets, and many more. Prices may vary depending on the team ranks of the matches and subsequent group/knockout stages. 

SoFi Stadium has a spacious parking lot as well as a parking structure for the Hollywood Casino, but there are other ways to get there should you not want to drive. If you want to drive but don’t want the hassle of paying for a parking lot space, there are a few park & ride areas surrounding the stadium in Inglewood. Torrance offers $4 round-trip services to the stadium with free parking, while Culver City offers $2 round-trip fares to the stadium. 

If you don’t want to worry about the hassle of driving at all, the LA Metro Rail and Shuttle services are an excellent option. You can either take the C Line or K Line to LAX/Metro Transit station, then board a shuttle that will drop you off at the stadium. Shuttle services begin operations three hours prior to the start of the match and continue until 90 minutes after the end of the match. 

Tourist attractions 

While at the stadium, you can marvel at its state-of-the-art design and architecture and take in the surrounding views, such as the Kia Forum and Intuit Dome—home to the Los Angeles Clippers—within walking distance. 

SoFi Stadium is home to a variety of food options, with prevalent spots such as Sawtelle Blvd. (American food), San Vicente Blvd (Italian food), and Olvera St. (Mexican food) found on multiple stadium levels. There are still plenty of traditional snack options such as popcorn, pretzels and hot dogs, along with multiple bars and grab & go venues across the stadium. 

For those that want to be a bit more economical in terms of budgeting for food and drinks, there are plenty of surrounding sports bars in close proximity to the stadium such as Century Bar and Grill and Tom’s Watch Bar on Century Blvd. There is also the COSM, a venue right next to SoFi Stadium where you can watch the game virtually and get a front row experience without the expense of stadium admission.

There are a handful of great food options to view the matches in the heart of Los Angeles, such as Tom’s Watch Bar next to Crypto.com Arena and Yard House just up the street from Tom’s on Olympic Blvd. 

If you want to still enjoy the highlights within a stadium without being present at SoFi, the Los Angeles Memorial Colosseum will be holding a four-day FIFA Fan Festival from June 11 and June 14. The times for each festival day are 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 9:00 a.m. respectively. 

Say you wanted to ditch any plans about attending the games live or completely avoid it altogether, Los Angeles is a hotbed for a wide variety of tourist destinations and attractions. 

Some fun experiences within the greater West Los Angeles area include the Kia Forum, the former home of the Los Angeles Lakers which now hosts a multitude of live performances. Artists performing at the Forum during the World Cup include the band Rush, rapper A$AP Rocky and singer ROSALÍA. 

There is something for everyone in Los Angeles, whether you want to experience the nightlife or create unforgettable memories with your family and friends. Let’s check out some fun monuments and attractions for those of all ages.

Los Angeles is home to both the Natural History Museum and California Science Center, located next to the Memorial Colosseum, both fun places for kids to explore and learn. For any gearheads, the Peterson Automobile Museum is the go-to spot for all things antique and classic vehicles. For the foodies seeking the trendiest options in Los Angeles, there are prime locations such as Howlin’ Ray’s—the go-to spot for fried chicken—Ozzy’s Apizza, which offers New Haven style pizza, or enjoy a french dip sandwich at the Philippe The Original, a staple of Los Angeles that has continued to serve Angelinos since 1908.

For a more contemporary experience, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is home to an astounding collection of both traditional and modern-day art, and it is located right next to the La Brea Tar Pits.

Creating memories doesn’t always have to be a major factor into a trip’s budget. This includes gazing at the Hollywood Sign after taking a nice stroll along the Sunset Strip, hiking along and taking in wonderful views while in Griffith Park, or enjoying the soft sandy beaches of Venice Beach or Marina del Rey. 

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