WE ARE DAYS AWAY FROM THE FIRST WORLD CUP GAMES, KICKING OFF IN LOS ANGELES. TEAM USA SPOKE TODAY IN IRVINE BEFORE A PRACTICE SESSION. THE TEAM’S CAPTAIN, TIM REAM, SAYS HE FEELS GOOD ABOUT THEIR FIRST MATCH SET FOR FRIDAY AGAINST PARAGUAY, PULLING UP HERE WITH WITH, YOU KNOW, 5500, YOU KNOW, FANS READY TO WATCH A TRAINING SESSION IS YOU KNOW IS IS INCREDIBLE. AND YEAH, I JUST THINK THAT WE’RE IN A IN A GOOD PLACE MENTALLY RIGHT NOW. IT WAS YOU KNOW IT’S BEEN A LONG A LONG TWO WEEKS, A HARD TWO WEEKS. BUT BUT GUYS ARE IN A, IN A GREAT POSITION, YOU KNOW, MENTALLY, PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND READY TO GET GOING WHILE PLAYERS ARE READY. SOFI STADIUM, WHERE MATCHES ARE BEING PLAYED, COULD SEE SOME STAFFING ISSUES COOKS, DISHWASHERS, BARTENDERS AND SERVERS AUTHORIZED STRIKE. AND THAT MEANS THEY CAN NOW WALK OFF THE JOB AT ANY TIME. THE UNION IS CALLING FOR PAY RAISES, JOB SECURITY AND SAFETY FROM ICE AGENTS. NEGOTIATIONS RESUMED EARLIER TODAY AND THE WORLD CUP CELEBRATIONS ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY IN THE BAY AREA. CHRISTIEN KAFTON HAS A LOOK AT THE EXCITEMENT. OFFICIAL WORLD CUP MATCHES HAVEN’T EVEN STARTED YET, BUT ALREADY FANS ARE GEARING UP FOR WORLD CLASS SOCCER HERE AT THE CROSSING AT EAST CUT. SAMI AL-BAROUDI, A DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER HIMSELF, WATCHED FRANCE TAKE ON NORTHERN IRELAND IN A FRIENDLY MATCH AND SAID HE CAN’T WAIT FOR THE OFFICIAL GAMES TO GET UNDERWAY. WE WAITED FOR THIS FOR FOUR YEARS AND TO BE IN THE BAY AREA, IT’S. I’M GOING TO A LOT OF WORLD CUP GAMES AND IT’S INSANE. YOU KNOW, I’M REALLY EXCITED. IT BRINGS FOOTBALL FANS TOGETHER. LET’S GO WORLD CUP. LET’S GO SAN FRANCISCO. THIS IS GOING TO BE A FUN TIME HERE IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA. MAYOR DANIEL LURIE WAS ON HAND TO OFFICIALLY KICK OFF FIFA FESTIVITIES IN SAN FRANCISCO. HE SAID THE HYPE SURROUNDING THE MATCHES WILL BRING LOCALS OUT TO WATCH PARTIES AND VISITORS INTO THE CITY, THE MAYOR’S OFFICE SAID. THE SUPER BOWL THIS YEAR BROUGHT AN ESTIMATED $425 MILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT, AND WHILE THE 20 OFFICIALLY SANCTIONED FIFA WATCH PARTIES ARE FREE, THE MAYOR IS HOPING THEY BRING HUSTLE AND BUSTLE TO THE VENUES AND MONEY INTO THE CITY. THEY’LL GATHER IN PLACES LIKE THIS PUB ON HAIGHT STREET TO CATCH MATCHES WITH FRIENDS. THEY’LL HEAD TO NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PARTIES. THEY’RE GOING TO FEEL RESTAURANTS AND BARS THROUGHOUT COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS. HERE IN SAN FRANCISCO. THE CITY HAS ALSO LAUNCHED A NEW SHOP, DINE WORLD CUP SF WEBSITE TO GUIDE VISITORS AND LOCALS TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE WHERE TO WATCH THE OWNER OF MAD DOG IN THE FOG WELCOMED FANS NOT JUST TO HIS PUB, BUT TO WATCH PARTIES AT THE CITY’S WORLD CLASS SPORTS BARS. WE HAVE GREAT FOOTBALL BARS, FOOTBALL RESTAURANTS HERE IN SAN FRANCISCO. IT’S NOT JUST HERE IN THE HAIGHT ASHBURY. WE’VE GOT THE FABULOUS PUB UP THE STREET, WE GOT JOHNNY FOLEY’S DOWNTOWN, WE GOT MAGGIE MCGARRY’S IN THE MISSION DISTRICT, AND OF COURSE, MAGGIE MCGARRY’S IN NORTH BEACH AND OF
Where to go for 2026 FIFA World Cup watch parties in the San Francisco Bay Area
Many fans want to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but can’t afford it. That’s where designated Fan Zones come in.
Updated: 1:37 PM PDT Jun 10, 2026
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is making its way to the San Francisco Bay Area. Five first round matches and one second round match will be held at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. They are:June 13: Qatar vs. Switzerland (Group B) 12 p.m. PTJune 17: Austria vs. Jordan (Group J) 9 p.m. PTJune 19: Turkey vs. Paraguay (Group D) 8 p.m. PTJune 22: Jordan vs. Algeria (Group J) 8 p.m. PTJune 25: Paraguay vs. Australia (Group D) 7 p.m. PT July 1: Round of 32 (Group D Winner vs. 3rd Place Qualifier) 5 p.m. PTIf you have tickets to those events, here’s what to know about traveling to the stadium.Many fans want to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but can’t afford it. That’s where designated Fan Zones come in. According to the Bay Area Host Committee, the gatherings will be held outside at various locations in and around San Francisco. Places like Thrive City at Chase Center and PIER 39 will be hosting watch parties with giant screens streaming the games in San Francisco.San Francisco Fan Zones include: Thrive City at Chase Center China Basin Park at Mission RockPIER 39Yerba Buena LaneThe Crossing at East CutThe Midway Here are more details about what’s planned in San Francisco, according to the mayor’s office. There will be a march from Crane Cove Park to Thrive City’s viewing party for Team USA’s first match on June 12. There will also be another march from Pier 48 to Thrive City for Team Mexico’s match on June 18 featuring live music before the match. Other watch parties will overlap with San Francisco’s Pride celebrations, including the Big Gay Watch Party at Beaux in the Castro district on June 12, and a Pride Watch Party at Yerba Buena Lane on June 25. “Every time we host a big event, our neighborhoods rise to the occasion. Every time, our small businesses show the world what makes special. And starting this week, the World Cup will bring energy to neighborhoods across San Francisco,” Mayor Daniel Lurie said in a statement.Click here to find more notable watch parties, which include events for the final on July 19. Other Fan Zone locations around the Bay Area include:East BayOakland Ballers Stadium in OaklandAlameda County Fair Grounds in PleasantonSouth BayThe Row Cup in San JoseMilpitas Community Center in MilpitasSan Jose Earthquakes Soccer Celebration at San Pedro Square in San JoseNorth BaySausalitoNapa Valley The Peninsula Courthouse Square in Redwood CityHalf Moon BayMountain ViewSanta Cruz Santa Cruz Beach BoardwalkSanta Cruz Museum of Art & History.Although Santa Cruz is listed as a Bay Area watch party host, the time-honored debate on whether Santa Cruz is a part of the Bay Area still stands. Resources like the San Francisco Bay Area FIFA World Cup 2026 website hold a full calendar of all of the events and watch parties, making it easy to search for a specific location on a specific date.Sacramento-area watch partiesIn Sacramento, two public block parties organized by Sacramento Republic FC are planned at the downtown plaza located at 910 I Street. They take place on June 24 for the Mexico vs. the Czech Republic match, and on June 25 for USA vs. Turkey.The club has compiled a Sac Soccer Guide listing more than 30 locations that are holding events across the region. See the World Cup schedule and stadium locationsSee more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is making its way to the San Francisco Bay Area.
Five first round matches and one second round match will be held at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
They are:
June 13: Qatar vs. Switzerland (Group B) 12 p.m. PTJune 17: Austria vs. Jordan (Group J) 9 p.m. PTJune 19: Turkey vs. Paraguay (Group D) 8 p.m. PTJune 22: Jordan vs. Algeria (Group J) 8 p.m. PTJune 25: Paraguay vs. Australia (Group D) 7 p.m. PT July 1: Round of 32 (Group D Winner vs. 3rd Place Qualifier) 5 p.m. PT
If you have tickets to those events, here’s what to know about traveling to the stadium.
Many fans want to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but can’t afford it. That’s where designated Fan Zones come in.
Places like Thrive City at Chase Center and PIER 39 will be hosting watch parties with giant screens streaming the games in San Francisco.
San Francisco Fan Zones include: Thrive City at Chase Center China Basin Park at Mission RockPIER 39Yerba Buena LaneThe Crossing at East CutThe Midway
Here are more details about what’s planned in San Francisco, according to the mayor’s office.
There will be a march from Crane Cove Park to Thrive City’s viewing party for Team USA’s first match on June 12.
There will also be another march from Pier 48 to Thrive City for Team Mexico’s match on June 18 featuring live music before the match.
Other watch parties will overlap with San Francisco’s Pride celebrations, including the Big Gay Watch Party at Beaux in the Castro district on June 12, and a Pride Watch Party at Yerba Buena Lane on June 25.
“Every time we host a big event, our neighborhoods rise to the occasion. Every time, our small businesses show the world what makes [San Francisco] special. And starting this week, the World Cup will bring energy to neighborhoods across San Francisco,” Mayor Daniel Lurie said in a statement.
Click here to find more notable watch parties, which include events for the final on July 19.
Other Fan Zone locations around the Bay Area include:East BayOakland Ballers Stadium in OaklandAlameda County Fair Grounds in PleasantonSouth BayThe Row Cup in San JoseMilpitas Community Center in MilpitasSan Jose Earthquakes Soccer Celebration at San Pedro Square in San Jose The Peninsula Courthouse Square in Redwood CityHalf Moon BayMountain ViewSanta Cruz Santa Cruz Beach BoardwalkSanta Cruz Museum of Art & History.
Although Santa Cruz is listed as a Bay Area watch party host, the time-honored debate on whether Santa Cruz is a part of the Bay Area still stands.
Resources like the San Francisco Bay Area FIFA World Cup 2026 website hold a full calendar of all of the events and watch parties, making it easy to search for a specific location on a specific date.
Sacramento-area watch parties
In Sacramento, two public block parties organized by Sacramento Republic FC are planned at the downtown plaza located at 910 I Street.
They take place on June 24 for the Mexico vs. the Czech Republic match, and on June 25 for USA vs. Turkey.
The club has compiled a Sac Soccer Guide listing more than 30 locations that are holding events across the region.
See the World Cup schedule and stadium locations
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel