World Cup fever has officially touched down in the Bay Area.
The U.S. Men’s National Team arrived at Mineta San Jose International Airport on Monday evening, greeted by a hero’s welcome as they prepare for a high-stakes FIFA World Cup knockout match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The teams will face off Wednesday at the San Francisco Bay Area stadium in Santa Clara.
Following their arrival, the American squad headed straight to the San Jose Marriott in downtown San Jose to rest and prepare. The hotel was already decked out with balloons and decorations to welcome the players, signaling to visitors that a major international event was underway.
Downtown San Jose is bracing for massive crowds as the city becomes the epicenter of local World Cup celebrations. The U.S. national team selected San Pedro Square as its official watch party location for Wednesday’s elimination game, prompting organizers to add a fourth large television screen to accommodate the expected turnout.
Local sports leaders say the match is a monumental event for the region.
“To me, this is one of the biggest moments in Bay Area sports history — having the U.S. men’s national team come in for an elimination game in the World Cup,” said San Jose Earthquakes President Jared Shawlee. “We saw this once in ’94 when we played at Stanford Stadium, and for this to actually happen again … it’s amazing.”
Shawlee added that he expects Wednesday’s matchup to be the highest-rated USMNT game in television history. “To be able to host it here in the Bay Area is a real thrill,” he said.
Local fans are eagerly finalizing their plans, weighing whether to brave the downtown crowds, pay hefty resale prices for stadium tickets, or watch from home.
“I’m excited to see the USA win and advance,” said San Jose resident Alfredo Felix, who plans to watch the match with his family. Despite the expected crowds at the watch parties, Felix said he wouldn’t miss it. “Just be aware of everything that’s going around … but yeah, so excited for it.”
Ray Balallo, another San Jose resident, was initially torn between watching on his big screen at home or trying to snag a last-minute ticket to the stadium, before deciding the downtown energy was too good to pass up.
“This is fun in here. It’s going to be fun,” Balallo said of the atmosphere at San Pedro Square. “I’m probably going to do that instead of being at home.”
Officials advise fans planning to attend the official viewing party at San Pedro Square to arrive early, as the venue is expected to reach capacity quickly. Those hoping to catch the action in person in Santa Clara should be prepared to pay premium resale prices on the secondary ticket market.