If Los Angeles needed another excuse to blow its trumpet, FIFA handed it the whole marching band. The FIFA World Cup 2026™, that quadrennial festival of flags, chants, and temporary insanity, has finally gone on sale. And where better to start the party than in the self-styled entertainment capital of the world?
Yes, ticket sales have opened, and the City of Angels is already promising eight matches at SoFi Stadium, including the jewel in the crown: the U.S. Men’s National Team’s opening match on 12 June 2026. That’s right—less than a year from now, Los Angeles will become the centre of the footballing universe, with as much drama off the field as on it.
The Sales Pitch (and the Fine Print)
“Los Angeles is the perfect place to begin your World Cup journey,” declared Adam Burke, President and CEO of Los Angeles Tourism, with the sort of confidence usually reserved for people selling beachfront property in Nevada. He’s not entirely wrong. LA can wrap a football match in a spectacle of sun, surf, tacos, tequila, and traffic jams that will have visitors reminiscing for decades.
Phase One of ticket sales begins with the Visa Presale Draw. Fans must register on FIFA.com/tickets and secure a FIFA ID. Think of it as your Willy Wonka golden ticket, minus the chocolate river. Later phases include the Early Ticket Draw in October and the Random Selection Draw in December, after the Final Draw reveals who’s playing whom. The last scraps—if any—will be tossed to the masses closer to kick-off, in a good old-fashioned first-come, first-served scramble.
The SoFi Spectacle
LA Memorial Coliseum
Ah, SoFi Stadium. A futuristic behemoth that looks like it landed from outer space and decided to stay in Inglewood. This $5.5 billion colossus will host three group matches, two Round of 32 clashes, and a quarter-final, which is not bad for a venue barely old enough to rent a car.
The Americans will christen their campaign here on 12 June 2026, and nothing will if that doesn’t whip up local fever. Another group-stage match follows on 25 June, ensuring fans have more than one reason to test the stamina of LA’s public transport.
And yes, if you like to wander through empty stadiums imagining the roar of 70,000 voices, SoFi offers tours before and after matchdays. Call it football foreplay.
Party Beyond the Pitch
LA Memorial Coliseum
Of course, the World Cup is not just about 90 minutes on grass. From 11 June to 19 July 2026, Los Angeles is staging a 39-day carnival, stretching across every neighbourhood with a bar, a big screen, or the faintest excuse for a party.
The official FIFA Fan Festival will be the beating heart, but expect unofficial fan zones to sprout everywhere from Santa Monica to Silver Lake. LA’s 40-odd LAFC-affiliated pubs are already limbering up. Mexican fans will flood La Cita Bar with green shirts and mariachi soundtracks. Barcelona devotees can be found at Underdogs in Glendale, while Leeds United supporters (yes, they exist in California) cling to their corner at Britannia Pub in Santa Monica.
This is the World Cup spirit in miniature: the city as a patchwork quilt of accents, jerseys, and passionate arguments about offsides.
More Than Just Football
Let’s not pretend people fly halfway around the globe to see football. This is Los Angeles, a city that sells itself as a playground and a stage. Beyond SoFi Stadium, visitors will find:
BMO Stadium
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The new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art promises to dazzle the eye and confuse the brain.
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The latest crop of design-forward hotels, including Hotel Lucille and Mama Shelter DTLA, caters to Instagram feeds everywhere.
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Universal Studios Hollywood’s Fast & Furious Rollercoaster, because the films weren’t enough.
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Noma’s Los Angeles residency, for those who like their dining with a side of bragging rights.
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The return of Summer Dine LA Restaurant Week, an annual grazing festival for the culinarily curious.
Add in the city’s usual suspects—beaches, nightlife, Lakers, Dodgers, Clippers, Rams, Chargers, tacos, margaritas, and Hollywood dreams—and you’ll be too distracted to notice your team getting knocked out in the group stage.
Getting Around (and Trying Not To Lose Your Mind)
Los Angeles is promising to make logistics smoother than usual. LA Metro will debut a dedicated SoFi Shuttle and expand rail lines. Ride-share services are gearing up, while walkable neighbourhoods—yes, they exist in LA – will help soak up the crowds.
Crypto.com Arena
Meanwhile, LAX is undergoing a billion-dollar glow-up. The centrepiece is the much-hyped Automated People Mover, which promises to make terminal-hopping less of a survival sport. If it works on time, it could be LA’s most surprising victory since the 1984 Olympics.
Why It Matters
In 2026, the World Cup isn’t just a sporting event. It’s a test of civic pride, logistics, and stamina. Los Angeles wants the world to know it can host a tournament with style and swagger, and judging by the plans, it’s gunning for gold.
SoFi Stadium is the cathedral, the matches are the sermons, and the city, the beaches, boulevards, and backstreets are the congregation. Football may be the world’s game, but it becomes a blockbuster in Los Angeles.
Final Whistle
So here we are: tickets are on sale, anticipation is in the air, and Los Angeles is doing what Los Angeles does best, turning everything into a show.
The message from LA is clear: Register now, pray to the footballing gods, and if you’re lucky, you’ll be there when history happens beneath the Californian sun.
For tickets, head to FIFA.com. For travel inspiration, discover the city at Discover Los Angeles.
By Bridget Gomez
