World Cup 2026 in Los Angeles: Where to Watch, Celebrate, and Score Official Gear

The wait is finally over. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is here, and Los Angeles is gearing up to be one of the tournament's biggest hotspots.

The expanded tournament, hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, officially kicks off Thursday after years of anticipation. The U.S. will host 78 matches, with eight of those games taking place at Inglewood's SoFi Stadium, which FIFA has temporarily renamed Los Angeles Stadium for the duration of the competition.

Mexico opened the tournament Thursday against South Africa in Mexico City, while Team USA takes the field Friday night in its first match against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium.

Whether you managed to snag tickets or you're planning to soak in the atmosphere with fellow fans, there are plenty of ways to experience World Cup fever throughout Southern California.

World Cup Watch Parties Around Los Angeles

Eastwood Los Angeles

611 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles
Dates: June 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 24, and 25

This Koreatown favorite is teaming up with 4x4 to host free game screenings throughout the tournament. Fans attending the Mexico vs. South Korea match on June 18 can stick around afterward for live music and post-game festivities.

The Getty Center

1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles
Select dates from June 11 through July 19

Take in world-class art and world-class soccer at the same time. The Getty Center will broadcast select matches on large screens, with special food and drink offerings available for guests.

La Guelaguetza

3014 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles
Dates: June 11, 18, and 24

This beloved Oaxacan restaurant will host screenings of select World Cup matches, creating the perfect setting to enjoy authentic cuisine while cheering on your favorite team.

Casa Mexico Los Angeles

501 N. Main St., Los Angeles
Dates: June 11 through July 19

Fans of El Tri can gather for free watch parties during Mexico's World Cup matches in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles.

Bar CDMX

515 W. 7th St., Los Angeles
Dates: June 11 and 12

This underground Downtown L.A. spot will project Mexico's opening match against South Africa and Team USA's showdown with Paraguay.

Pasadena Civic Auditorium Plaza

300 E. Green St., Pasadena
Date: June 12 at 4:30 p.m.

Bring the whole family to this free USA vs. Paraguay watch party featuring food trucks, live music, activities for kids, and a beer garden for adults.

Boyle Heights Watch Party

1st Street Corridor at Vicente Fernandez Street
Date: June 18

The Boyle Heights Chamber of Commerce will transform the neighborhood into a soccer celebration during Mexico's match against South Korea. The event runs from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and includes community organizations, entertainment, and plenty of local flavor.

In addition, several Los Angeles County parks will host free watch parties complete with youth soccer clinics, family activities, and live match broadcasts.

Official FIFA Fan Festival Heads to L.A.

One of the biggest celebrations of the tournament will take place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at Exposition Park from June 11 through June 14.

Tickets are $10, while children ages 12 and under get in free.

Fans can expect:

• Live broadcasts of World Cup matches
• Performances by artists including Steve Aoki, Normani, Deorro, Sickick, Los Lobos, Capital Cities, and DJ Ravidrums
• Interactive fan experiences
• Food, entertainment, and plenty of soccer spirit

The festivities begin even before the opening whistle. The United States Countdown Concert at Crypto.com Arena on June 10 will feature live performances alongside broadcasts from Toronto and Mexico City.

Where to Buy Official World Cup Merchandise

Looking to gear up before the matches begin? Official FIFA World Cup 2026 pop-up shops have opened throughout the Los Angeles area.

Locations include:

• Santa Monica
• Hollywood
• Manhattan Beach
• Torrance
• Two separate Downtown Los Angeles locations

Fans can shop for official jerseys, T-shirts, hats, scarves, and other World Cup merchandise. All six pop-up stores are expected to remain open through July 31.

Get Ready for Soccer's Biggest Stage

With Team USA opening its campaign at SoFi Stadium and fan celebrations popping up all over Southern California, Los Angeles is ready to embrace the excitement of the world's biggest sporting event.

Whether you're attending a match in person, singing along at the Fan Festival, or watching with fellow supporters at a neighborhood gathering, there's no shortage of ways to be part of the World Cup experience this summer.

Game on.

VOTE HERE

Booking an Airbnb Could Land You Free 2026 FIFA World Cup Tickets

Scoring tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup won't be easy — or cheap. But if you're planning to travel for the tournament, your Airbnb reservation could come with a major bonus: free match tickets.

Airbnb announced this week that a limited number of stays in select host cities will include complimentary World Cup tickets for guests. The special promotion covers homes in cities including Los Angeles, New York/New Jersey, Vancouver, Monterrey, and several other tournament destinations across North America.

According to Airbnb, guests who book eligible listings will receive match tickets for every person included in the reservation. Once the booking is confirmed, hosts will provide instructions on how to claim the tickets.

The participating properties average around $385 per night and will be available throughout the tournament, from the group stage all the way through the championship match. Travelers can identify eligible listings by looking for a soccer ball icon and a notice at the top of the listing indicating that tickets are included.

When Can You Book?

Starting June 10, 2026

• Group Stage: All FIFA World Cup 2026 host cities
• Round of 32: Los Angeles, Boston, Monterrey, New York/New Jersey, Mexico City, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, Kansas City, and Dallas

Starting June 18, 2026

• Round of 16: Philadelphia, Houston, New York/New Jersey, Mexico City, Dallas, and Seattle

Starting July 1, 2026

• Quarterfinals: Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, and Kansas City

Starting July 9, 2026

• Semifinals: Dallas and Atlanta

Starting July 16, 2026

• Final: New York/New Jersey

SoFi Stadium's Busy World Cup Schedule

Southern California soccer fans will have plenty of opportunities to catch the action in person. SoFi Stadium in Inglewood is scheduled to host eight World Cup matches during the tournament.

Among those games are two featuring the U.S. Men's National Team — their tournament opener against Paraguay on June 12 and their final Group D match against Türkiye on June 25.

The venue is also expected to host Iran's group-stage matches against New Zealand and Belgium on June 15 and June 21, respectively. Despite uncertainty surrounding Iran's participation amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, Iranian officials have confirmed that the national team intends to compete in the tournament.

Additional matches at SoFi include:

• Switzerland vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina on June 18
• Two Round of 32 matches on June 28 and July 2
• A quarterfinal match on July 10

A Creative Solution to High Ticket Costs?

The Airbnb promotion arrives as FIFA continues to face criticism over the rising cost of attending the world's biggest soccer event.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino recently defended the pricing structure, saying that if FIFA's ticket prices are considered unreasonable, then "probably everyone selling tickets in North America is doing something wrong," according to the Associated Press.

Whether you're a die-hard soccer supporter or simply hoping to experience the excitement of the World Cup atmosphere, this Airbnb promotion could offer a rare opportunity to save money while securing one of the hottest tickets in sports.

If you're planning a World Cup getaway, it may pay to book your stay quickly — because these ticket-inclusive listings are expected to disappear fast. Find out more at AIRBNB.COM/FIFAHOST.

If you've ever caught your pet bird engaging in some unexpected behavior and wondered whether it was a cause for concern, new research suggests you can relax.

A recent study has found that masturbation is a common and natural behavior among many bird species, and experts say bird owners and veterinarians should stop treating it as a problem that needs to be corrected.

Researchers examined reports of self-stimulating behavior in 120 species of birds, including parrots, ducks, turkeys, and chickens. Surprisingly, the study found that these behaviors were actually reported more often in wild birds than in those living in captivity.

For years, many experts assumed that birds only engaged in masturbation because of stress, boredom, or poor living conditions. But according to Dr. Chloe Heys, an evolutionary ecologist at the University of Lancashire, the findings challenge that long-held belief.

"Our big finding is that masturbation is not a negative response to captivity," Heys explained. "This is widespread in birds, and we found it's a perfectly natural and healthy behavior that's part of their repertoire of sexual behaviors."

To conduct the research, scientists gathered information from bird experts, scientific literature, and online communities of bird owners, breeders, and enthusiasts. The result was one of the most comprehensive looks yet at the subject.

The behaviors themselves varied. Male birds were often observed rubbing against perches, toys, twigs, or even their owner's hand or shoulder. Females typically displayed different movements, such as raising their tails while pressing against objects. Some birds also flapped their wings or made unusual vocalizations during the activity.

The study has important implications for bird welfare. Many owners who witness the behavior seek veterinary advice out of fear that their pets may be harming themselves. In some cases, they have been encouraged to interrupt or discourage the behavior by removing toys and perches or limiting physical interaction.

Researchers say those interventions are often unnecessary and can sometimes be harmful.

"In really extreme cases, vets would give the birds drugs or hormonal therapies to stop them doing this," Heys said. "There have even been cases of surgery to completely de-sex birds."

Experts stress that unless the behavior is causing a serious medical issue — something they say is very rare — there is generally no reason to intervene.

Dr. Ana Basto, a veterinarian at the University of Lancashire who was not involved in the study, believes the findings will help improve the guidance vets provide to concerned pet owners.

"This research is pivotal," she said, "and will be a step toward achieving a more holistic understanding of why and how birds behave the way they do."

The study's co-author, evolutionary biologist Dr. Matilda Brindle of Oxford University, added that the research contributes to a growing body of evidence showing that non-reproductive sexual behaviors occur throughout the animal kingdom.

For bird owners, the takeaway is simple: while the behavior may seem unusual to humans, experts say it's often just another normal part of being a bird.

The findings were published in the journal Ecology and Evolution.