SF.gov

The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off on June 11, 2026, bringing the world’s biggest soccer tournament to North America.

The Bay Area is one of the official host regions, with Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara hosting six matches between June 13 and July 1, 2026.

But the real action won’t just be in the stadium. Across San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, the Peninsula, and beyond, the Bay Area Host Committee is coordinating 30+ official fan celebrations, turning parks, plazas, beer gardens, and waterfront spaces into massive public watch zones all summer long.

Expect giant outdoor screens, fan marches, DJ sets, Pride events, neighborhood bar takeovers, and nonstop plaza energy.

Here’s where to watch.

San Francisco

San Francisco is part of a citywide network of official FIFA watch zones, with screenings spread across waterfront parks, downtown plazas, and neighborhood hubs.

The city is hosting 20 official viewing events, plus nearly 100 bars and restaurants joining in with match-day screenings.

All official watch parties are free and open to the public.

Where to Watch in San Francisco

• Thrive City at Chase Center (Mission Bay)
• China Basin Park at Mission Rock (Mission Bay)
• Pier 39 (Fisherman’s Wharf)
• Yerba Buena Lane (SoMa)
• The Midway (Dogpatch)
• The Crossing at East Cut (Downtown)
• Presidio Main Lawn (Presidio)
• SPARK Social (Mission Bay)

Key Match Days

June 12 – USA vs Paraguay
The opening moment for San Francisco, starting with a full city takeover in Mission Bay.

• Crane Cove Park → Thrive City Fan March (starts 4:30pm)
  Pre-game meetup with live music, giveaways, and activities. The first 200 fans receive a scarf or sunglasses.

  At 5pm, a marching band leads fans across Mission Bay into Thrive City for the official watch party at Chase Center, with a reserved viewing section for march participants.

• Thrive City at Chase Center – Official Watch Party
  Massive outdoor screening with stadium-style energy in Mission Bay.
• Big Gay Watch Party – Beaux (Castro)
  6pm kickoff celebration tied to Pride Month energy in the Castro.

June 19 – USA vs Australia

• The Crossing at East Cut – Pride House SF Family Day (noon)

June 25 – USA vs Turkey

• Yerba Buena Lane Pride Watch Party (7pm)

July 19 – World Cup Final
Citywide final watch parties across San Francisco:

• Yerba Buena Gardens Great Lawn
• KQED Headquarters (Mission District edge)
• Pier 39
• Thrive City
• China Basin Park

Fan Action Across San Francisco

• Fan march from Pier 48 for Team Mexico match (June 18)
• Live music and pre-match programming at select locations
• Pride House SF programming throughout the tournament
• Citywide participation across nearly 100 bars and restaurants

Where to Watch Beyond the Big Screens

• Mission District soccer bars and taqueria-heavy hangouts
• Castro watch parties tied to Pride Month events
• North Beach international sports bars
• Downtown Market Street and Union Square bars
• Neighborhood spots in the Haight, Richmond, and Bayview
• Mission Bay waterfront hangouts around SPARK Social and Chase Center

San Jose

San Jose becomes the Bay Area’s biggest continuous World Cup hub, with a month-long soccer takeover in downtown.

At the center is the San Jose Earthquakes’ Soccer Celebration at San Pedro Square Market, running June 11 through July 19, 2026.

San Pedro Square Market – Soccer Celebration HQ

• 27-foot giant screen
• Every World Cup match shown live
• 104 matches over 39 days
• Food + drink vendors throughout the plaza
• Epicenter Shop World Cup merch
• Inflatable fan zones + family activities
• DJs, mariachi bands, and live entertainment

Opening Week (June 11–14)

• DJs: DJ Chuy Gomez, DJ Hugo Gomez, DJ Acme, DJ Nelly
• Mariachi bands throughout the plaza
• Face painting stations daily
• Mascot appearances: Q, Sourdough Sam, Gigante, Sharkie, Violet
• Naomi Girma appearance (June 13, 3–5pm)

Around the Bay

Beyond San Francisco and San Jose, World Cup energy spreads across the region with local fan zones and community celebrations in:

• Oakland – Raimondi Park watch party
• Berkeley – rooftop and waterfront screenings
• East Palo Alto – community field watch party
• Santa Clara – stadium-adjacent events
• Sunnyvale and Milpitas – food and music watch festivals
• San Mateo – downtown plaza screenings
• Richmond – waterfront ship and beer garden events
• Santa Cruz – beach boardwalk fan zones and exhibitions

Read more at Bay Area Host Committee