Los Angeles is famous for its sunshine, surfing beaches, Hollywood glamour and a food scene shaped by cultures from around the world.
The Californian city is also renowned for its sporting culture and will once again step onto football’s biggest stage as a FIFA World Cup host this summer, before welcoming the world back for the Olympics in 2028.
Boasting a long history with the tournament, the region previously staged the 1994 men’s World Cup final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, before also hosting the 1999 Women’s World Cup final at the same venue.
World Cup fixtures in LA
LA is hosting eight matches at the 70,000-capacity SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, including the US team’s opener against Paraguay on 12 June. One of the World Cup’s flagship venues, and home to the NFL’s Rams and Chargers, it will be called Los Angeles Stadium for the duration of the tournament.
Group games featuring nations including Belgium, Iran, New Zealand, Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Türkiye will be played at the stadium, followed by two Round of 32 ties and a quarter-final.
- 13 June 2026 – Group D: USA vs Paraguay
- 16 June 2026 – Group G: Iran vs New Zealand
- 18 June 2026 – Group B: Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
- 21 June 2026 – Group G: Belgium vs Iran
- 26 June 2026 – Group D: USA vs Türkiye
- 28 June 2026: Round of 32
- 2 July 2026: Round of 32
- 10 July 2026: Quarter-final
Sporting culture
Sport is woven into the identity of LA, a city packed with championship teams and iconic venues. Baseball fans of the Dodgers and Angels flock to games at Dodger Stadium in Elysian Park and at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, while basketball’s Lakers and Clippers play in downtown arenas alongside the NHL’s Kings.
The city is also home to NFL franchises the Rams and Chargers at SoFi Stadium, plus MLS clubs LA Galaxy and Los Angeles FC.
Legendary venues including the Rose Bowl and Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum have hosted Super Bowls, Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup finals.
LA will again take centre stage over the next few years, welcoming the summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028.
Landmarks and places to see
Within walking distance of LA Stadium is Inglewood Park Cemetery, the final resting place for such notables as Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald and Cesar Romero (the original Joker in TV’s “Batman”). The Santa Monica Pier also marks the end of historic Route 66 – which celebrates its 100th year in 2026. Griffith Park is home to the Observatory, the LA Zoo, the Hollywood sign and hiking trails. Four major movie studios offer tours.
For arts and culture, check out the new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Getty Center or the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
LA’s food scene
LA is a world-class food city, with Latin, Asian and Middle Eastern among the cuisines that rival anything to be found abroad.
Among the city’s popular stops are Langer’s Deli for the No. 19 pastrami sandwich, In-N-Out Burger, Philippe the Original for French-dip sandwiches, the original Randy’s Donuts in Inglewood near LA Stadium, Quarter Sheets for pizza, Grand Central Market, Spago in Beverly Hills, and trendy Holbox for Mexican seafood near Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Fan zones
The party gets going at the official FIFA Fan Festival from 11-14 June at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum with tickets costing $10 per day. There will be 10 fan zones scattered around the area open on various dates from 18 June to 19 July. Four of them are free – Downey, Union Station in downtown LA, Magic Johnson Park and Whittier Narrows Recreation Area in South El Monte.
Tickets at the other locations, including Venice Beach and Burbank, range from $5 to $25 per day with costlier VIP options. Besides live match broadcasts, there’ll be food, live music, beer gardens, art, interactive games and cultural activities.
Transportation options
Los Angeles is notorious for its traffic. Five of the eight matches start at noon local time; the other three are at night. With limited and expensive parking at the stadium, most spectators will want to use public transportation or ride share.
Metro bus or rail (round-trip tickets are $3.50) will drop riders at one of 15 pickup locations, where free buses will take them to the stadium. Other options are park-and-ride locations with direct service to the stadium, walking or getting dropped off.
Early-bird pricing for reserved parking at all locations ranges from $12 to $102.
Stadium tips
Arrive a few hours early at Los Angeles Stadium to navigate long security lines and congestion. There’s a clear bag policy in effect. Only credit, debit or mobile pay is accepted inside. Fans can bring one unopened 20 ounce or less bottle of water.
A translucent canopy with panels that can open for ventilation covers the 70,240-seat stadium, which opened in 2020 and will host the opening ceremony and swimming competition at the 2028 LA Olympics. The stadium has open sides that can leave the seating bowl subject to wind.