⚽ The beautiful game in SoCal
2026 World Cup in Los Angeles
Curated by Simir Shah
🏆 July 19, 2026 · MetLife Stadium · The Final
¡Enhorabuena, España! 🇪🇸
Spain are World Champions — 1–0 over Argentina after extra time.
It took 106 minutes and very nearly everything both teams had. Spain pressed for the whole match and couldn't find a way through Emiliano Martínez, who was magnificent. Then Nico Williams slid the ball across and Ferran Torres buried it under the bar — and a tournament that started here in Inglewood back in June finally had its champion.
- 1–0
- after extra time
- 106'
- Ferran Torres, the winner
- 20–3
- shots, Spain to Argentina
- 12
- Martínez saves — a Final record
How it happened
- Spain's second World Cup, sixteen years after 2010 — and they conceded just one goal in the entire tournament, a record for a champion.
- Enzo Fernández was sent off in stoppage time at the end of the second half, so Argentina played all of extra time a man down.
- Emiliano Martínez kept Argentina alive with 12 saves, the most ever recorded in a World Cup Final.
- Spain now hold the men's and women's World Cups at the same time — the first nation ever to do it.
- Luis de la Fuente, at 65, became the oldest coach to win a World Cup.
And for Argentina — Lionel Messi's last World Cup ends a goal short. Hard to watch, whoever you were rooting for. Watch the Final highlights ↓
⚽ Goals reel — the Final & the road there
Final highlights up topOfficial match highlights — the Final first, then the LA matches at SoFi, then the rest of the tournament. Press play and it rolls straight through.
Now playing 1 of 14 · auto-plays the next clip
SoFi Stadium match schedule
The LA matches have wrapped. All times Pacific. Knockout matchups are set by group results.
| Date | Match | Kickoff | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Jun 12 | USA vs. Paraguay | 6:00 PM | Final · 4–1 |
| Mon, Jun 15 | Iran vs. New Zealand | 6:00 PM | Final · 2–2 |
| Thu, Jun 18 | Switzerland vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina | 12:00 PM | Final · 4–1 |
| Sun, Jun 21 | Belgium vs. Iran | 12:00 PM | Final · 0–0 |
| Thu, Jun 25 | USA vs. Türkiye | 7:00 PM | Final · 2–3 |
| Sun, Jun 28 | Canada vs. South Africa | 12:00 PM | Final · 1–0 |
| Thu, Jul 2 | Spain vs. Austria | 12:00 PM | Final · 3–0 |
| Fri, Jul 10 | Spain vs. Belgium | 12:00 PM | Final · 2–1 |
SoFi is the only SoCal venue. The Final (July 19) is at MetLife Stadium, NJ — not LA. Confirm on FIFA.com / sofistadium.com.
Plan your match day
Tickets & getting into SoFi
- 🎟️ Tickets are 100% digital in the FIFA app — no paper, no screenshots. Buy ONLY at FIFA.com/tickets; the final "Last-Minute Sales" phase runs through the July 19 Final.
- 👜 Clear-bag policy: one clear bag max 12"×6"×12", a one-gallon clear freezer bag, or a small clutch (≤4.5"×6.5"). No backpacks, and there is no bag check — non-compliant bags are turned away.
- 💳 SoFi is 100% cashless — cards and mobile wallets only (cash-to-card kiosks exist on site).
- 💧 No outside food/drink, but free hydration stations are on the concourses. Bring ONE empty, clear, soft reusable bottle (≤20 oz) to refill.
- 🌞 The translucent roof shades the bowl, but midday knockout kickoffs mean sun on the walks and shuttle lines — pack sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses.
- ⏱️ Gates open ~2–3 hours pre-kickoff and security can take 45+ minutes — plan to be on transit 2.5–3 hours before kickoff.
SoFi's unique features: a translucent ETFE roof (shade + open sides) and the 120-yard, dual-sided 4K Infinity Screen overhead.
Skip the $200 parking
Getting to SoFi car-free
- 🚆 Take Metro: the K Line to Downtown Inglewood (free match-day shuttle, or a ~20-min walk) or to Westchester/Veterans (free shuttle).
- 🚍 Free World Cup shuttles run from ~12 regional points, including the LAX/Metro Transit Center (Bus Bay 8) and Hawthorne/Lennox on the C Line.
- 🕒 Shuttles start ~3–4 hours before kickoff and run until ~2 hours after the final whistle.
- 💳 Metro is a flat $1.75 with no event surcharge — tap a contactless card or phone right at the validator (no TAP card needed).
- 🚗 Rideshare drop/pick-up is at Kareem Court (3178 Pincay Dr). Post-match surge is severe with 70,000+ leaving at once — request before the whistle or walk to the K Line.
- 🅿️ On-site parking is $250–300 (off-site lots $110–348) — transit is dramatically cheaper and faster.
No ticket? No problem
Free & low-cost ways to experience it
FIFA Fan Festival
LA Memorial Coliseum, Exposition Park (E Line)
Every match on giant screens with live music, food, and fan zones. Note: LA's festival charges ~$10 admission (unlike free festivals in some host cities).
"Kick It in the Park" watch parties
~19 city parks across LA · kickit.lacity.gov
100+ genuinely free watch parties on big LED screens, with youth soccer clinics. No ticket, no registration — bring chairs and blankets. Different parks each match day.
Official LA fan zones
Union Station, Downtown & 10 spots region-wide
Union Station becomes a fan zone (and a transit hub) with live viewing, music and food. Check losangelesfwc26.com for the full list.
Cosm, at Hollywood Park
Next to SoFi, Inglewood
An 87-ft LED dome for "shared-reality" viewing — a spectacular way to watch a match you don't have tickets for.
Soccer pubs & sports bars
Where to find the atmosphere when there's no match at SoFi.
The Fox and Hounds
Studio CityProper British pub; home of Arsenal LA, opens as early as 4:30 AM for big matches.
Tom's Watch Bar
Downtown / L.A. LiveWall-to-wall screens; a self-declared World Cup hub in the screen-dense L.A. Live district.
The Cat & Fiddle
HollywoodBritish pub leaning hard into football culture.
Ye Rustic Inn
Los FelizClassic LA tavern, famous wings, a welcoming sports crowd.
Tom Bergin's
Mid-WilshireHistoric Irish pub (since 1936) for neighborhood match-watching.
Cinco
Near LAX / SoFiBilling itself a "World Cup HQ" showing every match, handy to the stadium.
Bars and pop-up screenings change — call ahead before you build a day around one.
Lodging
Where to base yourself
Pick your base around transit, not just stadium distance. Book refundable rates early — rooms surge for the tournament.
Inglewood / LAX
$$Closest to SoFi + the airport
Shortest hop to the stadium; lighter on tourist dining/nightlife.
🚇 K & C Lines
Downtown LA
$$–$$$Best transit hub + city base
Walk to L.A. Live, Grand Central Market; the smart car-free base.
🚇 All Metro rail · Union Station
Koreatown
$$Value + nightlife + K-food
Central, dense Korean BBQ & karaoke; great room value.
🚇 B/D Lines
Santa Monica / Venice
$$$A beach vacation base
Beaches and the pier, but farthest from SoFi on match day.
🚇 E Line to Downtown
LA lodging carries a ~12% bed tax. Short-term rentals are heavily regulated — book listings showing a permit number, or a refundable hotel.
At the stadium
Around SoFi — Hollywood Park
SoFi sits inside Hollywood Park, a 300-acre walkable district — the natural pre- and post-match gathering zone.
- 🌊 A ~6-acre lake and 25 acres of open plazas front SoFi — the natural pre-match meet-up spot.
- 🎬 The Shops at Hollywood Park: Cinépolis luxury cinema, JD Sports, and dining incl. Raising Cane's, The Melt, Panini Kabob Grill, Lan Noodle and Rhythm Bar.
- 🏀 Intuit Dome (the Clippers' arena) sits immediately next door; the historic Kia Forum is a short walk away.
- 🛬 It's all walkable from Inglewood-area hotels and reachable car-free via the K Line.
Between matches
Make a trip of it
Beach morning → evening match
AM at Dockweiler or Manhattan Beach (closest sand to SoFi) → South Bay taco lunch → transit to an evening kickoff.
Taco crawl → free watch party
Daytime taquería crawl in East LA / Boyle Heights → catch an afternoon match free at a Kick-It-in-the-Park site or the Union Station fan zone.
Theme-park no-match day
Disneyland/Anaheim is ~35 min away (Metrolink to ARTIC) — a perfect gap-day between LA's match dates.
Culture + K-pop evening
Exposition Park museums + the FIFA Fan Festival → Koreatown for BBQ, K-pop bars, and karaoke at night.
Visiting from abroad
International visitor basics
- 🛂 Visa Waiver countries enter visa-free up to 90 days with an approved ESTA (apply early at the official esta.cbp.dhs.gov, ~$40). Others need a B-2 visa — book months ahead.
- 🛜 Easiest connectivity is a travel eSIM (Airalo, Holafly, GigSky) set up before you land.
- 💵 USD; cards/contactless everywhere. Sales tax is added at checkout. Tip 18–20% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2/drink at bars.
- 💳 LA Metro now takes contactless tap-to-pay — no need to buy a TAP card first.
- 🚑 Emergencies: dial 911. US healthcare is expensive — get travel medical insurance.
- 🗣️ LA is highly multilingual (Spanish especially); offline Google/Apple Translate helps.
Coming back for the 2028 Olympics?
We have a whole separate guide — venues, the ticket draw, the car-free Games, and where to stay.
Open the LA 2028 Olympics guide →Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Spain. They beat Argentina 1–0 after extra time in the Final on July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with Ferran Torres scoring the only goal in the 106th minute. It's Spain's second World Cup after 2010, and they conceded just one goal in the whole tournament — a record for a champion.
How many World Cup matches were in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles hosts 8 matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, all at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood (branded "Los Angeles Stadium" during the tournament). The Final is at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, not LA.
Where can I buy World Cup tickets safely?
Buy only through FIFA's official channels at FIFA.com/tickets — real tickets live in the FIFA app. Hospitality is sold solely through On Location and resale only through FIFA's official marketplace; the FBI has warned about look-alike sites and fake paper tickets.
How do I get to SoFi Stadium without paying for parking?
SoFi parking can run very high on match days, so most fans go car-free using LA Metro's K/C lines to the Inglewood area plus event shuttles and rideshare. Plan your route in advance, since road closures and crowds are heavy around the stadium.
Can I watch the World Cup for free in LA?
Yes — LA has free fan festivals, public watch parties, and plenty of soccer pubs and sports bars showing matches. These are a great option when there's no game at SoFi, though pop-up screenings change, so confirm before building a day around one.
Where should I stay for the World Cup in LA?
Pick your base around transit access rather than just stadium distance, and book refundable rates early since rooms surge during the tournament. LA lodging carries roughly a 12% bed tax, and short-term rentals are heavily regulated.
Schedules, prices, and policies change — confirm on FIFA.com, sofistadium.com, and metro.net before you go. Last updated June 2026.