When the FIFA World Cup draw was announced last year, the Bay Area did not exactly get the glamour games. The six matches at Levi’s Stadium – oops, I mean San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, as per FIFA’s brand-neutral mandates – are mostly middleweights and dark horses: Qatar, Switzerland, Austria, Jordan, Türkiye, Paraguay, Algeria and Australia.
That is a better problem than it sounds. Underdog games are where upsets typically happen and where tickets stay within fan reach. Loyal crowds tend to travel farther and sing louder. Plus, the July 1 Round of 32 knockout can still bring a monster-size match-up to Santa Clara.
The point is to enjoy the experience and go where the action is. Which means getting out of San Francisco, first of all. Yep, leave town. The stadium is about 40 miles south, squarely in Silicon Valley. Basing yourself on the Peninsula or in the South Bay makes the whole trip simpler, easier and more memorable. Here’s your San Francisco Bay Area guide to FIFA World Cup 2026.
The Bay Area World Cup Matches
Whatever you decide to call it, “the stadium” hosts six games: Qatar vs. Switzerland on June 13 at noon, Austria vs. Jordan on June 16 at 9 p.m., Türkiye vs. Paraguay on June 19 at 8 p.m., Jordan vs. Algeria on June 22 at 8 p.m., Paraguay vs. Australia on June 25 at 7 p.m., and a Round of 32 knockout on July 1 at 5 p.m. Normal capacity sits near 65,800 but expands toward 77,000 for the occasion. Resale seats for the group games have recently run roughly $166 to $281 on the secondary market, with the knockout starting near $700. Set your alerts for last-minute deals and be ready to pounce.
Where To Stay
Definitely opt for the Valley. Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley, about 20 minutes from the stadium, spent its 20th‑anniversary year reworking its one‑bedroom suites. Wimberly Interiors updated the accommodations with sculptural stone desks, marble that feels quarried for each room and soft coastal neutrals inspired by the Santa Cruz Mountains. Downstairs, Quattro refreshed its Cal-Italian menus under chef Jacques Swart. And there’s a rooftop pool with cabanas to make it a World Cup vacay. The weekend high tea service comes in two acts (savory then sweet) and the hotel has a beloved pet program that gives your dog the suite treatment too. At last check, there were rooms available through the World Cup run.
A bit closer to the action, the Hotel De Anza, a restored 1931 Art Deco landmark in downtown San Jose, puts a walkable city block at your door. The Hilton Santa Clara and Hyatt Regency Santa Clara sit close enough to walk to the stadium but availability is limited.
Where To Watch Without A Ticket
San Pedro Square Market in downtown San Jose is the World Cup anchor. The Earthquakes are turning the food hall and its plaza into a free, all‑tournament celebration with every one of the 104 matches on big screens, plus fan zones, food vendors, mariachi and DJs. Santana Row runs “The Row Cup” from June 11 through mid‑July, with watch parties across more than 15 restaurants and a FIFA pop‑up shop. But Google around: There’s a free watch party in East Palo Alto on June 12, big‑screen days in Sunnyvale on June 20 and 21 and a food‑and‑music festival with a live broadcast in Milpitas on June 20.
What To Do During World Cup In The Bay Area
Minutes from the stadium, the Triton Museum of Art is showing “Fútbol: The Art of the Game” through August 2, with more than 25 Bay Area artists building original works around a soccer ball. Admission is free; open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Next door, California’s Great America provides a different kind of rush, though its tournament‑window hours are limited, so confirm the calendar before you brave your way over.
San Jose itself is worth a full day. Hard as it is to believe, the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum holds the largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts in western North America, and the Winchester Mystery House remains the region’s strangest, most delightful tour, a mansion built without a blueprint and full of stairs to nowhere. For gardens with an olde California vibe, wander the grounds at Filoli, the grand estate in Woodside, then maybe drive over Highway 92 to Half Moon Bay for the quaintest, sea-shanty-ist spot on the coast. Stanford’s campus is an easy, free wander and, as I noted here recently, you can make a day of it even if you’re not among the 3.6 percent. Even the Santa Cruz beaches are under 40 miles from the stadium if you want sand between your toes
Yes, go ahead, make the San Francisco side trip too. The Golden Gate, the Mission’s murals and taquerias, Telegraph Hill, the sea lions at Pier 39…They’re all a wonder. Just don’t make it your base camp.
Getting Around
Transit most definitely beats driving here. VTA light rail deposits you at Great America Station, a five‑minute walk from the FIFA gates, and for a mere $2.50 each way. Caltrain riders transfer to the VTA orange line at Mountain View and ACE and the Amtrak Capitol Corridor stop right across the street. Stadium parking is FIFA‑run, prepaid, sold only to ticket holders, and as pricey as a Napa Cab, starting around $203 and rising to $269 for the knockout. There’s no game‑day purchase on site. Cyclists get the best deal since even the roads closed to carsstay open to bikes (the San Tomas Aquino Creek Trail leads to the stadium and the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition watches your bike for free). One local quirk worth knowing: Waymo’s robotaxis roam much of the Bay but will not take you to the stadium. Autonomous vehicles are barred from the rideshare lots.
One Last World Cup Thing
You are advised (by me, at least) to pack for two climates in a single day. Santa Clara runs hot and dry, so bring sunscreen. Places like Half Moon Bay can hold the fog into the afternoon, so bring a layer. Or I should say, when it comes to the Bay Area World Cup, make layering your goooooooooooooooal!
Also From Forbes