FIFA unveils 10 fan zones across LA area for 2026 World Cup

FIFA on Tuesday announced 10 fan zone locations across the Los Angeles area, offering a lower-cost way for soccer fans to experience the 2026 World Cup as steeply priced stadium tickets put seats out of reach for many.

The zones open June 18 — six days after the United States plays its first home World Cup match in 32 years — and run through July 19, giving Southern California and Orange County residents a structured way to follow the tournament close to home.

Confirmed sites include Venice Beach, Whittier Narrows and the Pomona Fairplex, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. The full roster of 10 locations spans the wider Los Angeles area. Entry at some venues is free while others will require tickets, the station reported.

FIFA designed the fan zone program as an accessible complement to stadium attendance, where ticket prices have climbed far beyond what many supporters can pay. The zones give fans a communal viewing experience without needing a seat inside the venue.

The fan zone run-up begins less than a week after Team U.S.A. faces Paraguay at SoFi Stadium on June 12, 2026 — a match that will mark the first World Cup game played on American soil in 32 years. SoFi Stadium completed a two-month renovation to ready the venue for tournament play, according to ABC7.

The United States is co-hosting the 2026 tournament alongside Mexico and Canada, making this the first World Cup shared across three nations. The Los Angeles area will serve as one of the tournament's premier host markets.

For Orange County residents, the Pomona Fairplex site represents one of the geographically closest fan zone options among those announced, placing World Cup viewing within reach without a trip deeper into the Los Angeles basin.

With sites stretching from the coastline at Venice Beach to the inland Pomona Fairplex, the fan zone network covers a broad arc of the Los Angeles region through the heart of the tournament, giving communities across Orange County multiple options for experiencing the 2026 World Cup this summer.