California hosts 14 matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, split between Los Angeles (SoFi Stadium, 8 matches) and the San Francisco Bay Area (Levi's Stadium, 6 matches). Together they make California the second-biggest state host after Texas.
- Total matches
- 14 (LA: 8, SF Bay: 6)
- Venues
- SoFi Stadium (Inglewood) + Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara)
- Combined capacity
- ~138,740 seats
- Distance between venues
- ~380 miles / 600 km (6h drive, 1h15 flight)
Why California gets two host cities
California has 39 million people — more than the population of Canada. It's also home to the largest Mexican, Salvadoran, and Guatemalan diaspora in the US. FIFA chose to award two host cities to capture both the LA region (greater LA = 13M people) and the Bay Area (~7M).
SoFi Stadium — Los Angeles
Opened September 2020. Cost: $5.5 billion — the most expensive stadium ever built. Translucent ETFE roof, 70,000 seats expandable to 100,000. Home of the LA Rams and LA Chargers (NFL). Hosts 8 World Cup matches including knockout rounds.
See: Los Angeles at the 2026 World Cup →
Levi's Stadium — SF Bay Area
Located in Santa Clara, 45 miles south of San Francisco. Home of the SF 49ers (NFL). Hosts 6 World Cup matches. Capacity ~68,500.
See: San Francisco Bay Area at the 2026 World Cup →
Latino fan culture
California has the largest Hispanic population of any US state (~15.5M). Expect strong Mexican, Argentine, Salvadoran, Honduran, and Colombian crowds. Hispanic Heritage Month begins September 15 — but Latino fan presence in California stadia will be the defining vibe of the WC group stage.
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Play today's puzzle →Frequently asked questions
How many World Cup matches will California host?
14 total: 8 at SoFi Stadium (LA) and 6 at Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara, SF Bay Area).
What is the distance between LA and SF Bay?
About 380 miles (600 km). 6 hours by car, or 1h15 by flight. Many fans will fly between venues.
Is the World Cup Final in California?
No. The Final is at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19, 2026.
How big is SoFi Stadium?
~70,000 seats expandable to 100,000. SoFi is the newest US WC venue (opened 2020) and the most expensive stadium ever built ($5.5 billion).