The countdown is on to the kickoff of the FIFA World Cup at Levi’s Stadium. On May 12, Santa Clara city leaders and members of the Bay Area Host Committee (BAHC) came together to raise the FIFA flag over Santa Clara, marking 30 days until the start of the world’s biggest sporting event.
It was a coordinated, multi-city flag-raising ceremony done in conjunction with San Francisco, Oakland, Redwood City, San Jose, Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz and the Bay Area airports – SFO, OAK and SJC.
The BAHC will host several events in and around Santa Clara as the buzz around the games grows. On May 29, the fan experience will open at San Pedro Square in San Jose, where a giant version of the adidas Trionda match ball will be installed. It’s expected to serve as “a central fan gathering point throughout the tournament.”
There will also be installations at PIER 39 in San Francisco and at SFO for people to take photos.
As the games get closer, FIFA will host “Team Base Camp Community Days” to help residents connect with international teams. So far, there are team base camps lined up for Australia and Paraguay. Australia is set to play in Santa Clara on June 25, and Paraguay will play in Santa Clara on June 19 and 25.
The events are designed to “foster community pride and global connection through public training experiences, youth engagement, and cultural exchange.”
Watch Parties Around the Bay Area
When the games get underway, Levi’s Stadium won’t be the only place filled with fans. The BAHC will host fan zones around the area where people can come together to watch the FIFA World Cup matches happening at Levi’s and in other parts of North America.
Watch parties will take place at the following locations:
San Francisco
- Thrive City at Chase Center
- China Basin Park at Mission Rock (hosted by Giants Enterprises)
- PIER 39
- Yerba Buena Lane (hosted by Pride House)
- The Midway (hosted by Visa)
- The Crossing at East Cut (hosted by Pride House)
East Bay
- Alameda County Fair Grounds, Pleasanton
- Raimondi Park, Oakland (hosted by the Oakland Sports Group & Oakland Ballers)
- Downtown Oakland
- Hoffmann Theater, Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek
- SS Red Oak Victory Historic Ship, Richmond
- East Brother Beer Company, Richmond
South Bay
- San Jose Earthquakes Soccer Celebration at San Pedro Square, San Jose
- Opening Weekend presented by the Bay Area Host Committee and SJ26
- The Row Cup, Santana Row, San Jose
- Civic Center Plaza, Milpitas
- Milpitas Community Center
- Morgan Hill
- Cityline Redwood Square, Sunnyvale
North Bay
- Sausalito
- Napa Valley
- Santa Rosa
The Peninsula
- Courthouse Square, Redwood City
- Central Park, San Mateo
- Wheeler Parking Plaza, San Carlos
- Half Moon Bay
- Burlingame
- Mountain View
Santa Cruz
- Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
- Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
“The FIFA World Cup 2026 is about bringing communities together and celebrating the beautiful game in every corner of our region,” said Zaileen Janmohamed, President & CEO of the Bay Area Host Committee. “We’re harnessing the breadth, diversity, and natural beauty of the entire Bay Area to ensure that no matter where you live or visit, you’ll have access to fun, community celebrations. This regional approach reflects our commitment to inclusivity and gives every county and community the opportunity to activate and be part of this historic moment.”
All of the watch parties are free and open to the public. For more details, visit: https://www.sfbayareafwc26.com/bay-area-events
