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"content": "\u003cp>A week before the U.S. men’s national soccer team \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12088896/world-cup-tickets-us-mens-national-soccer-team-bay-area-july-1-bosnia-herzegovina-levis-stadium\">faced off against\u003c/a> Bosnia and Herzegovina in Santa Clara, dozens of seats in the highest section of\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/levis-stadium\"> Levi’s Stadium\u003c/a> were going for between $3,000 and $4,000 across different resale sites.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A day before the match, however, prices dropped significantly. Seats in the same back rows were offered for less than $2,000. The cost to see the most dominant USMNT in a generation had cratered in a matter of days — why? The answer has to do with speculators, third-party sales and FIFA’s complicated ticket-selling rules.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Besides treating fans to magnificent performances by some of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/06/22/nx-s1-5866649/2026-world-cup-fifa-lionel-messi-argentina-scoring-record\">sport’s greatest stars\u003c/a>, this year’s FIFA World Cup drew plenty of controversy over the cost of going to see a game. Months before the tournament began, tickets for some matches were already \u003ca href=\"https://www.wsj.com/sports/soccer/colombia-portugal-world-cup-6c1f318b\">more expensive\u003c/a> than going to the Super Bowl. Fans who wanted to save money and buy a ticket as early as possible had to navigate an \u003ca href=\"https://www.kcur.org/sports/2026-04-16/world-cup-tickets-fifa-prices\">incredibly complicated process\u003c/a> on FIFA’s official ticketing platform, where prices also shifted \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/05/28/nx-s1-5836514/2026-world-cup-fifa-ticket-prices\">based on demand\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the tournament drew closer, some fans skipped FIFA’s platform entirely. A month before the June 25 Australia vs. Paraguay match at Levi’s Stadium, Marin County resident Lei Cai said the official site was no longer offering tickets for the game. “I wanted to buy a ticket directly from FIFA, but when that wasn’t possible, our only option was resale sites,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those who bought tickets on resale websites — including Ticketmaster, StubHub and SeatGeek — were required to pay the vendor first on the site, and then claim their ticket on the FIFA platform. Cai paid for two tickets on StubHub, she said, but when she logged into the FIFA portal, “that’s when I found out there’s no tickets to claim.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087142\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087142\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-51-BL_KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-51-BL_KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-51-BL_KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-51-BL_KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, temporarily renamed from Levi’s Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in Santa Clara on June 10, 2026, where six tournament matches will be played. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>After calling StubHub multiple times for weeks, she was eventually informed by the company that the person who listed the seats online never actually made the tickets available to her. Only after KQED contacted StubHub requesting comment on Cai’s situation did StubHub reach out to her directly to offer two new, free tickets to the same match.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cai is not alone. Soccer fans nationwide who paid for tickets on resale sites have been left empty-handed\u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-ticket-problems-stubhub-fifa-21c31f5cc33012e7f4619d4bff3b44a1\"> by vendors\u003c/a> — sometimes even hours before the game. Some economists and consumer advocates say that what happened to fans like Cai — along with the dramatic swings in prices, like what happened ahead of the U.S. game against Bosnia — shows there are major flaws in how the ticketing system works for major sporting events.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scalpers have helped ricochet ticket prices for major musical events like Taylor Swift’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.billboard.com/pro/taylor-swift-eras-tour-fans-biggest-ticket-scalper/\">Eras Tour\u003c/a> and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/oasis-reunion-tickets-controversy-explained-1235094425/\">comeback of Oasis\u003c/a>. But the market set up by FIFA and resale sites for this year’s soccer tournament may have helped speculation get a lot worse this time around — where very enthusiastic fans all over North America have already spent millions of dollars and shattered the tournament’s all-time attendance record.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>An age-old problem\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Tickets for big cultural and athletic events easily attract the attention of speculators because they’re what economists call “perishable goods.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Think of going to a bakery. A loaf of bread freshly baked that morning may be sold at $10. The bakery may also offer bread baked the previous day, but at a much lower price. But you most certainly won’t see bread baked a week or a month before — that’s no longer good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The same thing is true for game tickets,” said Steve Tadelis, professor at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, who has studied online ticket markets for years. “They’re worth practically zero after the game begins.” (In the case of the World Cup, that’s true an hour before the game begins. According to FIFA rules, if someone doesn’t claim their ticket an hour before a match begins, they can no longer use it to get into the stadium.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089715\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089715\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-41-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-41-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-41-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-41-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans leave the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The World Cup’s knockout stage can be especially attractive for speculators, Tadelis said. Speculators may have bought tickets for quarter-final or semi-final matches when fans had no confirmed information about which teams were advancing, but can then offer tickets at much higher prices if they see a popular team advance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But while speculators may have good instincts on how soccer fans may behave, they can still make mistakes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A seller may hope to sell a ticket for $3,000 a few weeks before a knockout-round game, assuming that enthusiasm among soccer lovers will keep growing with time. But the match is now just a couple of days away, and no one has snatched up the ticket. “They may be happy now to get a thousand or maybe even a few hundred dollars, because now they’re really worried that they’re going to be stuck with that ticket,” Tadelis said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There may be early excitement that overshoots the real demand,” he said. “Sellers will panic and try to all sell at the same time. And then prices are going to plummet.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While many USMNT fans were hyped that their team advanced to the knockout stage, their enthusiasm perhaps didn’t match the prices that resale vendors were offering. The bubble quickly burst.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Who moves the market?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Price data alone, however, can’t confirm that a market has been entirely taken over by speculation, Tadelis said. Fans may learn new information that changes their feelings about their team — a star player previously blocked from playing \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/07/06/nx-s1-5883791/fifas-red-card-reversal-fair-play-or-political-interference\">by a penalty\u003c/a> suddenly gets the green light to come back, perhaps.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you’re looking for real clues — are people actually buying and picking up tickets, or are the same tickets getting resold over and over?” he said, adding that the latter case would suggest speculation. But if prices spike and then sellers suddenly cancel on buyers — like what happened to Cai from Marin County — “that’s another red flag that probably these are speculative sellers that never had the tickets to begin with.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089714\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12089714 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-36-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-36-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-36-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-36-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans fill the stands at the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Vendors “ghosting” ticket buyers has become a serious problem, said Scott Friedman, co-founder of the consulting group Ticket Talk Network, based in Cleveland, Ohio.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said he’s talked to people from all over the globe who’ve saved up thousands of dollars to travel to a game hosted in North America, but once here, they don’t get anything from the vendor online and usually no replacement from sites like StubHub. “As a marketplace for the biggest live events, if a seller doesn’t fill that order, you’ve got to fill it,” he said. “It’s just a common courtesy to the fan.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>StubHub previously told KQED in a statement that the ticketing problems fans have experienced this World Cup “are largely transfer problems, not ticket problems.”[aside postID=news_12076503 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/IMG_1406.jpg']The company said that FIFA’s ticketing system, including a new app launched right before the tournament began, “has had significant performance issues that have affected transfers across all resale platforms.” According to StubHub’s rules for sellers, it’s OK for someone “to list tickets you own but don’t have in your possession yet … as long as you’re absolutely certain you will have them on the date you give us when listing the tickets.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>FIFA, for its part, told KQED it has “no visibility over, or control of, secondary market ticket transactions carried out on third-party platforms,” and it rejects “any suggestion that the functional issues being experienced by users of third-party platforms” are the result of its ticketing infrastructure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But reining in speculation will require transparency from both FIFA and resale sites, Tadelis said. This means consumers should have access to information “like recent prices, how much inventory there is to really help people understand what’s going on in the market,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>FIFA offered tickets through staggered releases, where consumers in the initial stages did not even know which teams were playing in any of the games — or even in which rows they would be sitting. Tadelis pointed out that the official FIFA resale platform also charged fees to both buyers and sellers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These create real opportunities to bet on price swings, and that’s especially true when fans can’t tell how much inventory FIFA is still holding back,” he said. “That opacity is what’s turning buying a ticket into basically a forecasting exercise.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And for consumer advocates like Friedman, that also means having lawmakers require that resale sites confirm vendors actually have the tickets they’re offering. “It doesn’t matter if it’s the FIFA World Cup, the Super Bowl, or any live event that happens,” he said. “When you buy a ticket, it needs to be delivered instantly.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>A week before the U.S. men’s national soccer team \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12088896/world-cup-tickets-us-mens-national-soccer-team-bay-area-july-1-bosnia-herzegovina-levis-stadium\">faced off against\u003c/a> Bosnia and Herzegovina in Santa Clara, dozens of seats in the highest section of\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/levis-stadium\"> Levi’s Stadium\u003c/a> were going for between $3,000 and $4,000 across different resale sites.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A day before the match, however, prices dropped significantly. Seats in the same back rows were offered for less than $2,000. The cost to see the most dominant USMNT in a generation had cratered in a matter of days — why? The answer has to do with speculators, third-party sales and FIFA’s complicated ticket-selling rules.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Besides treating fans to magnificent performances by some of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/06/22/nx-s1-5866649/2026-world-cup-fifa-lionel-messi-argentina-scoring-record\">sport’s greatest stars\u003c/a>, this year’s FIFA World Cup drew plenty of controversy over the cost of going to see a game. Months before the tournament began, tickets for some matches were already \u003ca href=\"https://www.wsj.com/sports/soccer/colombia-portugal-world-cup-6c1f318b\">more expensive\u003c/a> than going to the Super Bowl. Fans who wanted to save money and buy a ticket as early as possible had to navigate an \u003ca href=\"https://www.kcur.org/sports/2026-04-16/world-cup-tickets-fifa-prices\">incredibly complicated process\u003c/a> on FIFA’s official ticketing platform, where prices also shifted \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/05/28/nx-s1-5836514/2026-world-cup-fifa-ticket-prices\">based on demand\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the tournament drew closer, some fans skipped FIFA’s platform entirely. A month before the June 25 Australia vs. Paraguay match at Levi’s Stadium, Marin County resident Lei Cai said the official site was no longer offering tickets for the game. “I wanted to buy a ticket directly from FIFA, but when that wasn’t possible, our only option was resale sites,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those who bought tickets on resale websites — including Ticketmaster, StubHub and SeatGeek — were required to pay the vendor first on the site, and then claim their ticket on the FIFA platform. Cai paid for two tickets on StubHub, she said, but when she logged into the FIFA portal, “that’s when I found out there’s no tickets to claim.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087142\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087142\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-51-BL_KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-51-BL_KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-51-BL_KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-51-BL_KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, temporarily renamed from Levi’s Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in Santa Clara on June 10, 2026, where six tournament matches will be played. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>After calling StubHub multiple times for weeks, she was eventually informed by the company that the person who listed the seats online never actually made the tickets available to her. Only after KQED contacted StubHub requesting comment on Cai’s situation did StubHub reach out to her directly to offer two new, free tickets to the same match.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cai is not alone. Soccer fans nationwide who paid for tickets on resale sites have been left empty-handed\u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-ticket-problems-stubhub-fifa-21c31f5cc33012e7f4619d4bff3b44a1\"> by vendors\u003c/a> — sometimes even hours before the game. Some economists and consumer advocates say that what happened to fans like Cai — along with the dramatic swings in prices, like what happened ahead of the U.S. game against Bosnia — shows there are major flaws in how the ticketing system works for major sporting events.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scalpers have helped ricochet ticket prices for major musical events like Taylor Swift’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.billboard.com/pro/taylor-swift-eras-tour-fans-biggest-ticket-scalper/\">Eras Tour\u003c/a> and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/oasis-reunion-tickets-controversy-explained-1235094425/\">comeback of Oasis\u003c/a>. But the market set up by FIFA and resale sites for this year’s soccer tournament may have helped speculation get a lot worse this time around — where very enthusiastic fans all over North America have already spent millions of dollars and shattered the tournament’s all-time attendance record.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>An age-old problem\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Tickets for big cultural and athletic events easily attract the attention of speculators because they’re what economists call “perishable goods.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Think of going to a bakery. A loaf of bread freshly baked that morning may be sold at $10. The bakery may also offer bread baked the previous day, but at a much lower price. But you most certainly won’t see bread baked a week or a month before — that’s no longer good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The same thing is true for game tickets,” said Steve Tadelis, professor at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, who has studied online ticket markets for years. “They’re worth practically zero after the game begins.” (In the case of the World Cup, that’s true an hour before the game begins. According to FIFA rules, if someone doesn’t claim their ticket an hour before a match begins, they can no longer use it to get into the stadium.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089715\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089715\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-41-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-41-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-41-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-41-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans leave the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The World Cup’s knockout stage can be especially attractive for speculators, Tadelis said. Speculators may have bought tickets for quarter-final or semi-final matches when fans had no confirmed information about which teams were advancing, but can then offer tickets at much higher prices if they see a popular team advance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But while speculators may have good instincts on how soccer fans may behave, they can still make mistakes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A seller may hope to sell a ticket for $3,000 a few weeks before a knockout-round game, assuming that enthusiasm among soccer lovers will keep growing with time. But the match is now just a couple of days away, and no one has snatched up the ticket. “They may be happy now to get a thousand or maybe even a few hundred dollars, because now they’re really worried that they’re going to be stuck with that ticket,” Tadelis said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There may be early excitement that overshoots the real demand,” he said. “Sellers will panic and try to all sell at the same time. And then prices are going to plummet.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While many USMNT fans were hyped that their team advanced to the knockout stage, their enthusiasm perhaps didn’t match the prices that resale vendors were offering. The bubble quickly burst.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Who moves the market?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Price data alone, however, can’t confirm that a market has been entirely taken over by speculation, Tadelis said. Fans may learn new information that changes their feelings about their team — a star player previously blocked from playing \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/07/06/nx-s1-5883791/fifas-red-card-reversal-fair-play-or-political-interference\">by a penalty\u003c/a> suddenly gets the green light to come back, perhaps.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you’re looking for real clues — are people actually buying and picking up tickets, or are the same tickets getting resold over and over?” he said, adding that the latter case would suggest speculation. But if prices spike and then sellers suddenly cancel on buyers — like what happened to Cai from Marin County — “that’s another red flag that probably these are speculative sellers that never had the tickets to begin with.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089714\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12089714 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-36-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-36-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-36-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-36-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans fill the stands at the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Vendors “ghosting” ticket buyers has become a serious problem, said Scott Friedman, co-founder of the consulting group Ticket Talk Network, based in Cleveland, Ohio.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said he’s talked to people from all over the globe who’ve saved up thousands of dollars to travel to a game hosted in North America, but once here, they don’t get anything from the vendor online and usually no replacement from sites like StubHub. “As a marketplace for the biggest live events, if a seller doesn’t fill that order, you’ve got to fill it,” he said. “It’s just a common courtesy to the fan.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>StubHub previously told KQED in a statement that the ticketing problems fans have experienced this World Cup “are largely transfer problems, not ticket problems.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The company said that FIFA’s ticketing system, including a new app launched right before the tournament began, “has had significant performance issues that have affected transfers across all resale platforms.” According to StubHub’s rules for sellers, it’s OK for someone “to list tickets you own but don’t have in your possession yet … as long as you’re absolutely certain you will have them on the date you give us when listing the tickets.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>FIFA, for its part, told KQED it has “no visibility over, or control of, secondary market ticket transactions carried out on third-party platforms,” and it rejects “any suggestion that the functional issues being experienced by users of third-party platforms” are the result of its ticketing infrastructure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But reining in speculation will require transparency from both FIFA and resale sites, Tadelis said. This means consumers should have access to information “like recent prices, how much inventory there is to really help people understand what’s going on in the market,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>FIFA offered tickets through staggered releases, where consumers in the initial stages did not even know which teams were playing in any of the games — or even in which rows they would be sitting. Tadelis pointed out that the official FIFA resale platform also charged fees to both buyers and sellers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These create real opportunities to bet on price swings, and that’s especially true when fans can’t tell how much inventory FIFA is still holding back,” he said. “That opacity is what’s turning buying a ticket into basically a forecasting exercise.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And for consumer advocates like Friedman, that also means having lawmakers require that resale sites confirm vendors actually have the tickets they’re offering. “It doesn’t matter if it’s the FIFA World Cup, the Super Bowl, or any live event that happens,” he said. “When you buy a ticket, it needs to be delivered instantly.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "US Fans Rejoice as Team Beats Bosnia in Bay Area World Cup Match",
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"headTitle": "US Fans Rejoice as Team Beats Bosnia in Bay Area World Cup Match | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>Thousands of soccer fans, young and old, seasoned and new, flooded the streets of Santa Clara on Wednesday in their red, white and blue finest as the U.S. Men’s National Team won an elimination match at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/levis-stadium\">Levi’s Stadium\u003c/a> against Bosnia-Herzegovina’s squad.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The knockout game marked the first time the men’s team, which trounced Bosnia 2-0, has played a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083101/world-cup-2026-bay-area-games-where-is-fifa-world-cup-santa-clara-levis-stadium-tickets-fan-zone-watch-parties\">World Cup match in the Bay Area\u003c/a> in 32 years and added a layer of drama and excitement to what was the last of this tournament’s games hosted locally.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Naseem Farooqi, decked out in an American flag t-shirt, a cowboy hat and boots, smoked a celebratory cigar outside the stadium after the game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We were able to pull through and execute when we needed to,” the Rancho Cucamonga resident said. “It’s a freaking good time, man.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Casandra Rojas agreed. The 26-year-old Redwood City resident came to the game with her dad, Rudy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re a Latino family, so soccer truly means everything to us,” she said. “It’s part of our culture, part of who we are. It runs in our family.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089716\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089716\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-43-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-43-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-43-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-43-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Casandra Rojas and her father Rudy Rojas leave the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia Herzegovina at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Even the tournament’s youngest attendees recognized they were witnessing something special.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is like a golden age of players,” said Sammy Oltmans, an 11-year-old San Francisco resident and self-described big soccer fan. “It’s very fun to watch … every fan is cheering their loudest.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Levi’s, which was temporarily\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086949/levis-stadium-is-no-more-san-francisco-bay-area-stadium-hosts-world-cup\"> renamed the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium\u003c/a> for the World Cup, previously hosted group stage matches, largely between teams that don’t garner as much attention on the world stage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089674\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12089674 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-18-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-18-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-18-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-18-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">U.S. national men’s team soccer fans march toward the San Francisco Bay Area stadium for the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia-Herzegovina in Santa Clara, California, on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Fans of the U.S. team were thrilled the Stars and Stripes earned a chance to play at Levi’s and will play Belgium next week in a Round of 16 elimination game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a parking lot near Levi’s ahead of the match, thousands of American Outlaws, an unofficial support group of the team, celebrated, ate burritos, chanted, “USA, USA,” and sang anthems like John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” and Woody Guthrie’s “When The Yanks Go Marching In.” The group’s drummers and horn players kept spirits high before much of the crowd headed out for a drumline-led march to the stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jacob Wong, a 29-year-old San Francisco resident, took the day off to attend the game.[aside postID=news_12089314 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Dubioza-Kolektiv-Getty-1.jpg']“It’s kind of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Wong, who was certain the U.S. would win “by 100.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You can feel the energy,” he said. “Everyone is excited.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It feels like Christmas morning,” said Joe Duffy, who, along with two friends, each paid $3,000 to sit in nosebleed seats.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While they were smaller in number, Bosnia fans were equally as excited to see their team take the pitch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s a homeland versus a motherland,” said Lejla Kuhinja, who was born and raised in Bosnia before moving to the U.S. in 1995 at age 16.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Gilroy resident had hoped Bosnia would come out ahead. “It’s definitely amazing to see our little country make it here,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Armina Husic said the “love and happiness” of Bosnia’s local appearance in the World Cup was a welcome change of pace. “For many years, our country was recognized for war and suffering,” she said, referring to the civil war that gripped the country in the early 1990s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The women tried to snag last-minute tickets to the game but had backup plans to go to a nearby bar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089712\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12089712 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-31-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-31-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-31-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-31-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bosnia fans watch the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at Clara’s Junction, near the San Francisco Bay Area stadium, in Santa Clara, California, on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>To the north, bars in San Francisco were packed with soccer fans. Revelers at Standard Deviant Brewing in the Mission District cheered after the U.S. clinched its spot in the Round of 16.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Exciting!” Quinn Reilly said. “We had a good time!”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many attendees making the trek to Santa Clara, heeding warnings about road closures and traffic, took public transportation to the game and local transit authorities said they were prepared for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084960/world-cup-tickets-levis-stadium-santa-clara-parking-bart-vta-capitol-corridor\">an influx of riders\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089671\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089671\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-12-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-12-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-12-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-12-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">U.S. national men’s team soccer fans march toward the San Francisco Bay Area stadium for the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia-Herzegovina in Santa Clara, California, on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Caltrain said it saw a 20% increase in ridership on game days and expected even larger crowds for the U.S. match. The agency was running two additional trains before the game and said it was keeping additional trains on standby to accommodate post-game crowds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Raj Patel flew into town from Atlanta and rode the train from San Francisco with his college roommate, Sid Balireddy. The pair were luckier than Duffy’s crew. They scored tickets for $800.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We don’t get this kind of thing in Atlanta,” Patel said of Caltrain. “A lot of other places could do with something like this.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089709\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12089709 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-27-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-27-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-27-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-27-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A robot dances in front of the San Francisco Bay Area stadium before the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina in Santa Clara, California, on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Their train, full of boisterous fans, some of them sharing beers with new friends, experienced a brief delay in Menlo Park for what a conductor said was a quick “reset,” but continued on its way after a few minutes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, which has a light rail stop near the stadium, said it was expecting a record ridership day and was running supplemental bus service ahead of the game because trains were full.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>VTA said it had about 80 train cars available after the game and planned to run them one behind the other to move people as quickly as possible. Trains were crowded after the game, but the platform was orderly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089705\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12089705 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-32-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-32-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-32-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-32-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Brian Zander, a USA men’s national soccer team fan, wears a bald eagle costume during the FIFA World Cup knockout game between USA and Bosnia-Herzegovina at a watch party at Thrive City in San Francisco on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Outside the stadium wasn’t the only place bursting with fans in the South Bay. Interest in soccer appears to be \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084932/as-the-bay-area-prepares-for-world-cup-a-san-francisco-team-looks-for-a-way-forward\">growing in the Bay Area\u003c/a>, if the huge crowds gathering for watch parties in places like San Pedro Square in downtown San José are any indication, much to the delight of local boosters and businesses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Closed streets, massive TV screens and special permission from the city to allow outdoor drinking have drawn in several thousand to tens of thousands of people per match, with some of the most popular games, including Wednesday’s U.S. match, bringing people to the area hours ahead of kickoff to nab spots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Brian Kurtz, CEO of the San José Downtown Association, said watch parties exceeded expectations. He chalked up much of the success to the increasing popularity of soccer and the diversity of the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089703\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089703\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-16-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-16-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-16-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-16-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A USA men’s national soccer team fan watches the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina during a watch party at Thrive City in San Francisco on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The World Cup celebrates culture, it celebrates countries, diversity and heritage. And what we’re seeing in downtown, in a city where more than 40% of our population is foreign-born, is that coming to real life,” Kurtz said. “And I see this as something that’s only going to grow and grow as the years go on.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There have been some tense moments near watch parties, however. One man was killed, and another was critically wounded on Sunday in\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12089204/1-dead-1-critically-hurt-in-downtown-san-jose-shooting\"> a shooting\u003c/a> just blocks from San Pedro Square.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In San Francisco, SPARK Social on Wednesday abruptly canceled all of its remaining watch parties “in the interest of protecting the safety of our guests, staff, vendors, and community” after two people were wounded in a \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/mission-bay-shooting-two-injured-22328065.php\">shooting in the area\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089702\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12089702 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-11-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Irma Aguirre shows off her Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina nails ahead of the World Cup knockout game between USA and Bosnia-Herzegovina at a watch party at Thrive City in San Francisco on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie acknowledged the incident but said police responded quickly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We feel like our city is incredibly safe and people should feel welcome to come out to our watch parties,” he said during a halftime interview with KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lurie, who was attending the game, called the U.S.’s goal in the first half “electric.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089704\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089704\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-31-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-31-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-31-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-31-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">USA men’s national soccer team fan Patty Lewis, 69, cheers after the United States scored its second goal in the second half of the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina during a watch party at Thrive City in San Francisco on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It’s just epic,” he said. “This is a culmination of a great first three weeks of the World Cup and to have the U.S. here, we couldn’t have asked for a better wrap-up in terms of hosting.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Overall, the atmosphere surrounding the game near the stadium and at watch parties across the region has been upbeat and friendly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A sea of red, white and blue jerseys took over the Chase Center courtyard in the Mission Bay neighborhood of San Francisco on Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089713\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089713\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-33-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-33-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-33-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-33-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jose Martinez, known as Mr. Cheez, prepares food down the street from the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia Herzegovina at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Visitors hoping to experience some of the excitement happening in the South Bay found what they were looking for, with fans donning face paint, downing beers and, in some cases, dressing as founding fathers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Carissa Umanzor traveled across the bay from Martinez to join the party dressed as George Washington and cheered with a drum in hand. She’s been following the tournament closely and went to two earlier matches at Levi’s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is once in a lifetime,” Umanzor said. “I’ve been watching all the videos of people who are coming from other countries and then seeing another perspective of people’s experience in America, and I love that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089663\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12089663 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-4-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-4-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-4-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-4-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">From left: Tenzin Nima, Tenzin Samten, Deckyi Dolma and Jigme Rapgyal, rooting for Team USA pose for a photo ahead of the World Cup knockout game between USA and Bosnia-Herzegovina at Thrive City in San Francisco on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tenzin Samten, 23, arrived more than two hours early to get a seat in front of the mega screen broadcasting World Cup games at Thrive City outside Chase Center. After picking up food nearby, Samten, who was watching with his parents and sister, eagerly waited for the U.S. kickoff as the Senegal versus Belgium game played. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It feels more fun to come out and support the team when they’re close by,” the Richmond resident said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dolores LeDesma, 69, sat in a folding chair alongside her son Jarmar, 41, at Chase. The two are major fans of Arsenal FC and have been enjoying seeing the tournament so close to home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089661\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089661\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-2-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-2-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-2-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">James Talcott, 69, rooting for Team USA, poses for a photo at Thrive City, ahead of the World Cup knockout game between USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina, in San Francisco on July 1, Stanford Stadium 2026. Talcott also attended a few games held at Stanford Stadium during the 1994 World Cup. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I’m a proud Native American Indian of the Navajo tribe, and I can’t believe that there’s so many diverse people and different cultures that are coming together for the World Cup,” LeDesma said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>James Talcott, 69, also strolled through the Thrive City watch party early on Wednesday to get some food and find a seat before the 5 p.m. kickoff.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Tenderloin resident was thrilled to watch the U.S. play and see the Bay Area hosting games. He recalled attending World Cup matches when the tournament took place at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12088203/how-the-1994-world-cup-helped-spark-soccers-rise-in-the-bay-area\">Stanford University in 1994\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089715\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089715\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-41-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-41-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-41-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-41-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans leave the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It’s been great, but I’ll tell you what, I went to the one they had 30 years ago here, at Stanford. And I remember the tickets were free. Now they’re talking about tickets like $3,000,” he said. “I mean, come on.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12088896/world-cup-tickets-us-mens-national-soccer-team-bay-area-july-1-bosnia-herzegovina-levis-stadium\">Ticket prices\u003c/a> weren’t the only thing spiking. Just a five-minute walk from Levi’s is the Hilton Santa Clara, which recently completed a renovation and hosts a “TailG8 Zone” for the public to gather, eat and drink before and after major events at the stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sales and marketing director Kunal Khandwala said it had been difficult to predict what bookings would be like for FIFA World Cup matches because so many factors, including inflation, war, politics and travel restrictions, could influence how many fans were attending various games.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089717\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089717\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-45-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-45-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-45-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-45-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Naseem Farooqi leaves the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia Herzegovina at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But Khandwala said he saw a lot of demand with the U.S. team playing a match locally.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We just picked up a lot more rooms over this past weekend. Once, I guess, the final teams were announced, people got more excited, and they started picking up hotel rooms and last-minute ticket sales at the stadium as well,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rooms for Wednesday night at the hotel appeared sold out this week. Rates for a standard room on Tuesday night began around $500 and increased to more than $1,000 for a suite, according to the website.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Thousands of soccer fans, young and old, seasoned and new, flooded the streets of Santa Clara on Wednesday in their red, white and blue finest as the U.S. Men’s National Team won an elimination match at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/levis-stadium\">Levi’s Stadium\u003c/a> against Bosnia-Herzegovina’s squad.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The knockout game marked the first time the men’s team, which trounced Bosnia 2-0, has played a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083101/world-cup-2026-bay-area-games-where-is-fifa-world-cup-santa-clara-levis-stadium-tickets-fan-zone-watch-parties\">World Cup match in the Bay Area\u003c/a> in 32 years and added a layer of drama and excitement to what was the last of this tournament’s games hosted locally.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Naseem Farooqi, decked out in an American flag t-shirt, a cowboy hat and boots, smoked a celebratory cigar outside the stadium after the game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We were able to pull through and execute when we needed to,” the Rancho Cucamonga resident said. “It’s a freaking good time, man.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Casandra Rojas agreed. The 26-year-old Redwood City resident came to the game with her dad, Rudy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re a Latino family, so soccer truly means everything to us,” she said. “It’s part of our culture, part of who we are. It runs in our family.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089716\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089716\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-43-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-43-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-43-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-43-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Casandra Rojas and her father Rudy Rojas leave the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia Herzegovina at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Even the tournament’s youngest attendees recognized they were witnessing something special.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is like a golden age of players,” said Sammy Oltmans, an 11-year-old San Francisco resident and self-described big soccer fan. “It’s very fun to watch … every fan is cheering their loudest.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Levi’s, which was temporarily\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086949/levis-stadium-is-no-more-san-francisco-bay-area-stadium-hosts-world-cup\"> renamed the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium\u003c/a> for the World Cup, previously hosted group stage matches, largely between teams that don’t garner as much attention on the world stage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089674\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12089674 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-18-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-18-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-18-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-18-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">U.S. national men’s team soccer fans march toward the San Francisco Bay Area stadium for the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia-Herzegovina in Santa Clara, California, on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Fans of the U.S. team were thrilled the Stars and Stripes earned a chance to play at Levi’s and will play Belgium next week in a Round of 16 elimination game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a parking lot near Levi’s ahead of the match, thousands of American Outlaws, an unofficial support group of the team, celebrated, ate burritos, chanted, “USA, USA,” and sang anthems like John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” and Woody Guthrie’s “When The Yanks Go Marching In.” The group’s drummers and horn players kept spirits high before much of the crowd headed out for a drumline-led march to the stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jacob Wong, a 29-year-old San Francisco resident, took the day off to attend the game.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“It’s kind of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Wong, who was certain the U.S. would win “by 100.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You can feel the energy,” he said. “Everyone is excited.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It feels like Christmas morning,” said Joe Duffy, who, along with two friends, each paid $3,000 to sit in nosebleed seats.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While they were smaller in number, Bosnia fans were equally as excited to see their team take the pitch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s a homeland versus a motherland,” said Lejla Kuhinja, who was born and raised in Bosnia before moving to the U.S. in 1995 at age 16.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Gilroy resident had hoped Bosnia would come out ahead. “It’s definitely amazing to see our little country make it here,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Armina Husic said the “love and happiness” of Bosnia’s local appearance in the World Cup was a welcome change of pace. “For many years, our country was recognized for war and suffering,” she said, referring to the civil war that gripped the country in the early 1990s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The women tried to snag last-minute tickets to the game but had backup plans to go to a nearby bar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089712\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12089712 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-31-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-31-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-31-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-31-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bosnia fans watch the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at Clara’s Junction, near the San Francisco Bay Area stadium, in Santa Clara, California, on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>To the north, bars in San Francisco were packed with soccer fans. Revelers at Standard Deviant Brewing in the Mission District cheered after the U.S. clinched its spot in the Round of 16.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Exciting!” Quinn Reilly said. “We had a good time!”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many attendees making the trek to Santa Clara, heeding warnings about road closures and traffic, took public transportation to the game and local transit authorities said they were prepared for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084960/world-cup-tickets-levis-stadium-santa-clara-parking-bart-vta-capitol-corridor\">an influx of riders\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089671\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089671\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-12-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-12-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-12-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-12-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">U.S. national men’s team soccer fans march toward the San Francisco Bay Area stadium for the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia-Herzegovina in Santa Clara, California, on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Caltrain said it saw a 20% increase in ridership on game days and expected even larger crowds for the U.S. match. The agency was running two additional trains before the game and said it was keeping additional trains on standby to accommodate post-game crowds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Raj Patel flew into town from Atlanta and rode the train from San Francisco with his college roommate, Sid Balireddy. The pair were luckier than Duffy’s crew. They scored tickets for $800.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We don’t get this kind of thing in Atlanta,” Patel said of Caltrain. “A lot of other places could do with something like this.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089709\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12089709 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-27-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-27-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-27-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-27-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A robot dances in front of the San Francisco Bay Area stadium before the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina in Santa Clara, California, on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Their train, full of boisterous fans, some of them sharing beers with new friends, experienced a brief delay in Menlo Park for what a conductor said was a quick “reset,” but continued on its way after a few minutes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, which has a light rail stop near the stadium, said it was expecting a record ridership day and was running supplemental bus service ahead of the game because trains were full.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>VTA said it had about 80 train cars available after the game and planned to run them one behind the other to move people as quickly as possible. Trains were crowded after the game, but the platform was orderly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089705\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12089705 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-32-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-32-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-32-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-32-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Brian Zander, a USA men’s national soccer team fan, wears a bald eagle costume during the FIFA World Cup knockout game between USA and Bosnia-Herzegovina at a watch party at Thrive City in San Francisco on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Outside the stadium wasn’t the only place bursting with fans in the South Bay. Interest in soccer appears to be \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084932/as-the-bay-area-prepares-for-world-cup-a-san-francisco-team-looks-for-a-way-forward\">growing in the Bay Area\u003c/a>, if the huge crowds gathering for watch parties in places like San Pedro Square in downtown San José are any indication, much to the delight of local boosters and businesses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Closed streets, massive TV screens and special permission from the city to allow outdoor drinking have drawn in several thousand to tens of thousands of people per match, with some of the most popular games, including Wednesday’s U.S. match, bringing people to the area hours ahead of kickoff to nab spots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Brian Kurtz, CEO of the San José Downtown Association, said watch parties exceeded expectations. He chalked up much of the success to the increasing popularity of soccer and the diversity of the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089703\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089703\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-16-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-16-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-16-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-16-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A USA men’s national soccer team fan watches the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina during a watch party at Thrive City in San Francisco on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The World Cup celebrates culture, it celebrates countries, diversity and heritage. And what we’re seeing in downtown, in a city where more than 40% of our population is foreign-born, is that coming to real life,” Kurtz said. “And I see this as something that’s only going to grow and grow as the years go on.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There have been some tense moments near watch parties, however. One man was killed, and another was critically wounded on Sunday in\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12089204/1-dead-1-critically-hurt-in-downtown-san-jose-shooting\"> a shooting\u003c/a> just blocks from San Pedro Square.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In San Francisco, SPARK Social on Wednesday abruptly canceled all of its remaining watch parties “in the interest of protecting the safety of our guests, staff, vendors, and community” after two people were wounded in a \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/mission-bay-shooting-two-injured-22328065.php\">shooting in the area\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089702\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12089702 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-11-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Irma Aguirre shows off her Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina nails ahead of the World Cup knockout game between USA and Bosnia-Herzegovina at a watch party at Thrive City in San Francisco on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie acknowledged the incident but said police responded quickly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We feel like our city is incredibly safe and people should feel welcome to come out to our watch parties,” he said during a halftime interview with KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lurie, who was attending the game, called the U.S.’s goal in the first half “electric.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089704\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089704\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-31-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-31-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-31-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-31-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">USA men’s national soccer team fan Patty Lewis, 69, cheers after the United States scored its second goal in the second half of the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina during a watch party at Thrive City in San Francisco on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It’s just epic,” he said. “This is a culmination of a great first three weeks of the World Cup and to have the U.S. here, we couldn’t have asked for a better wrap-up in terms of hosting.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Overall, the atmosphere surrounding the game near the stadium and at watch parties across the region has been upbeat and friendly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A sea of red, white and blue jerseys took over the Chase Center courtyard in the Mission Bay neighborhood of San Francisco on Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089713\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089713\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-33-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-33-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-33-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-33-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jose Martinez, known as Mr. Cheez, prepares food down the street from the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia Herzegovina at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Visitors hoping to experience some of the excitement happening in the South Bay found what they were looking for, with fans donning face paint, downing beers and, in some cases, dressing as founding fathers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Carissa Umanzor traveled across the bay from Martinez to join the party dressed as George Washington and cheered with a drum in hand. She’s been following the tournament closely and went to two earlier matches at Levi’s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is once in a lifetime,” Umanzor said. “I’ve been watching all the videos of people who are coming from other countries and then seeing another perspective of people’s experience in America, and I love that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089663\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12089663 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-4-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-4-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-4-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-4-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">From left: Tenzin Nima, Tenzin Samten, Deckyi Dolma and Jigme Rapgyal, rooting for Team USA pose for a photo ahead of the World Cup knockout game between USA and Bosnia-Herzegovina at Thrive City in San Francisco on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tenzin Samten, 23, arrived more than two hours early to get a seat in front of the mega screen broadcasting World Cup games at Thrive City outside Chase Center. After picking up food nearby, Samten, who was watching with his parents and sister, eagerly waited for the U.S. kickoff as the Senegal versus Belgium game played. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It feels more fun to come out and support the team when they’re close by,” the Richmond resident said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dolores LeDesma, 69, sat in a folding chair alongside her son Jarmar, 41, at Chase. The two are major fans of Arsenal FC and have been enjoying seeing the tournament so close to home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089661\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089661\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-2-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-2-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20260701_WORLDCUPUSA_GC-2-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">James Talcott, 69, rooting for Team USA, poses for a photo at Thrive City, ahead of the World Cup knockout game between USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina, in San Francisco on July 1, Stanford Stadium 2026. Talcott also attended a few games held at Stanford Stadium during the 1994 World Cup. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I’m a proud Native American Indian of the Navajo tribe, and I can’t believe that there’s so many diverse people and different cultures that are coming together for the World Cup,” LeDesma said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>James Talcott, 69, also strolled through the Thrive City watch party early on Wednesday to get some food and find a seat before the 5 p.m. kickoff.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Tenderloin resident was thrilled to watch the U.S. play and see the Bay Area hosting games. He recalled attending World Cup matches when the tournament took place at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12088203/how-the-1994-world-cup-helped-spark-soccers-rise-in-the-bay-area\">Stanford University in 1994\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089715\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089715\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-41-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-41-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-41-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-41-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans leave the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It’s been great, but I’ll tell you what, I went to the one they had 30 years ago here, at Stanford. And I remember the tickets were free. Now they’re talking about tickets like $3,000,” he said. “I mean, come on.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12088896/world-cup-tickets-us-mens-national-soccer-team-bay-area-july-1-bosnia-herzegovina-levis-stadium\">Ticket prices\u003c/a> weren’t the only thing spiking. Just a five-minute walk from Levi’s is the Hilton Santa Clara, which recently completed a renovation and hosts a “TailG8 Zone” for the public to gather, eat and drink before and after major events at the stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sales and marketing director Kunal Khandwala said it had been difficult to predict what bookings would be like for FIFA World Cup matches because so many factors, including inflation, war, politics and travel restrictions, could influence how many fans were attending various games.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089717\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089717\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-45-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-45-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-45-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-45-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Naseem Farooqi leaves the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia Herzegovina at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But Khandwala said he saw a lot of demand with the U.S. team playing a match locally.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We just picked up a lot more rooms over this past weekend. Once, I guess, the final teams were announced, people got more excited, and they started picking up hotel rooms and last-minute ticket sales at the stadium as well,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rooms for Wednesday night at the hotel appeared sold out this week. Rates for a standard room on Tuesday night began around $500 and increased to more than $1,000 for a suite, according to the website.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>Tucked in a side street near Fisherman’s Wharf, soccer fans like Nesrine Williams have gathered at a local Algerian restaurant, KAYMA, to watch their team compete in this year’s FIFA \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/world-cup\">World Cup\u003c/a> tournament.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s a really big deal, and I feel so proud to be Algerian,” said Williams, who brought her family here to watch the Algeria versus Argentina match. “A lot of people don’t know about Algeria, and oftentimes, the best players for teams like France are actually Algerian.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Plus, she said, “It’s so nice to share this experience with my daughter.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>From watch parties like that at KAYMA to protests outside stadiums, diaspora communities across the Bay Area are coming together \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12088838/2026-world-cup-is-putting-fifas-rules-on-political-neutrality-to-the-test\">around the World Cup\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This year’s tournament is bigger than ever before, with 48 national teams — up from 32 in the 2022 tournament — and 104 games spread out across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089043\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12089043 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260617-WORLDCUPDIASPORA01140_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260617-WORLDCUPDIASPORA01140_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260617-WORLDCUPDIASPORA01140_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260617-WORLDCUPDIASPORA01140_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans watch the Argentina vs. Algeria World Cup game at KAYMA Algerian Eatery in San Francisco on June 17, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While ticket sales and hotel bookings have fallen short of expectations for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086953/the-world-cup-has-arrived-in-the-san-francisco-bay-area-is-anyone-else-coming\">international travelers\u003c/a> coming for the games, it’s been a moment of celebration for many people from immigrant backgrounds watching their favorite teams play so close to their homes in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My whole family is in Algeria on my dad’s side. Their players are always more raw and talented than you expect,” said Ben Imadali, who was also watching the game over a bowl of lentil soup at KAYMA. “I’m just stoked for my family; they’re all sitting out there watching this game. I’m not even the biggest soccer fan, but for me it’s a familial connection, you know?”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘Just be fans and just belong’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For others who were forced to leave their home countries, like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12088756/in-a-rainbow-trimmed-robe-at-the-world-cup-a-gay-qatari-doctor-advocates-for-equal-rights\">physician Nasser Mohamed\u003c/a>, the World Cup has also renewed concerns and tensions over global politics and safety.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At 24, Mohamed fled Qatar, where it is illegal to be openly gay, and landed in San Francisco. With the World Cup putting Qatar on the national stage, Mohamed, one of the very few Qatari people who is publicly out, is using the moment to draw attention to LGBTQ+ rights in his home country, but this comes with real risks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087523\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087523\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260613_WorldCup_EG_046.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260613_WorldCup_EG_046.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260613_WorldCup_EG_046-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260613_WorldCup_EG_046-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hundreds of people exit Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara during the Qatar versus Switzerland World Cup match on Saturday, June 13, 2026. \u003ccite>(Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Mohamed attended the World Cup match between Qatar and Switzerland at Levi’s Stadium, dressed in a ceremonial Arab cloak with rainbows. Even with security and a seat next to Sen. Scott Wiener, Mohamed said the attention felt dangerous.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I was numb. I felt like I had to leave my body to stand there and be visible, because I know they want to hurt me. I have death threats against me right now,” Mohamed told KQED. “A lot of us in the United States have fled political persecution, and now they are all coming to us here where we have sought refuge.”[aside postID=news_12088198 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-05-KQED.jpg']The head-turning at the soccer stadium hasn’t slowed him down. Mohamed has been organizing Pride events around the World Cup all month to help more residents feel safe and supported around the tournament and beyond.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Some people react violently to the fact that we just sit in the stands,” he said. “And that’s where we need some advocacy, to just be fans and just belong.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Experts say ongoing international issues like the U.S. war in Iran and President Donald Trump’s aggressive \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086777/a-warm-world-cup-welcome-us-immigration-policies-have-chilling-effect\">immigration enforcement campaign\u003c/a> have contributed to the lower-than-expected World Cup turnout from international travelers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Ticket prices, inflation fears and the so-called ‘Trump slump’ are putting fans off, with hotel rates down by a third in host cities from Atlanta to San Francisco,” a \u003ca href=\"https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/04/fifa-world-cup-sports-economy-growth/\">post\u003c/a> from the World Economic Forum read.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While travel from abroad has dipped, the matches have nonetheless drawn local demonstrators out to protest the political backdrop to the World Cup.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087615/protests-and-celebrations-iranians-in-los-angeles-have-mixed-feelings-on-world-cup\">Hundreds of Iranian Americans demonstrated\u003c/a> outside the first Iran match in Los Angeles earlier this month. While thousands of fans cheered inside SoFi Stadium, those on the outside challenged the team for supporting the Iranian government in Tehran.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089050\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089050\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-WORLDCUPDIASPORA-07-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-WORLDCUPDIASPORA-07-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-WORLDCUPDIASPORA-07-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-WORLDCUPDIASPORA-07-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans react to a goal during a FIFA World Cup match between the United States and Turkey at Mad Dog in the Fog in San Francisco on June 25, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But inside the homes, bars and restaurants where fans are gathering to watch the tournament, they’re also contending with their mixed feelings of celebration and conflict.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Milka Pineda is of Mexican descent and hopes the team will win this year. She attended a watch party at Mad Dog in the Fog, a bar in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, on a recent Thursday night to watch Australia versus Paraguay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s cool, but it would be nicer if, you know, there weren’t all of these political issues going on,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘This beautiful moment’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Down the bar at Mad Dog in the Fog, Guatemala-born Kevin Ocha kept an eye on Paraguay, whose team had knocked out Guatemala to qualify for the World Cup.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My country has never made it into the World Cup. This year they came very close,” he said — and if his team were to make it in the future, he said he would be thrilled. “Soccer originated out of the Mayan culture, and Guatemala is Mayan, so it’s a very big deal for us.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089040\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089040\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260617-WORLDCUPDIASPORA-TV-00451-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260617-WORLDCUPDIASPORA-TV-00451-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260617-WORLDCUPDIASPORA-TV-00451-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260617-WORLDCUPDIASPORA-TV-00451-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans cheer for Mexico as they watch the team score a goal at a Mexico vs. Korea World Cup game at a watch party at Mad Dog in the Fog in San Francisco on June 18, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Back at KAYMA, the restaurant’s owner and head chef, Wafa Bahloul, said that the World Cup has been a chance to showcase the Algerian food and culture she loves with anyone who wants a place to sit and watch some soccer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even if they ultimately watched Algeria lose 3-0 to Argentina that night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089045\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12089045 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260617-WORLDCUPDIASPORA01364_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260617-WORLDCUPDIASPORA01364_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260617-WORLDCUPDIASPORA01364_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260617-WORLDCUPDIASPORA01364_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mounir Bahloul (left) and Wafa Bahloul (right) pose for a portrait at a watch party for the Argentina vs. Algeria World Cup game at KAYMA Algerian Eatery in San Francisco on June 17, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“This is so special for us. It reminds me of the kind of events we do in Algeria; we gather all together around the food, laughing and telling stories,” Bahloul said in between rushing out plates to customers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is really a unique thing and doesn’t happen every day,” she said. “We really want to take advantage, as much as we can, of this beautiful moment.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Tucked in a side street near Fisherman’s Wharf, soccer fans like Nesrine Williams have gathered at a local Algerian restaurant, KAYMA, to watch their team compete in this year’s FIFA \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/world-cup\">World Cup\u003c/a> tournament.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s a really big deal, and I feel so proud to be Algerian,” said Williams, who brought her family here to watch the Algeria versus Argentina match. “A lot of people don’t know about Algeria, and oftentimes, the best players for teams like France are actually Algerian.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Plus, she said, “It’s so nice to share this experience with my daughter.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>From watch parties like that at KAYMA to protests outside stadiums, diaspora communities across the Bay Area are coming together \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12088838/2026-world-cup-is-putting-fifas-rules-on-political-neutrality-to-the-test\">around the World Cup\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This year’s tournament is bigger than ever before, with 48 national teams — up from 32 in the 2022 tournament — and 104 games spread out across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089043\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12089043 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260617-WORLDCUPDIASPORA01140_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260617-WORLDCUPDIASPORA01140_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260617-WORLDCUPDIASPORA01140_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260617-WORLDCUPDIASPORA01140_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans watch the Argentina vs. Algeria World Cup game at KAYMA Algerian Eatery in San Francisco on June 17, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While ticket sales and hotel bookings have fallen short of expectations for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086953/the-world-cup-has-arrived-in-the-san-francisco-bay-area-is-anyone-else-coming\">international travelers\u003c/a> coming for the games, it’s been a moment of celebration for many people from immigrant backgrounds watching their favorite teams play so close to their homes in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My whole family is in Algeria on my dad’s side. Their players are always more raw and talented than you expect,” said Ben Imadali, who was also watching the game over a bowl of lentil soup at KAYMA. “I’m just stoked for my family; they’re all sitting out there watching this game. I’m not even the biggest soccer fan, but for me it’s a familial connection, you know?”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘Just be fans and just belong’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For others who were forced to leave their home countries, like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12088756/in-a-rainbow-trimmed-robe-at-the-world-cup-a-gay-qatari-doctor-advocates-for-equal-rights\">physician Nasser Mohamed\u003c/a>, the World Cup has also renewed concerns and tensions over global politics and safety.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At 24, Mohamed fled Qatar, where it is illegal to be openly gay, and landed in San Francisco. With the World Cup putting Qatar on the national stage, Mohamed, one of the very few Qatari people who is publicly out, is using the moment to draw attention to LGBTQ+ rights in his home country, but this comes with real risks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087523\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087523\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260613_WorldCup_EG_046.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260613_WorldCup_EG_046.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260613_WorldCup_EG_046-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260613_WorldCup_EG_046-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hundreds of people exit Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara during the Qatar versus Switzerland World Cup match on Saturday, June 13, 2026. \u003ccite>(Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Mohamed attended the World Cup match between Qatar and Switzerland at Levi’s Stadium, dressed in a ceremonial Arab cloak with rainbows. Even with security and a seat next to Sen. Scott Wiener, Mohamed said the attention felt dangerous.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I was numb. I felt like I had to leave my body to stand there and be visible, because I know they want to hurt me. I have death threats against me right now,” Mohamed told KQED. “A lot of us in the United States have fled political persecution, and now they are all coming to us here where we have sought refuge.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The head-turning at the soccer stadium hasn’t slowed him down. Mohamed has been organizing Pride events around the World Cup all month to help more residents feel safe and supported around the tournament and beyond.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Some people react violently to the fact that we just sit in the stands,” he said. “And that’s where we need some advocacy, to just be fans and just belong.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Experts say ongoing international issues like the U.S. war in Iran and President Donald Trump’s aggressive \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086777/a-warm-world-cup-welcome-us-immigration-policies-have-chilling-effect\">immigration enforcement campaign\u003c/a> have contributed to the lower-than-expected World Cup turnout from international travelers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Ticket prices, inflation fears and the so-called ‘Trump slump’ are putting fans off, with hotel rates down by a third in host cities from Atlanta to San Francisco,” a \u003ca href=\"https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/04/fifa-world-cup-sports-economy-growth/\">post\u003c/a> from the World Economic Forum read.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While travel from abroad has dipped, the matches have nonetheless drawn local demonstrators out to protest the political backdrop to the World Cup.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087615/protests-and-celebrations-iranians-in-los-angeles-have-mixed-feelings-on-world-cup\">Hundreds of Iranian Americans demonstrated\u003c/a> outside the first Iran match in Los Angeles earlier this month. While thousands of fans cheered inside SoFi Stadium, those on the outside challenged the team for supporting the Iranian government in Tehran.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089050\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089050\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-WORLDCUPDIASPORA-07-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-WORLDCUPDIASPORA-07-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-WORLDCUPDIASPORA-07-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-WORLDCUPDIASPORA-07-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans react to a goal during a FIFA World Cup match between the United States and Turkey at Mad Dog in the Fog in San Francisco on June 25, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But inside the homes, bars and restaurants where fans are gathering to watch the tournament, they’re also contending with their mixed feelings of celebration and conflict.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Milka Pineda is of Mexican descent and hopes the team will win this year. She attended a watch party at Mad Dog in the Fog, a bar in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, on a recent Thursday night to watch Australia versus Paraguay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s cool, but it would be nicer if, you know, there weren’t all of these political issues going on,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘This beautiful moment’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Down the bar at Mad Dog in the Fog, Guatemala-born Kevin Ocha kept an eye on Paraguay, whose team had knocked out Guatemala to qualify for the World Cup.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My country has never made it into the World Cup. This year they came very close,” he said — and if his team were to make it in the future, he said he would be thrilled. “Soccer originated out of the Mayan culture, and Guatemala is Mayan, so it’s a very big deal for us.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089040\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089040\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260617-WORLDCUPDIASPORA-TV-00451-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260617-WORLDCUPDIASPORA-TV-00451-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260617-WORLDCUPDIASPORA-TV-00451-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260617-WORLDCUPDIASPORA-TV-00451-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans cheer for Mexico as they watch the team score a goal at a Mexico vs. Korea World Cup game at a watch party at Mad Dog in the Fog in San Francisco on June 18, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Back at KAYMA, the restaurant’s owner and head chef, Wafa Bahloul, said that the World Cup has been a chance to showcase the Algerian food and culture she loves with anyone who wants a place to sit and watch some soccer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even if they ultimately watched Algeria lose 3-0 to Argentina that night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089045\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12089045 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260617-WORLDCUPDIASPORA01364_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260617-WORLDCUPDIASPORA01364_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260617-WORLDCUPDIASPORA01364_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260617-WORLDCUPDIASPORA01364_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mounir Bahloul (left) and Wafa Bahloul (right) pose for a portrait at a watch party for the Argentina vs. Algeria World Cup game at KAYMA Algerian Eatery in San Francisco on June 17, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“This is so special for us. It reminds me of the kind of events we do in Algeria; we gather all together around the food, laughing and telling stories,” Bahloul said in between rushing out plates to customers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is really a unique thing and doesn’t happen every day,” she said. “We really want to take advantage, as much as we can, of this beautiful moment.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "world-cup-tickets-us-mens-national-soccer-team-bay-area-july-1-bosnia-herzegovina-levis-stadium",
"title": "Want to Watch the US Play in the World Cup at Levi’s Stadium? It Won’t Be Cheap",
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"headTitle": "Want to Watch the US Play in the World Cup at Levi’s Stadium? It Won’t Be Cheap | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>If you hadn’t already heard, the U.S. men’s national soccer team is coming to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area\">Bay Area\u003c/a> — to play its first World Cup knockout stage match at Levi’s Stadium on Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Although the team suffered its \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/06/25/nx-s1-5869807/2026-world-cup-fifa-usmnt-turkey\">first loss\u003c/a> in the tournament last week with a 3-2 loss against Turkey — in a true nail-biter of a match that went to overtime — the team has nonetheless advanced to the next phase of the competition after pulling off a pretty historic run in the group stage matches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the 2022 World Cup, the Americans only scored three goals in the \u003cem>whole tournament\u003c/em>. This year, they’ve already more than doubled that. And even two consecutive wins — first against Paraguay, then Australia — are something the men’s soccer team hasn’t achieved since 1930.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, the most dominant USMNT of a generation is coming to Santa Clara for the July 1 knockout stage match to play against Bosnia and Herzegovina.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if the fútbol hype is getting to you and you’re tempted to try to see superstar striker Folarin Balogun score — or Christian Pulisic play after finally recovering from his calf injury — you’re not the only one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089024\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12089024 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/USAWorldCupGetty2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1335\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/USAWorldCupGetty2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/USAWorldCupGetty2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/USAWorldCupGetty2-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sebastian Berhalter #14 of the United States celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Türkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026, in Inglewood, California. \u003ccite>(Jamie Squire/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Demand for World Cup games has only grown since the tournament kicked off, with many of the more “affordable” seats for the upcoming USMNT match listed online still going for thousands of dollars — although prices for some of these spots have dropped sharply in the immediate run-up to the game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know if you’re hoping to see the USMNT play their World Cup knockout match in Santa Clara on Wednesday — how much tickets are going for and how to avoid falling prey to a ticket scam.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Can I still get a ticket to see the United States men’s national soccer team’s Bay Area World Cup match?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>FIFA is no longer offering tickets or hospitality packages for the upcoming USMNT match on its \u003ca href=\"https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/tickets\">official website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This means your remaining option is to check out available resale tickets on verified resale sites like Ticketmaster, StubHub, SeatGeek and TickPick.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087136\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087136\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-02-BL_KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-02-BL_KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-02-BL_KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-02-BL_KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A team locker room at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, temporarily renamed from Levi’s Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in Santa Clara on June 10, 2026, where six tournament matches will be played. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If you end up buying tickets on a resale site, you will choose the seat you want and make your payment on that site, but you will then have to confirm that these tickets are now yours on either the official FIFA World Cup 2026 App or the FIFA Resale Marketplace website.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for the actual tickets, they will only be available on FIFA’s FWC2026 Mobile Tickets app — available in both the \u003ca href=\"https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fwc2026-mobile-tickets/id6532603739\">Apple\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.tixngo.app.fifatickets&hl=en_US\">Play\u003c/a> stores.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A resale vendor can only transfer the tickets via the FIFA Resale Marketplace — they can’t promise to email or text you your tickets.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How much are tickets for the USMNT’s July 1 World Cup match?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>What’s a fair price for tickets? Because FIFA is no longer offering tickets for this match, it’s difficult to say with accuracy. Last week, seats furthest from the field were going for between $2,000 and $4,000, while those closest to the action were surpassing $5,000.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, a day before the match, prices for seats in the 100 section have dropped significantly on StubHub, SeatGeek and TickPick, with some now going for less than $2,500. A few seats in the 400 section — the farthest from the field — were being offered for less than $2,000 on Monday morning. TicketMaster is no longer offering tickets for this match.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Even on verified resale sites, stay alert\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A few weeks before the Australia vs. Paraguay match at Levi’s Stadium on June 25, Marin County soccer fan Lei Cai bought two tickets to the game on StubHub. She soon received an email from StubHub telling her that her tickets were ready.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But when she logged into the FIFA portal, “that’s when I found out there’s no tickets to claim,” Cai said. And after calling StubHub multiple times for several weeks, trying to get an answer, she was eventually informed by the company that the person who listed the seats online never actually made the tickets available for her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087142\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12087142 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-51-BL_KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-51-BL_KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-51-BL_KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-51-BL_KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, temporarily renamed from Levi’s Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in Santa Clara, on June 10, 2026, where six tournament matches will be played. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Cai said StubHub originally offered only a refund for her tickets after learning of the situation. “You should not be able to sell something that doesn’t exist,” Cai said after accepting she wouldn’t be going to the game. “You’re scamming families.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, after KQED contacted the company requesting comment on Cai’s situation, StubHub reached out to her directly to offer two new, free tickets to the same match — in a seating section much closer to the field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Similar ticket transfer problems have plagued soccer fans \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-ticket-problems-stubhub-fifa-21c31f5cc33012e7f4619d4bff3b44a1\">nationwide\u003c/a>. At Spain’s World Cup match against Cape Verde in Atlanta on June 15, an Associated Press journalist \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-ticket-problems-stubhub-fifa-21c31f5cc33012e7f4619d4bff3b44a1\">encountered\u003c/a> more than a dozen fans who reported being in similar situations, stuck outside the stadium without access to the tickets they thought they’d bought.[aside postID=arts_13990640 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/20260528-WORLDCUPBARS-JY-02-KQED.jpg']StubHub told KQED that FIFA’s ticketing app has seen performance issues affecting ticket transfers across all resale platforms, leading to situations where the transfer process couldn’t be completed in time for the match.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Every order is backed by our FanProtect Guarantee and getting fans to their matches remains our top priority for the rest of this tournament,” a company spokesperson said, adding that fans who are still having ticket problems should contact customer services directly and ask for “World Cup specialist support.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In an emailed statement, FIFA told KQED that it “can guarantee the validity and delivery of tickets purchased through its official platforms.” However, the problems that Cai and other fans have experienced on third-party sites have arisen when they can no longer \u003cem>buy \u003c/em>tickets on FIFA’s website.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://help.ticketmaster.com/hc/en-us/articles/9781090147985-Third-Party-Resale-Tickets-Everything-You-Need-to-Know#2026_world_cup\">Ticketmaster\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://seatgeek.ca/buyer-guarantee\">SeatGeek\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.tickpick.com/buyertrust-guarantee/\">TickPick\u003c/a> also have consumer guarantees listed on their website that promise buyers will receive their tickets on time ahead of the event. If you’ve already bought a ticket, confirm — as soon as possible — that you actually have access to it on the FIFA Resale Marketplace and FWC2026 Mobile Tickets app.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you don’t see your tickets? Contact the resale site as soon as possible. Have your order number ready, along with any other information you had to share when you made your purchase. In past cases, these sites have usually offered affected customers a full refund, and in some instances, folks got different seats to the same game.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Don’t fall for a scam\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Vendor problems on resale sites may encourage some soccer fans to look \u003cem>elsewhere\u003c/em> for a better deal. But talking to strangers on sites that are not verified — like Facebook Marketplace — increases the risk of getting ripped off, Santa Clara County Assistant District Attorney James Gibbons-Shapiro said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The criminal is simply looking for someone desperate enough to go to the World Cup that they’re willing to send a lot of money right away to a total stranger,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12088839\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12088839\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2282393383-scaled-e1782497582317.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Weston McKennie of the United States runs with the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Australia at Seattle Stadium on June 19, 2026, in Seattle, Washington. \u003ccite>(Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If you find seats you like on a verified site like Ticketmaster or SeatGeek, make sure you make the actual payment on this same website — and never on another platform. Scammers often promise you “a better deal” if you make the payment using instant payment sites like Zelle, Venmo and Cash App.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But fraudsters aren’t trying to save you money with this suggestion: They’re trying to make it easier for themselves to keep your money.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you paid for seats that are listed on Ticketmaster, for example, but paid the “vendor” on Venmo, you can’t claim Ticketmaster’s buyer protections, as you didn’t actually use the resale site to make a purchase.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>No, don’t try to buy a ticket outside Levi’s Stadium on July 1\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While some scammers are able to print tickets that look very “realistic,” there are, in fact, no physical tickets being issued during this World Cup. FIFA has adopted a fully electronic model for fans to store and display their tickets on their phones using the FWC2026 Mobile Tickets app.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So if someone approaches you outside Levi’s Stadium and offers you a physical ticket, that’s a fake. “Don’t go to the stadium to try to buy a ticket there,” Gibbons-Shapiro said. “You’re not gonna be able to get in, and you’re going to lose all your money.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087462\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087462\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061226_WORLDCUPFANS_2163-KQED-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061226_WORLDCUPFANS_2163-KQED-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061226_WORLDCUPFANS_2163-KQED-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061226_WORLDCUPFANS_2163-KQED-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans gather ahead of the USA vs Paraguay World Cup game in Los Angeles on June 12, 2026. \u003ccite>(Lauren Justice for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Scalpers are actually not permitted on stadium grounds — and reselling tickets near the stadium is a misdemeanor crime in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Additionally, ticket rules require fans to claim their tickets on FIFA’s platforms at least 1 hour before the match starts; otherwise, they won’t be able to enter the stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If someone shows you they have a virtual ticket available on the FIFA Resale Marketplace website — but the game begins in 20 minutes — it’s likely you won’t be able to claim the ticket once the seller has transferred it to you.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>I just got scammed buying a fake World Cup ticket. What can I do?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If this were an individual you met online, make sure to document all your communication with them — including screenshots of any messages in case they attempt to delete anything from their end of the conversation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you were scammed online or over the phone:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can then report the situation to your local police department, as the city where you live is defined as where the crime took place.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you bought the fake ticket in person from a scalper:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Contact the police department of the city where the transaction took place. “If that happened right outside the stadium, that would be Santa Clara Police Department,” Gibbons-Shapiro said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085866\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12085866\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/FIFAWorldCupLevisStadiumGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1235\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/FIFAWorldCupLevisStadiumGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/FIFAWorldCupLevisStadiumGetty-160x99.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/FIFAWorldCupLevisStadiumGetty-1536x948.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (temporarily renamed from Levi’s Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup) in Santa Clara, California, on May 19, 2026. Levi’s Stadium will host six matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including five group stage matches throughout June 2026. \u003ccite>(Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>You can also file a complaint with the \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/contact/consumer-complaint-against-business-or-company\">California Attorney General’s office\u003c/a> or the \u003ca href=\"https://www.bbb.org/file-a-complaint\">Better Business Bureau\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gibbons-Shapiro said his office is ready to prosecute anyone who tricks others into buying fake World Cup tickets, adding that he would consider that to be a felony.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We have robust teams for consumer protection and theft enforcement,” he said. “We’re going to prosecute the scammers.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you think you were scammed while using a verified resale site, contact the platform’s customer service team immediately. While it’s not certain that they can get you the seat you initially bought, they can usually help you get your money back — something that’s not guaranteed at all if you contact a stranger making offers on social media.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Ticketmaster:\u003c/strong> Call their customer service line directly at 800-653-8000, available Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. PST, Saturdays 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. PST, and Sundays 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>StubHub:\u003c/strong> You can message the customer service team \u003ca href=\"https://my.stubhub.com/contactus\">online\u003c/a> or call 888-720-9452.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>SeatGeek:\u003c/strong> You can message the customer service team \u003ca href=\"https://seatgeek.com/help/articles/8985475094931-Help-with-an-order\">online\u003c/a>, email \u003ca href=\"mailto:hi@seatgeek.com\">hi@seatgeek.com\u003c/a> or call 888-506-4101.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>TickPick:\u003c/strong> You can fill out an \u003ca href=\"https://support.tickpick.com/hc/en-us/requests/new\">online form\u003c/a> or call 845-538-4567.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story includes reporting from The Associated Press.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Want to see the U.S. men’s national soccer team play in the Bay Area against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup’s knockout phase? What to know about buying tickets on resale sites.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>If you hadn’t already heard, the U.S. men’s national soccer team is coming to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area\">Bay Area\u003c/a> — to play its first World Cup knockout stage match at Levi’s Stadium on Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Although the team suffered its \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/06/25/nx-s1-5869807/2026-world-cup-fifa-usmnt-turkey\">first loss\u003c/a> in the tournament last week with a 3-2 loss against Turkey — in a true nail-biter of a match that went to overtime — the team has nonetheless advanced to the next phase of the competition after pulling off a pretty historic run in the group stage matches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the 2022 World Cup, the Americans only scored three goals in the \u003cem>whole tournament\u003c/em>. This year, they’ve already more than doubled that. And even two consecutive wins — first against Paraguay, then Australia — are something the men’s soccer team hasn’t achieved since 1930.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, the most dominant USMNT of a generation is coming to Santa Clara for the July 1 knockout stage match to play against Bosnia and Herzegovina.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if the fútbol hype is getting to you and you’re tempted to try to see superstar striker Folarin Balogun score — or Christian Pulisic play after finally recovering from his calf injury — you’re not the only one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089024\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12089024 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/USAWorldCupGetty2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1335\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/USAWorldCupGetty2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/USAWorldCupGetty2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/USAWorldCupGetty2-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sebastian Berhalter #14 of the United States celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Türkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026, in Inglewood, California. \u003ccite>(Jamie Squire/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Demand for World Cup games has only grown since the tournament kicked off, with many of the more “affordable” seats for the upcoming USMNT match listed online still going for thousands of dollars — although prices for some of these spots have dropped sharply in the immediate run-up to the game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know if you’re hoping to see the USMNT play their World Cup knockout match in Santa Clara on Wednesday — how much tickets are going for and how to avoid falling prey to a ticket scam.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Can I still get a ticket to see the United States men’s national soccer team’s Bay Area World Cup match?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>FIFA is no longer offering tickets or hospitality packages for the upcoming USMNT match on its \u003ca href=\"https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/tickets\">official website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This means your remaining option is to check out available resale tickets on verified resale sites like Ticketmaster, StubHub, SeatGeek and TickPick.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087136\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087136\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-02-BL_KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-02-BL_KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-02-BL_KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-02-BL_KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A team locker room at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, temporarily renamed from Levi’s Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in Santa Clara on June 10, 2026, where six tournament matches will be played. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If you end up buying tickets on a resale site, you will choose the seat you want and make your payment on that site, but you will then have to confirm that these tickets are now yours on either the official FIFA World Cup 2026 App or the FIFA Resale Marketplace website.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for the actual tickets, they will only be available on FIFA’s FWC2026 Mobile Tickets app — available in both the \u003ca href=\"https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fwc2026-mobile-tickets/id6532603739\">Apple\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.tixngo.app.fifatickets&hl=en_US\">Play\u003c/a> stores.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A resale vendor can only transfer the tickets via the FIFA Resale Marketplace — they can’t promise to email or text you your tickets.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How much are tickets for the USMNT’s July 1 World Cup match?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>What’s a fair price for tickets? Because FIFA is no longer offering tickets for this match, it’s difficult to say with accuracy. Last week, seats furthest from the field were going for between $2,000 and $4,000, while those closest to the action were surpassing $5,000.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, a day before the match, prices for seats in the 100 section have dropped significantly on StubHub, SeatGeek and TickPick, with some now going for less than $2,500. A few seats in the 400 section — the farthest from the field — were being offered for less than $2,000 on Monday morning. TicketMaster is no longer offering tickets for this match.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Even on verified resale sites, stay alert\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A few weeks before the Australia vs. Paraguay match at Levi’s Stadium on June 25, Marin County soccer fan Lei Cai bought two tickets to the game on StubHub. She soon received an email from StubHub telling her that her tickets were ready.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But when she logged into the FIFA portal, “that’s when I found out there’s no tickets to claim,” Cai said. And after calling StubHub multiple times for several weeks, trying to get an answer, she was eventually informed by the company that the person who listed the seats online never actually made the tickets available for her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087142\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12087142 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-51-BL_KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-51-BL_KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-51-BL_KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-51-BL_KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, temporarily renamed from Levi’s Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in Santa Clara, on June 10, 2026, where six tournament matches will be played. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Cai said StubHub originally offered only a refund for her tickets after learning of the situation. “You should not be able to sell something that doesn’t exist,” Cai said after accepting she wouldn’t be going to the game. “You’re scamming families.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, after KQED contacted the company requesting comment on Cai’s situation, StubHub reached out to her directly to offer two new, free tickets to the same match — in a seating section much closer to the field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Similar ticket transfer problems have plagued soccer fans \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-ticket-problems-stubhub-fifa-21c31f5cc33012e7f4619d4bff3b44a1\">nationwide\u003c/a>. At Spain’s World Cup match against Cape Verde in Atlanta on June 15, an Associated Press journalist \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-ticket-problems-stubhub-fifa-21c31f5cc33012e7f4619d4bff3b44a1\">encountered\u003c/a> more than a dozen fans who reported being in similar situations, stuck outside the stadium without access to the tickets they thought they’d bought.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>StubHub told KQED that FIFA’s ticketing app has seen performance issues affecting ticket transfers across all resale platforms, leading to situations where the transfer process couldn’t be completed in time for the match.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Every order is backed by our FanProtect Guarantee and getting fans to their matches remains our top priority for the rest of this tournament,” a company spokesperson said, adding that fans who are still having ticket problems should contact customer services directly and ask for “World Cup specialist support.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In an emailed statement, FIFA told KQED that it “can guarantee the validity and delivery of tickets purchased through its official platforms.” However, the problems that Cai and other fans have experienced on third-party sites have arisen when they can no longer \u003cem>buy \u003c/em>tickets on FIFA’s website.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://help.ticketmaster.com/hc/en-us/articles/9781090147985-Third-Party-Resale-Tickets-Everything-You-Need-to-Know#2026_world_cup\">Ticketmaster\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://seatgeek.ca/buyer-guarantee\">SeatGeek\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.tickpick.com/buyertrust-guarantee/\">TickPick\u003c/a> also have consumer guarantees listed on their website that promise buyers will receive their tickets on time ahead of the event. If you’ve already bought a ticket, confirm — as soon as possible — that you actually have access to it on the FIFA Resale Marketplace and FWC2026 Mobile Tickets app.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you don’t see your tickets? Contact the resale site as soon as possible. Have your order number ready, along with any other information you had to share when you made your purchase. In past cases, these sites have usually offered affected customers a full refund, and in some instances, folks got different seats to the same game.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Don’t fall for a scam\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Vendor problems on resale sites may encourage some soccer fans to look \u003cem>elsewhere\u003c/em> for a better deal. But talking to strangers on sites that are not verified — like Facebook Marketplace — increases the risk of getting ripped off, Santa Clara County Assistant District Attorney James Gibbons-Shapiro said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The criminal is simply looking for someone desperate enough to go to the World Cup that they’re willing to send a lot of money right away to a total stranger,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12088839\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12088839\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2282393383-scaled-e1782497582317.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Weston McKennie of the United States runs with the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Australia at Seattle Stadium on June 19, 2026, in Seattle, Washington. \u003ccite>(Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If you find seats you like on a verified site like Ticketmaster or SeatGeek, make sure you make the actual payment on this same website — and never on another platform. Scammers often promise you “a better deal” if you make the payment using instant payment sites like Zelle, Venmo and Cash App.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But fraudsters aren’t trying to save you money with this suggestion: They’re trying to make it easier for themselves to keep your money.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you paid for seats that are listed on Ticketmaster, for example, but paid the “vendor” on Venmo, you can’t claim Ticketmaster’s buyer protections, as you didn’t actually use the resale site to make a purchase.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>No, don’t try to buy a ticket outside Levi’s Stadium on July 1\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While some scammers are able to print tickets that look very “realistic,” there are, in fact, no physical tickets being issued during this World Cup. FIFA has adopted a fully electronic model for fans to store and display their tickets on their phones using the FWC2026 Mobile Tickets app.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So if someone approaches you outside Levi’s Stadium and offers you a physical ticket, that’s a fake. “Don’t go to the stadium to try to buy a ticket there,” Gibbons-Shapiro said. “You’re not gonna be able to get in, and you’re going to lose all your money.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087462\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087462\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061226_WORLDCUPFANS_2163-KQED-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061226_WORLDCUPFANS_2163-KQED-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061226_WORLDCUPFANS_2163-KQED-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061226_WORLDCUPFANS_2163-KQED-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans gather ahead of the USA vs Paraguay World Cup game in Los Angeles on June 12, 2026. \u003ccite>(Lauren Justice for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Scalpers are actually not permitted on stadium grounds — and reselling tickets near the stadium is a misdemeanor crime in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Additionally, ticket rules require fans to claim their tickets on FIFA’s platforms at least 1 hour before the match starts; otherwise, they won’t be able to enter the stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If someone shows you they have a virtual ticket available on the FIFA Resale Marketplace website — but the game begins in 20 minutes — it’s likely you won’t be able to claim the ticket once the seller has transferred it to you.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>I just got scammed buying a fake World Cup ticket. What can I do?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If this were an individual you met online, make sure to document all your communication with them — including screenshots of any messages in case they attempt to delete anything from their end of the conversation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you were scammed online or over the phone:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can then report the situation to your local police department, as the city where you live is defined as where the crime took place.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you bought the fake ticket in person from a scalper:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Contact the police department of the city where the transaction took place. “If that happened right outside the stadium, that would be Santa Clara Police Department,” Gibbons-Shapiro said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085866\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12085866\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/FIFAWorldCupLevisStadiumGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1235\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/FIFAWorldCupLevisStadiumGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/FIFAWorldCupLevisStadiumGetty-160x99.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/FIFAWorldCupLevisStadiumGetty-1536x948.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (temporarily renamed from Levi’s Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup) in Santa Clara, California, on May 19, 2026. Levi’s Stadium will host six matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including five group stage matches throughout June 2026. \u003ccite>(Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>You can also file a complaint with the \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/contact/consumer-complaint-against-business-or-company\">California Attorney General’s office\u003c/a> or the \u003ca href=\"https://www.bbb.org/file-a-complaint\">Better Business Bureau\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gibbons-Shapiro said his office is ready to prosecute anyone who tricks others into buying fake World Cup tickets, adding that he would consider that to be a felony.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We have robust teams for consumer protection and theft enforcement,” he said. “We’re going to prosecute the scammers.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you think you were scammed while using a verified resale site, contact the platform’s customer service team immediately. While it’s not certain that they can get you the seat you initially bought, they can usually help you get your money back — something that’s not guaranteed at all if you contact a stranger making offers on social media.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Ticketmaster:\u003c/strong> Call their customer service line directly at 800-653-8000, available Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. PST, Saturdays 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. PST, and Sundays 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>StubHub:\u003c/strong> You can message the customer service team \u003ca href=\"https://my.stubhub.com/contactus\">online\u003c/a> or call 888-720-9452.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>SeatGeek:\u003c/strong> You can message the customer service team \u003ca href=\"https://seatgeek.com/help/articles/8985475094931-Help-with-an-order\">online\u003c/a>, email \u003ca href=\"mailto:hi@seatgeek.com\">hi@seatgeek.com\u003c/a> or call 888-506-4101.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>TickPick:\u003c/strong> You can fill out an \u003ca href=\"https://support.tickpick.com/hc/en-us/requests/new\">online form\u003c/a> or call 845-538-4567.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story includes reporting from The Associated Press.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "What It Was Like Inside Levi’s for the Algeria vs. Jordan World Cup Match",
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"content": "\u003cp>One, two, three, viva l’Algerie! One, two, three, viva l’Algerie!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The chants were thunderous, with thousands of fans of Algeria’s national soccer team celebrating a 2-1 victory over Jordan at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/levis-stadium\">Levi’s Stadium\u003c/a> on Monday night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Long after the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083101/world-cup-2026-bay-area-games-where-is-fifa-world-cup-santa-clara-levis-stadium-tickets-fan-zone-watch-parties\">World Cup match\u003c/a> ended, the throngs of revelers filled the cavernous concourses, and the building shook as they danced, jumped for joy and played drums and horns.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While Algeria’s supporters were the last ones cheering, just about every moment surrounding the match at the temporarily \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cBQqZzxkA4Q\">renamed San Francisco Bay Area Stadium\u003c/a> in Santa Clara felt like a celebration of sport, unity and togetherness among people hailing from far beyond Algeria, Jordan and the broader Middle East.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Right now it’s a time for the Middle East to kind of unite,” Sandy Kikhia of San José said ahead of the match. Kikhia is of Syrian descent and attended her first \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086953/the-world-cup-has-arrived-in-the-san-francisco-bay-area-is-anyone-else-coming\">World Cup game\u003c/a> with two of her sisters, Masah and Jana, all supporting Jordan’s side in the team’s first-ever World Cup.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the sisters said a win for either team was a win for the larger community, especially for fans whose teams are not in this World Cup, such as Syrians, Palestinians and Lebanese people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12088557\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12088557\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-19-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-19-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-19-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-19-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A child held up on a person’s shoulders waves a Jordanian flag outside Levi’s Stadium, ahead of the World Cup match between Jordan and Algeria, in Santa Clara on Monday, June 22, 2026. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/ KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“There is nothing that is nicer than having our whole Arab community come together for something that brings everyone joy,” Masah Kikhia said. “Such a nice feeling to see everyone wearing their cultural clothing, the shemagh, the keffiyeh,” she said, referring to both the black and white checkered scarves with Palestinian origins, and the red and white version most commonly donned by Jordanians.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Fédération Internationale de Football Association, which organizes the World Cup and is widely known as FIFA, didn’t grant KQED any \u003ca href=\"https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2026-06-17/fifa-didnt-offer-gbh-news-media-credentials-for-the-world-cup-we-went-anyway\">media credentials to cover matches\u003c/a>. So we purchased our own upper deck ticket for $400 to experience the game, the stadium and the fandom up close.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The fans did not disappoint.[aside postID=news_12086949 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-12-BL_KQED.jpg']Even hours ahead of kickoff, the parking lots outside of the stadium were filled with thousands of people wearing their nation’s colors, dancing on cement railings, greeting each other with big hugs and waving huge flags.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Groups of people huddled around news reporters, anxiously awaiting the chance to be broadcast live on Algerian and Jordanian news networks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>No tailgating is allowed at World Cup matches, but some generous folks handed out snacks and sweets, like dates and baklava, and others posed for pictures with bags of pistachios.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Amine Tigha, an Algerian who lives in New York City, traveled to the Bay Area for this match, also his first World Cup game, and said he loves the weather here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The most important thing,” he said ahead of kickoff, is that Algeria wins the game, but he said the vibes were more of a friendly rivalry with Jordan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You know, we both are Arab, we share a lot of things. We share the religion, the language and everything. It’s like a derby. We play like neighbors,” he said with a big laugh.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nazim Bellahsene is originally from Algeria and has lived in the U.S. for 15 years. He lives in Santa Clara and came to the match with his wife, Wisam, and his two young kids, Emma and Nolan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12088556\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12088556\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-18-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-18-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-18-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-18-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Supporters of Jordan’s men’s soccer team party outside of Levi’s Stadium, ahead of the World Cup match between Jordan and Algeria, in Santa Clara on Monday, June 22, 2026. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It’s super exciting. We’re loving it. It’s really unexpected that it’s here at home, near home. So, you know, we can’t miss it,” he said of the match. Monday was his first time ever seeing the Algerian national team on the pitch in person.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Decked out in an Algerian jersey and draped with the country’s flag, Bellahsene was confident in his side.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re looking forward to a win, for sure,” he said. “But you know, at the same time, enjoying and having a great family time with everybody here in a very festive environment. So it’s going to be fun.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12088550\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12088550\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-07-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-07-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-07-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-07-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans take a selfie from the concourse of Levi’s Stadium during the World Cup match between Algeria and Jordan in Santa Clara on Monday, June 22, 2026. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The stadium was filled with people from seemingly all backgrounds, from babies to elders, and several fans said they loved the diversity of the Bay Area and the international draw of the sport.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Alfred and Veronica Zamora, and their daughter Brianna, are San José residents and big fans of Mexico’s national team. Like many other fans on Monday night, they sported their Mexico kits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The family has been to 49ers games at Levi’s before, but the vibes around the match on Monday were in “a whole different league,” Alfred said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12088552\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12088552\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-12-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-12-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-12-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-12-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A view of the temporarily renamed San Francisco Bay Area Stadium filled with fans from an upper deck seat purchased by KQED for the World Cup match between Algeria and Jordan on Monday, June 22, 2026. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It’s just a different experience altogether, you know. [American] football is great, but this is a world event. I feel like everybody’s here and joined together to watch something good.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jasmine and Zayna Alfarah, sisters of Jordanian descent from Los Angeles, drove up to the Bay Area overnight Sunday into Monday with their two friends, Jacqueline Gutierrez and Marilyn Maldonado.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They arrived at 4 a.m. Monday, but said the lack of sleep and long drive was worthwhile.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12088553\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12088553\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-13-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-13-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-13-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-13-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The flags of Algeria and Jordan are displayed on the pitch at Levi’s Stadium on Monday, June 22, 2026, just before kickoff in the World Cup match between the two nations’ men’s soccer teams. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Seeing Jordan come into the World Cup for the first time is just such a beautiful experience,” Jasmine Alfarah said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gutierrez and Maldonado support Mexico and Honduras’ national teams, respectively, but on Monday, like so many fans do during the World Cup, they adopted new team allegiances.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’re making history,” Gutierrez said of Jordan’s squad. “We’re here to witness this history, and I’m proud.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12088551\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12088551\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-11-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lupita Gonzalez and her dad Sergio Gonzalez, both Oakland residents originally from Mexico, attended their first World Cup game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Monday, June 22, 2026. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>During the game’s newly mandated hydration breaks, while fans around the globe watching TV are served ads, people in the stadium were treated to a live mariachi performance and light shows that connected cell phone flashlights at halftime.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Lupita Gonzalez and her dad Sergio Gonzalez, both Oakland residents originally from Mexico, coming to the game was realizing a dream of his that he had held onto since he was a boy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“For Father’s Day, I wanted to give my dad tickets. My dad is a huge soccer fan, and this is his first World Cup ever. As a kid, he dreamed of going to the World Cup when it was in Mexico in 1970. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to do it, so I wanted it to make my dad’s dreams come true,” Gonzalez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12088548\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12088548\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-02-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-02-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-02-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-02-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans of Algeria’s soccer team celebrate a victory over Jordan in the concourses of Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Monday, June 22, 2026. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>She and her family \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087163/for-bay-area-latinos-world-cup-is-a-celebration-of-pride-and-identity\">root for Mexico’s team\u003c/a> most days, but on Monday, they were pulling for Jordan. Gonzalez’s great-grandmother immigrated from Lebanon to Mexico, and they wanted to support a nearby country.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She said she was a bit wary of coming to a World Cup game because of the way the U.S. has treated immigrants and made it harder for some \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087615/protests-and-celebrations-iranians-in-los-angeles-have-mixed-feelings-on-world-cup\">teams and fans to experience the tournament\u003c/a>, but she said her experience on Monday proved that fans will support one another in the name of soccer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s not about the politics. It’s not even about FIFA as an organization. It’s about showing up for the country where you’re from or a country that you want to support. I just love that energy,” she said. “We’re sitting next to folks that are rooting for Algeria, we’re still high-fiving, we’re still enjoying each other’s wins because that’s what the World Cup is about.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>One, two, three, viva l’Algerie! One, two, three, viva l’Algerie!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The chants were thunderous, with thousands of fans of Algeria’s national soccer team celebrating a 2-1 victory over Jordan at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/levis-stadium\">Levi’s Stadium\u003c/a> on Monday night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Long after the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083101/world-cup-2026-bay-area-games-where-is-fifa-world-cup-santa-clara-levis-stadium-tickets-fan-zone-watch-parties\">World Cup match\u003c/a> ended, the throngs of revelers filled the cavernous concourses, and the building shook as they danced, jumped for joy and played drums and horns.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While Algeria’s supporters were the last ones cheering, just about every moment surrounding the match at the temporarily \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cBQqZzxkA4Q\">renamed San Francisco Bay Area Stadium\u003c/a> in Santa Clara felt like a celebration of sport, unity and togetherness among people hailing from far beyond Algeria, Jordan and the broader Middle East.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Right now it’s a time for the Middle East to kind of unite,” Sandy Kikhia of San José said ahead of the match. Kikhia is of Syrian descent and attended her first \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086953/the-world-cup-has-arrived-in-the-san-francisco-bay-area-is-anyone-else-coming\">World Cup game\u003c/a> with two of her sisters, Masah and Jana, all supporting Jordan’s side in the team’s first-ever World Cup.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the sisters said a win for either team was a win for the larger community, especially for fans whose teams are not in this World Cup, such as Syrians, Palestinians and Lebanese people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12088557\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12088557\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-19-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-19-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-19-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-19-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A child held up on a person’s shoulders waves a Jordanian flag outside Levi’s Stadium, ahead of the World Cup match between Jordan and Algeria, in Santa Clara on Monday, June 22, 2026. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/ KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“There is nothing that is nicer than having our whole Arab community come together for something that brings everyone joy,” Masah Kikhia said. “Such a nice feeling to see everyone wearing their cultural clothing, the shemagh, the keffiyeh,” she said, referring to both the black and white checkered scarves with Palestinian origins, and the red and white version most commonly donned by Jordanians.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Fédération Internationale de Football Association, which organizes the World Cup and is widely known as FIFA, didn’t grant KQED any \u003ca href=\"https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2026-06-17/fifa-didnt-offer-gbh-news-media-credentials-for-the-world-cup-we-went-anyway\">media credentials to cover matches\u003c/a>. So we purchased our own upper deck ticket for $400 to experience the game, the stadium and the fandom up close.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The fans did not disappoint.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Even hours ahead of kickoff, the parking lots outside of the stadium were filled with thousands of people wearing their nation’s colors, dancing on cement railings, greeting each other with big hugs and waving huge flags.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Groups of people huddled around news reporters, anxiously awaiting the chance to be broadcast live on Algerian and Jordanian news networks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>No tailgating is allowed at World Cup matches, but some generous folks handed out snacks and sweets, like dates and baklava, and others posed for pictures with bags of pistachios.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Amine Tigha, an Algerian who lives in New York City, traveled to the Bay Area for this match, also his first World Cup game, and said he loves the weather here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The most important thing,” he said ahead of kickoff, is that Algeria wins the game, but he said the vibes were more of a friendly rivalry with Jordan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You know, we both are Arab, we share a lot of things. We share the religion, the language and everything. It’s like a derby. We play like neighbors,” he said with a big laugh.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nazim Bellahsene is originally from Algeria and has lived in the U.S. for 15 years. He lives in Santa Clara and came to the match with his wife, Wisam, and his two young kids, Emma and Nolan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12088556\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12088556\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-18-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-18-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-18-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-18-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Supporters of Jordan’s men’s soccer team party outside of Levi’s Stadium, ahead of the World Cup match between Jordan and Algeria, in Santa Clara on Monday, June 22, 2026. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It’s super exciting. We’re loving it. It’s really unexpected that it’s here at home, near home. So, you know, we can’t miss it,” he said of the match. Monday was his first time ever seeing the Algerian national team on the pitch in person.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Decked out in an Algerian jersey and draped with the country’s flag, Bellahsene was confident in his side.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re looking forward to a win, for sure,” he said. “But you know, at the same time, enjoying and having a great family time with everybody here in a very festive environment. So it’s going to be fun.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12088550\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12088550\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-07-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-07-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-07-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-07-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans take a selfie from the concourse of Levi’s Stadium during the World Cup match between Algeria and Jordan in Santa Clara on Monday, June 22, 2026. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The stadium was filled with people from seemingly all backgrounds, from babies to elders, and several fans said they loved the diversity of the Bay Area and the international draw of the sport.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Alfred and Veronica Zamora, and their daughter Brianna, are San José residents and big fans of Mexico’s national team. Like many other fans on Monday night, they sported their Mexico kits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The family has been to 49ers games at Levi’s before, but the vibes around the match on Monday were in “a whole different league,” Alfred said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12088552\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12088552\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-12-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-12-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-12-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-12-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A view of the temporarily renamed San Francisco Bay Area Stadium filled with fans from an upper deck seat purchased by KQED for the World Cup match between Algeria and Jordan on Monday, June 22, 2026. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It’s just a different experience altogether, you know. [American] football is great, but this is a world event. I feel like everybody’s here and joined together to watch something good.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jasmine and Zayna Alfarah, sisters of Jordanian descent from Los Angeles, drove up to the Bay Area overnight Sunday into Monday with their two friends, Jacqueline Gutierrez and Marilyn Maldonado.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They arrived at 4 a.m. Monday, but said the lack of sleep and long drive was worthwhile.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12088553\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12088553\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-13-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-13-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-13-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-13-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The flags of Algeria and Jordan are displayed on the pitch at Levi’s Stadium on Monday, June 22, 2026, just before kickoff in the World Cup match between the two nations’ men’s soccer teams. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Seeing Jordan come into the World Cup for the first time is just such a beautiful experience,” Jasmine Alfarah said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gutierrez and Maldonado support Mexico and Honduras’ national teams, respectively, but on Monday, like so many fans do during the World Cup, they adopted new team allegiances.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’re making history,” Gutierrez said of Jordan’s squad. “We’re here to witness this history, and I’m proud.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12088551\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12088551\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-11-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lupita Gonzalez and her dad Sergio Gonzalez, both Oakland residents originally from Mexico, attended their first World Cup game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Monday, June 22, 2026. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>During the game’s newly mandated hydration breaks, while fans around the globe watching TV are served ads, people in the stadium were treated to a live mariachi performance and light shows that connected cell phone flashlights at halftime.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Lupita Gonzalez and her dad Sergio Gonzalez, both Oakland residents originally from Mexico, coming to the game was realizing a dream of his that he had held onto since he was a boy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“For Father’s Day, I wanted to give my dad tickets. My dad is a huge soccer fan, and this is his first World Cup ever. As a kid, he dreamed of going to the World Cup when it was in Mexico in 1970. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to do it, so I wanted it to make my dad’s dreams come true,” Gonzalez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12088548\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12088548\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-02-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-02-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-02-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260622-WCJORALG-KQED-02-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans of Algeria’s soccer team celebrate a victory over Jordan in the concourses of Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Monday, June 22, 2026. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>She and her family \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087163/for-bay-area-latinos-world-cup-is-a-celebration-of-pride-and-identity\">root for Mexico’s team\u003c/a> most days, but on Monday, they were pulling for Jordan. Gonzalez’s great-grandmother immigrated from Lebanon to Mexico, and they wanted to support a nearby country.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She said she was a bit wary of coming to a World Cup game because of the way the U.S. has treated immigrants and made it harder for some \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087615/protests-and-celebrations-iranians-in-los-angeles-have-mixed-feelings-on-world-cup\">teams and fans to experience the tournament\u003c/a>, but she said her experience on Monday proved that fans will support one another in the name of soccer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s not about the politics. It’s not even about FIFA as an organization. It’s about showing up for the country where you’re from or a country that you want to support. I just love that energy,” she said. “We’re sitting next to folks that are rooting for Algeria, we’re still high-fiving, we’re still enjoying each other’s wins because that’s what the World Cup is about.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "an-oakland-soccer-program-helps-immigrant-youth-find-belonging",
"title": "An Oakland Soccer Program Helps Immigrant Youth Find Belonging",
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"headTitle": "An Oakland Soccer Program Helps Immigrant Youth Find Belonging | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>At the soccer fields of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/64582/how-can-the-community-school-model-support-newcomer-education\">Oakland International High School\u003c/a> in late May, players excitedly spilled onto the pitch for the last game of the season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Sometimes, I get super nervous before a game,” said Sharon, a 15-year-old player for a high school team in East Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Leave the negative aside, give the best of yourself,” the athlete, an immigrant from El Salvador, said to herself before each game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mildred, her teammate, said she admires Sharon’s improvement over the last year. At one point, she said, Sharon didn’t know how to kick a ball.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“But I would tell her to have confidence and to not stop,” said Mildred, 17, originally from Honduras.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086815\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086815\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_147-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1665\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_147-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_147-KQED-2000x1332.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_147-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_147-KQED-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_147-KQED-2048x1364.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Coach Alexis Catt rallies her players during halftime of their league’s final game of the season. After missing the playoffs last season, the team fought for a podium finish this spring. \u003ccite>(Ximena Natera for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The girls have come a long way: last season, their team didn’t make the playoffs. This spring, as the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/world-cup\">2026 FIFA World Cup\u003c/a> kicks off in the Bay Area, the girls set out to win third place.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More importantly, the teams play for community — “their sense of belonging,” said Alexis Catt, who coaches the East Oakland high school team as part of a national nonprofit Soccer Without Borders.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086824\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086824\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-1-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1140\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-1-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-1-KQED-2000x912.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-1-KQED-160x73.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-1-KQED-1536x700.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-1-KQED-2048x934.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: One Soccer Without Borders girls team earned a medal in the playoffs. Right: The Soccer Without Borders alumni team, composed of former Soccer Without Borders players, huddles after a match in April. Although they get to compete in Soccer Without Borders’s regular league, the alumni are responsible for training themselves. The team has become a tight-knit community for those who aged out of the high school program. \u003ccite>(Ximena Natera for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086816\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086816\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_152-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1667\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_152-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_152-KQED-2000x1334.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_152-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_152-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_152-KQED-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Oakland Soccer Without Borders player Tatiana battles a Hayward player during the last game of the season. \u003ccite>(Ximena Natera for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area location provides critical year-round support to newcomer refugee and immigrant youth across Alameda and San Francisco counties.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The program combines zero-cost access to fields, gear and soccer training with dedicated mental health resources to support underserved youth in the Bay Area. Through a new program called \u003ca href=\"https://clinicaltrials.ucsf.edu/trial/NCT07339228\">Meet Me on the Pitch\u003c/a> and a collaboration with UCSF, coaches aim to provide comprehensive mental health support for the students on and off the field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086825\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086825\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1140\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-2-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-2-KQED-2000x912.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-2-KQED-160x73.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-2-KQED-1536x700.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-2-KQED-2048x934.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Soccer Without Borders coaches Alexis Catt and Ney Lovato photographed at the Soccer Without Borders office. \u003ccite>(Ximena Natera for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It’s a very holistic approach,” said Natalie Ramos, a program coordinator. On top of coaching, Ramos and other staff act as case managers and provide academic mentorship to their students.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If they need support in their classes, I can do that. If they’re having trouble communicating with one of their teachers, I can help them with that,” Ramos said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ye-Htet Soe, co-director of Soccer Without Borders in the Bay Area, knows firsthand the difference soccer can make in a kid’s life.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said he remembers his first time playing soccer in a refugee camp between Thailand and Burma. Instead of grass and cleats, the kids played shoeless in the dirt, with a ball wrapped in duct tape.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We were just so happy,” he said. There were no lines to organize the field, but “it was organized in our heart.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086823\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086823\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_019-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"2000\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_019-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_019-KQED-2000x1600.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_019-KQED-160x128.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_019-KQED-1536x1229.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_019-KQED-2048x1638.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ingrid, a Soccer Without Borders player, poses for a portrait with her boyfriend at Robert’s Regional Park during an end-of-season team picnic. Alongside the stressors of navigating a new country and language, the students experience the universal highs and lows of the teenage experience: romance, friendship, and the uncertainty of the future. \u003ccite>(Ximena Natera for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086812\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086812\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260509_014-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1665\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260509_014-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260509_014-KQED-2000x1332.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260509_014-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260509_014-KQED-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260509_014-KQED-2048x1364.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Loani (left) and Abyade, Soccer Without Borders players from the Purple Team, hang out with teammates and friends after a Saturday game at Oakland High. To increase accessibility, the program concentrates most games in a single day to alleviate the burden of traveling across the Bay on families who often have limited time and resources. \u003ccite>(Ximena Natera for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Years later, Soe said he hopes the program can provide the Bay Area’s youth with the same opportunity to find joy on and off the pitch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Soccer Without Borders is all about being part of something larger than you,” Soe said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Using funding from the National Institute of Health, the \u003ca href=\"https://clinicaltrials.ucsf.edu/trial/NCT07339228\">Meet Me on the Pitch\u003c/a> study will enroll youth aged 14-21 over the next two years to formally explore how soccer can be used as a holistic way to support mental well-being.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086819\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086819\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_200-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1667\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_200-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_200-KQED-2000x1334.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_200-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_200-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_200-KQED-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Meet Me at the Pitch program, whose approach was informed by a youth advisory team, seeks to bring mental health support out of the clinical setting and onto the field where the kids have learned to build their own communities. The Youth Advisory Team helped pick activities, define relevant topics, and find the right language for discussing mental health. \u003ccite>(Ximena Natera for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086814\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086814\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260528_116-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1666\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260528_116-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260528_116-KQED-2000x1333.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260528_116-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260528_116-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260528_116-KQED-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Soccer Without Borders Coach Natalie Ramos and Malak, a Youth Advisory Team member and a participant in the “Meet me at the Pitch” pilot program, ride past a cloud on a carousel at Six Flags during a program field trip. \u003ccite>(Ximena Natera for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The goal is to see whether programs like Soccer Without Borders can markedly improve mental health, academic support-seeking and social belonging among youth who participate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is already based on the DNA of what Soccer Without Borders has been doing for decades, really using soccer as a way to build community, as a way to build confidence,” said Mara Decker, an associate professor at the Institute for Health Policy Studies at UCSF, who is leading the study.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Decker said the intervention gives kids the opportunity to reflect on their goals and take advantage of guidance and mentorship to get there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I feel like we so rarely in our lives have the time to just pause and think about what we want to do and what are the steps we need to take to get there,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086820\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086820\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_001-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"2000\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_001-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_001-KQED-2000x1600.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_001-KQED-160x128.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_001-KQED-1536x1229.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_001-KQED-2048x1638.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Soccer Without Borders Coach Natalie Ramos (center) and Youth Advisory Team members Amar (left) and Malak pose for a portrait outside Oakland International High.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Catt said she’s gotten to see her players grow both as individuals and as a team since last season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We create it as a developmental process. You don’t have to be good, you don’t get left behind,” Catt continued. “We have kids who have never played before with kids who are on their youth national team in their own country, playing on the same team and both excelling together.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Mildred, the program provided a place to land when she moved to the U.S. last year to reunite with her family. On her first day of classes at a high school in East Oakland, she asked around about soccer teams. By her second, she was already playing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It makes me feel free because I feel like [on the field] I can forget about my problems and make more friends,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086817\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086817\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_195-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1667\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_195-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_195-KQED-2000x1334.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_195-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_195-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_195-KQED-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Soccer Without Borders alumni team celebrates after their championship title win in late May. \u003ccite>(Ximena Natera for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086826\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086826\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1140\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-3-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-3-KQED-2000x912.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-3-KQED-160x73.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-3-KQED-1536x700.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-3-KQED-2048x934.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Coach Benji arrived in Oakland at age 10 to reunite with his father. Benji says that being the only Mam speaker at his school in Oakland felt like landing on a different planet. Communicating felt nearly impossible. “I can still remember those days… I cried a couple of times going to school,” he said. He found his first community through soccer when friends from Burma and Vietnam invited him to join Soccer Without Borders. For him, working as a coach supporting for other kids experiencing what he went through fills him with pride. \u003ccite>(Ximena Natera for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086813\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086813\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260509_034-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1665\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260509_034-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260509_034-KQED-2000x1332.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260509_034-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260509_034-KQED-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260509_034-KQED-2048x1364.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sweet, a player on the Soccer Without Borders alumni team, wraps her shoulders with a commemorative T-shirt signed by her teammates to celebrate her high school graduation. \u003ccite>(Ximena Natera for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Sharon’s entry into the sport was less immediate. She’d been in the U.S. for three years before Mildred finally convinced her to join the team. But now she’s hooked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It feels like a family. I feel really good when I play; I feel confident,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She struggled with being away from El Salvador when her grandfather passed away, but she said playing soccer helped her deal with it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I would come to practice, and it would make me feel good. I know he would feel good watching me play,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086827\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086827\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-4-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1826\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-4-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-4-KQED-2000x1461.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-4-KQED-160x117.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-4-KQED-1536x1122.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-4-KQED-2048x1496.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: Best friends Loani, Sharon and Mildred, Soccer Without Borders players from the Purple Team, pose for a portrait with their third-place medals after a grueling season. Right: Loani holds a soccer ball to show off her game-day nails. \u003ccite>(Ximena Natera for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086821\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086821\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_006-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"2000\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_006-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_006-KQED-2000x1600.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_006-KQED-160x128.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_006-KQED-1536x1229.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_006-KQED-2048x1638.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">“I’ve grown in here,” said Reyna (left), about being part of the Purple Team at Soccer Without Borders. For Reyna, who graduated from high school at the end of May with a ceremony at the Paramount Theatre, being in the U.S. allowed her to take soccer more seriously, a game she had played since childhood in her native El Salvador. After graduation, Soccer Without Borders players can continue playing, either by joining the Alumni Team or staying one more year with their original team. For Reyna, the choice to keep playing was simple: “They are my family, I am part of them.” This fall, she said, she has three things in her mind: Taking classes at Lainey College, finding a job and playing soccer.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Together, the teammates ended the game with a hard-fought victory and a well-deserved third-place title. Catt said the biggest win comes from giving the players a place to grow and develop through the sport.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If they are coming from somewhere that doesn’t speak the same language, it’s hard to feel a part of something,” she said. “And I think it’s a pretty common theme with soccer — people say it’s the same in every language.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This project was produced jointly by KQED and the CatchLight \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.catchlight.io/mental-health\">\u003cem>Mental Health Visual Desk\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> initiative. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Ximena Natera contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "As the World Cup kicks off in the Bay Area, nonprofit Soccer Without Borders combines mental health and mentorship with the beautiful game to create community. ",
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"title": "An Oakland Soccer Program Helps Immigrant Youth Find Belonging | KQED",
"description": "As the World Cup kicks off in the Bay Area, nonprofit Soccer Without Borders combines mental health and mentorship with the beautiful game to create community. ",
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"headline": "An Oakland Soccer Program Helps Immigrant Youth Find Belonging",
"datePublished": "2026-06-12T09:00:14-07:00",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>At the soccer fields of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/64582/how-can-the-community-school-model-support-newcomer-education\">Oakland International High School\u003c/a> in late May, players excitedly spilled onto the pitch for the last game of the season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Sometimes, I get super nervous before a game,” said Sharon, a 15-year-old player for a high school team in East Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Leave the negative aside, give the best of yourself,” the athlete, an immigrant from El Salvador, said to herself before each game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mildred, her teammate, said she admires Sharon’s improvement over the last year. At one point, she said, Sharon didn’t know how to kick a ball.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“But I would tell her to have confidence and to not stop,” said Mildred, 17, originally from Honduras.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086815\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086815\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_147-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1665\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_147-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_147-KQED-2000x1332.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_147-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_147-KQED-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_147-KQED-2048x1364.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Coach Alexis Catt rallies her players during halftime of their league’s final game of the season. After missing the playoffs last season, the team fought for a podium finish this spring. \u003ccite>(Ximena Natera for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The girls have come a long way: last season, their team didn’t make the playoffs. This spring, as the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/world-cup\">2026 FIFA World Cup\u003c/a> kicks off in the Bay Area, the girls set out to win third place.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More importantly, the teams play for community — “their sense of belonging,” said Alexis Catt, who coaches the East Oakland high school team as part of a national nonprofit Soccer Without Borders.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086824\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086824\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-1-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1140\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-1-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-1-KQED-2000x912.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-1-KQED-160x73.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-1-KQED-1536x700.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-1-KQED-2048x934.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: One Soccer Without Borders girls team earned a medal in the playoffs. Right: The Soccer Without Borders alumni team, composed of former Soccer Without Borders players, huddles after a match in April. Although they get to compete in Soccer Without Borders’s regular league, the alumni are responsible for training themselves. The team has become a tight-knit community for those who aged out of the high school program. \u003ccite>(Ximena Natera for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086816\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086816\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_152-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1667\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_152-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_152-KQED-2000x1334.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_152-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_152-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_152-KQED-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Oakland Soccer Without Borders player Tatiana battles a Hayward player during the last game of the season. \u003ccite>(Ximena Natera for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area location provides critical year-round support to newcomer refugee and immigrant youth across Alameda and San Francisco counties.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The program combines zero-cost access to fields, gear and soccer training with dedicated mental health resources to support underserved youth in the Bay Area. Through a new program called \u003ca href=\"https://clinicaltrials.ucsf.edu/trial/NCT07339228\">Meet Me on the Pitch\u003c/a> and a collaboration with UCSF, coaches aim to provide comprehensive mental health support for the students on and off the field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086825\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086825\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1140\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-2-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-2-KQED-2000x912.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-2-KQED-160x73.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-2-KQED-1536x700.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-2-KQED-2048x934.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Soccer Without Borders coaches Alexis Catt and Ney Lovato photographed at the Soccer Without Borders office. \u003ccite>(Ximena Natera for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It’s a very holistic approach,” said Natalie Ramos, a program coordinator. On top of coaching, Ramos and other staff act as case managers and provide academic mentorship to their students.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If they need support in their classes, I can do that. If they’re having trouble communicating with one of their teachers, I can help them with that,” Ramos said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ye-Htet Soe, co-director of Soccer Without Borders in the Bay Area, knows firsthand the difference soccer can make in a kid’s life.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said he remembers his first time playing soccer in a refugee camp between Thailand and Burma. Instead of grass and cleats, the kids played shoeless in the dirt, with a ball wrapped in duct tape.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We were just so happy,” he said. There were no lines to organize the field, but “it was organized in our heart.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086823\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086823\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_019-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"2000\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_019-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_019-KQED-2000x1600.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_019-KQED-160x128.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_019-KQED-1536x1229.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_019-KQED-2048x1638.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ingrid, a Soccer Without Borders player, poses for a portrait with her boyfriend at Robert’s Regional Park during an end-of-season team picnic. Alongside the stressors of navigating a new country and language, the students experience the universal highs and lows of the teenage experience: romance, friendship, and the uncertainty of the future. \u003ccite>(Ximena Natera for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086812\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086812\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260509_014-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1665\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260509_014-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260509_014-KQED-2000x1332.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260509_014-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260509_014-KQED-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260509_014-KQED-2048x1364.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Loani (left) and Abyade, Soccer Without Borders players from the Purple Team, hang out with teammates and friends after a Saturday game at Oakland High. To increase accessibility, the program concentrates most games in a single day to alleviate the burden of traveling across the Bay on families who often have limited time and resources. \u003ccite>(Ximena Natera for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Years later, Soe said he hopes the program can provide the Bay Area’s youth with the same opportunity to find joy on and off the pitch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Soccer Without Borders is all about being part of something larger than you,” Soe said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Using funding from the National Institute of Health, the \u003ca href=\"https://clinicaltrials.ucsf.edu/trial/NCT07339228\">Meet Me on the Pitch\u003c/a> study will enroll youth aged 14-21 over the next two years to formally explore how soccer can be used as a holistic way to support mental well-being.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086819\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086819\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_200-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1667\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_200-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_200-KQED-2000x1334.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_200-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_200-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_200-KQED-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Meet Me at the Pitch program, whose approach was informed by a youth advisory team, seeks to bring mental health support out of the clinical setting and onto the field where the kids have learned to build their own communities. The Youth Advisory Team helped pick activities, define relevant topics, and find the right language for discussing mental health. \u003ccite>(Ximena Natera for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086814\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086814\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260528_116-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1666\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260528_116-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260528_116-KQED-2000x1333.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260528_116-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260528_116-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260528_116-KQED-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Soccer Without Borders Coach Natalie Ramos and Malak, a Youth Advisory Team member and a participant in the “Meet me at the Pitch” pilot program, ride past a cloud on a carousel at Six Flags during a program field trip. \u003ccite>(Ximena Natera for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The goal is to see whether programs like Soccer Without Borders can markedly improve mental health, academic support-seeking and social belonging among youth who participate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is already based on the DNA of what Soccer Without Borders has been doing for decades, really using soccer as a way to build community, as a way to build confidence,” said Mara Decker, an associate professor at the Institute for Health Policy Studies at UCSF, who is leading the study.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Decker said the intervention gives kids the opportunity to reflect on their goals and take advantage of guidance and mentorship to get there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I feel like we so rarely in our lives have the time to just pause and think about what we want to do and what are the steps we need to take to get there,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086820\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086820\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_001-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"2000\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_001-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_001-KQED-2000x1600.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_001-KQED-160x128.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_001-KQED-1536x1229.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_001-KQED-2048x1638.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Soccer Without Borders Coach Natalie Ramos (center) and Youth Advisory Team members Amar (left) and Malak pose for a portrait outside Oakland International High.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Catt said she’s gotten to see her players grow both as individuals and as a team since last season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We create it as a developmental process. You don’t have to be good, you don’t get left behind,” Catt continued. “We have kids who have never played before with kids who are on their youth national team in their own country, playing on the same team and both excelling together.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Mildred, the program provided a place to land when she moved to the U.S. last year to reunite with her family. On her first day of classes at a high school in East Oakland, she asked around about soccer teams. By her second, she was already playing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It makes me feel free because I feel like [on the field] I can forget about my problems and make more friends,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086817\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086817\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_195-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1667\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_195-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_195-KQED-2000x1334.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_195-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_195-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260530_195-KQED-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Soccer Without Borders alumni team celebrates after their championship title win in late May. \u003ccite>(Ximena Natera for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086826\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086826\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1140\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-3-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-3-KQED-2000x912.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-3-KQED-160x73.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-3-KQED-1536x700.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-3-KQED-2048x934.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Coach Benji arrived in Oakland at age 10 to reunite with his father. Benji says that being the only Mam speaker at his school in Oakland felt like landing on a different planet. Communicating felt nearly impossible. “I can still remember those days… I cried a couple of times going to school,” he said. He found his first community through soccer when friends from Burma and Vietnam invited him to join Soccer Without Borders. For him, working as a coach supporting for other kids experiencing what he went through fills him with pride. \u003ccite>(Ximena Natera for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086813\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086813\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260509_034-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1665\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260509_034-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260509_034-KQED-2000x1332.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260509_034-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260509_034-KQED-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_260509_034-KQED-2048x1364.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sweet, a player on the Soccer Without Borders alumni team, wraps her shoulders with a commemorative T-shirt signed by her teammates to celebrate her high school graduation. \u003ccite>(Ximena Natera for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Sharon’s entry into the sport was less immediate. She’d been in the U.S. for three years before Mildred finally convinced her to join the team. But now she’s hooked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It feels like a family. I feel really good when I play; I feel confident,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She struggled with being away from El Salvador when her grandfather passed away, but she said playing soccer helped her deal with it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I would come to practice, and it would make me feel good. I know he would feel good watching me play,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086827\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086827\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-4-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1826\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-4-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-4-KQED-2000x1461.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-4-KQED-160x117.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-4-KQED-1536x1122.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_NEWAMERICANS-DYPTIC-4-KQED-2048x1496.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: Best friends Loani, Sharon and Mildred, Soccer Without Borders players from the Purple Team, pose for a portrait with their third-place medals after a grueling season. Right: Loani holds a soccer ball to show off her game-day nails. \u003ccite>(Ximena Natera for Catchlight/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086821\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086821\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_006-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"2000\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_006-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_006-KQED-2000x1600.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_006-KQED-160x128.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_006-KQED-1536x1229.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/NATERA_CLMENTALHEALTH_POLAROID_260603_006-KQED-2048x1638.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">“I’ve grown in here,” said Reyna (left), about being part of the Purple Team at Soccer Without Borders. For Reyna, who graduated from high school at the end of May with a ceremony at the Paramount Theatre, being in the U.S. allowed her to take soccer more seriously, a game she had played since childhood in her native El Salvador. After graduation, Soccer Without Borders players can continue playing, either by joining the Alumni Team or staying one more year with their original team. For Reyna, the choice to keep playing was simple: “They are my family, I am part of them.” This fall, she said, she has three things in her mind: Taking classes at Lainey College, finding a job and playing soccer.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Together, the teammates ended the game with a hard-fought victory and a well-deserved third-place title. Catt said the biggest win comes from giving the players a place to grow and develop through the sport.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If they are coming from somewhere that doesn’t speak the same language, it’s hard to feel a part of something,” she said. “And I think it’s a pretty common theme with soccer — people say it’s the same in every language.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This project was produced jointly by KQED and the CatchLight \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.catchlight.io/mental-health\">\u003cem>Mental Health Visual Desk\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> initiative. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Ximena Natera contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "levis-stadium-is-no-more-san-francisco-bay-area-stadium-hosts-world-cup",
"title": "Levi’s Stadium Is No More: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium Hosts World Cup",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/levis-stadium\">Levi’s Stadium\u003c/a> is no more. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>Well, at least for the several weeks of the FIFA 2026 World Cup, anyway. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>The 49ers’ stadium, which has since its opening in 2014 been named for the iconic San Francisco-based denim and clothing company, has been unbranded due to the international soccer organization’s requirements for the tournament.\u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>It’s one of many changes that have been in the works in the months and weeks leading up to the World Cup, some visible to the public and some out of sight.\u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>Read on to learn more about how things look and feel different at the Santa Clara stadium. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003ch2>Branding \u003c/h2>\r\n\u003cp>The Fédération Internationale de Football Association, widely known as FIFA, requires all of the World Cup venues — a total of 16 this year across the U.S., Mexico and Canada — to strip corporate branding from the exterior and interiors as much as possible. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>That means Levi’s Stadium is now officially known as San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, and anyone in or near the venue can see that the recognizable red batwing-style Levi’s logos have been covered tightly in white tarps. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>Jeroen van den Berk, part of FIFA’s communications team, said the organization needs a “clean stadium” to protect the commercial rights of FIFA sponsors and partners. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087138\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087138\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-18-BL_KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-18-BL_KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-18-BL_KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-18-BL_KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Matt Greiner chalks the field at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara on June 10, 2026, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where six tournament matches will be played. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\r\n\u003cp>“So we have basically taken over the stadium,” van den Berk said in an interview there this week. “It’s very common in European soccer and in soccer all over the world.” \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>Other corporate signage must also be removed or covered, so a giant Bud Light sign that normally shines brightly next to one of the big screens is also obscured by shrink wrap.\u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>All over the stadium, and even in its underbelly of tunnels, lounges and rooms, much of the San Francisco 49ers and Levi’s signage has been obscured or removed. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>In its place are banners, wallpaper, photos and new signs all from FIFA’s design book, helping fans, players and staff remember where they are. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>Not everything can be removed, however. Some reminders remain, such as the embossed 49ers logos on the red padded high-end seats near what would be the 50-yard line. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003ch2>The playing field\u003c/h2>\r\n\u003cp>The field at Levi’s is normally a completely natural Bermuda grass, set up primarily for American NFL football, with dimensions of about 120 yards in length and about 53 yards across. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>The entire playing surface was swapped out in March, FIFA officials said, so the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium could meet the tournament specifications. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087140\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087140\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-26-BL_KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-26-BL_KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-26-BL_KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-26-BL_KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, temporarily renamed from Levi’s Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in Santa Clara on June 10, 2026, where six tournament matches will be played. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\r\n\u003cp>FIFA requires its World Cup pitches to be 105 meters long by 68 meters wide, which converts roughly to nearly 115 yards in length and a bit more than 74 yards across.\u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>Officials said portions of the stadium’s fixtures near the playing surface had to be removed or changed to accommodate the extra width of the pitch. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>It’s not the first time Levi’s has hosted soccer, as the San Jose Earthquakes played a match against the Seattle Sounders FC in 2014, serving as the stadium’s inaugural event. The stadium has also hosted the CONCACAF Gold Cup final in 2017.[aside postID=arts_13990640 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/20260528-WORLDCUPBARS-JY-02-KQED.jpg']As for the surface, it looked pristine during a media tour of the stadium this week, like a closely cropped green at a golf course, with FIFA grounds officials working in conjunction with the Levi’s home field crew to make all the needed changes. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>Matt Greiner, the 49ers’ head of groundskeeping, was carefully using a wheel-to-wheel line painter to lay down a touchline along the edge of the pitch on Wednesday. The surface, according to van den Berk, is “stitched.”\u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>It is largely natural grass, but it includes synthetic fibers stitched beneath the surface to “enhance consistency and durability,” according to \u003ca href=\"https://inside.fifa.com/organisation/news/last-stitch-world-cup-2026-houston-stadium-ferguson-hodge\">FIFA\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>“It’s the top standard FIFA pitch. It’s a fantastic pitch,” van den Berk said. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003ch2>Dressing rooms \u003c/h2>\r\n\u003cp>While Levi’s Stadium has two large locker rooms for the 49ers and their opponents during the NFL season, players from around the world will use a different space. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>An auxiliary locker room in the belly of the stadium that had yet to be used was split in two, with crews installing a wall, to create two dressing rooms for soccer teams competing during the World Cup.\u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>Van den Berk said he and his colleagues have verified the wall is “soundproof” so teams are not listening in on their opponents’ schemes. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087136\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087136\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-02-BL_KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-02-BL_KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-02-BL_KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-02-BL_KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A team locker room at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, temporarily renamed from Levi’s Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in Santa Clara on June 10, 2026, where six tournament matches will be played. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\r\n\u003cp>The visiting NFL locker room has been taken over by FIFA as well, as an area where 12 mini studios are set up with lighting and backdrops, where broadcasters who bought the rights to carry FIFA matches on the airwaves will get to do interviews with players and coaches. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003ch2>The food \u003c/h2>\r\n\u003cp>Some of the concessions at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium will be slightly different than what attendees of 49ers games typically see, and themed to honor soccer and the international and Bay Area food scene — or at the very least to play up the approved corporate food sponsors of the tournament. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>Chef Jon Severson, of Levy Restaurants, which runs the food and beverage programs at the stadium, said his team is offering a taquito topped with Lay’s Limon chips, jerk chicken nachos and peri peri chicken nachos. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>His team came up with the “Bay-rito,” essentially a footlong hot dog wrapped in a tortilla with standard burrito accouterments like rice, beans, cheese and avocado crema.\u003c/p>\r\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087244\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087244\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/PXL_20260610_195236727-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/PXL_20260610_195236727-Edit.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/PXL_20260610_195236727-Edit-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/PXL_20260610_195236727-Edit-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chef Jon Severson shows off a display of concession offerings created for the World Cup matches at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on June 10, 2026. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\r\n\u003cp>For fans in premium seats, Severson said there is a cheeseburger with a latticed “soccer ball pretzel bun,” complete with soccer ball-adorned sandwich pick. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>For dessert, fans can try a Cherry Coca-Cola float with fortune cookie crumbles, linked to the legacy of Chinatown fortune cookie production in the Bay Area. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>Wondering what these delicacies will cost you? Prices remained conspicuously absent from the updated concessions offerings, and FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003ch2>Other changes for FIFA\u003c/h2>\r\n\u003cp>The stadium’s security gates apparently weren’t good enough, as high, metal fencing has been installed around the edges of the stadium. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>While standard European league soccer games are typically broadcast with about 15 to 20 cameras, each FIFA match will have 45 cameras trained on the action, officials said, and elimination matches will have 50 cameras. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>A platform for various artists and in-stadium entertainment during matches and pregame celebrations was being completed this week along the concourse.\u003c/p>\r\n\u003c!-- /wp:shortcode -->\r\n\r\n\u003c!-- wp:paragraph /-->\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/levis-stadium\">Levi’s Stadium\u003c/a> is no more. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>Well, at least for the several weeks of the FIFA 2026 World Cup, anyway. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>The 49ers’ stadium, which has since its opening in 2014 been named for the iconic San Francisco-based denim and clothing company, has been unbranded due to the international soccer organization’s requirements for the tournament.\u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>It’s one of many changes that have been in the works in the months and weeks leading up to the World Cup, some visible to the public and some out of sight.\u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>Read on to learn more about how things look and feel different at the Santa Clara stadium. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003ch2>Branding \u003c/h2>\r\n\u003cp>The Fédération Internationale de Football Association, widely known as FIFA, requires all of the World Cup venues — a total of 16 this year across the U.S., Mexico and Canada — to strip corporate branding from the exterior and interiors as much as possible. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>That means Levi’s Stadium is now officially known as San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, and anyone in or near the venue can see that the recognizable red batwing-style Levi’s logos have been covered tightly in white tarps. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>Jeroen van den Berk, part of FIFA’s communications team, said the organization needs a “clean stadium” to protect the commercial rights of FIFA sponsors and partners. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087138\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087138\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-18-BL_KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-18-BL_KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-18-BL_KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-18-BL_KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Matt Greiner chalks the field at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara on June 10, 2026, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where six tournament matches will be played. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\r\n\u003cp>“So we have basically taken over the stadium,” van den Berk said in an interview there this week. “It’s very common in European soccer and in soccer all over the world.” \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>Other corporate signage must also be removed or covered, so a giant Bud Light sign that normally shines brightly next to one of the big screens is also obscured by shrink wrap.\u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>All over the stadium, and even in its underbelly of tunnels, lounges and rooms, much of the San Francisco 49ers and Levi’s signage has been obscured or removed. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>In its place are banners, wallpaper, photos and new signs all from FIFA’s design book, helping fans, players and staff remember where they are. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>Not everything can be removed, however. Some reminders remain, such as the embossed 49ers logos on the red padded high-end seats near what would be the 50-yard line. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003ch2>The playing field\u003c/h2>\r\n\u003cp>The field at Levi’s is normally a completely natural Bermuda grass, set up primarily for American NFL football, with dimensions of about 120 yards in length and about 53 yards across. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>The entire playing surface was swapped out in March, FIFA officials said, so the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium could meet the tournament specifications. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087140\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087140\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-26-BL_KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-26-BL_KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-26-BL_KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-26-BL_KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, temporarily renamed from Levi’s Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in Santa Clara on June 10, 2026, where six tournament matches will be played. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\r\n\u003cp>FIFA requires its World Cup pitches to be 105 meters long by 68 meters wide, which converts roughly to nearly 115 yards in length and a bit more than 74 yards across.\u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>Officials said portions of the stadium’s fixtures near the playing surface had to be removed or changed to accommodate the extra width of the pitch. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>It’s not the first time Levi’s has hosted soccer, as the San Jose Earthquakes played a match against the Seattle Sounders FC in 2014, serving as the stadium’s inaugural event. The stadium has also hosted the CONCACAF Gold Cup final in 2017.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>As for the surface, it looked pristine during a media tour of the stadium this week, like a closely cropped green at a golf course, with FIFA grounds officials working in conjunction with the Levi’s home field crew to make all the needed changes. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>Matt Greiner, the 49ers’ head of groundskeeping, was carefully using a wheel-to-wheel line painter to lay down a touchline along the edge of the pitch on Wednesday. The surface, according to van den Berk, is “stitched.”\u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>It is largely natural grass, but it includes synthetic fibers stitched beneath the surface to “enhance consistency and durability,” according to \u003ca href=\"https://inside.fifa.com/organisation/news/last-stitch-world-cup-2026-houston-stadium-ferguson-hodge\">FIFA\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>“It’s the top standard FIFA pitch. It’s a fantastic pitch,” van den Berk said. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003ch2>Dressing rooms \u003c/h2>\r\n\u003cp>While Levi’s Stadium has two large locker rooms for the 49ers and their opponents during the NFL season, players from around the world will use a different space. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>An auxiliary locker room in the belly of the stadium that had yet to be used was split in two, with crews installing a wall, to create two dressing rooms for soccer teams competing during the World Cup.\u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>Van den Berk said he and his colleagues have verified the wall is “soundproof” so teams are not listening in on their opponents’ schemes. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087136\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087136\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-02-BL_KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-02-BL_KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-02-BL_KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-02-BL_KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A team locker room at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, temporarily renamed from Levi’s Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in Santa Clara on June 10, 2026, where six tournament matches will be played. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\r\n\u003cp>The visiting NFL locker room has been taken over by FIFA as well, as an area where 12 mini studios are set up with lighting and backdrops, where broadcasters who bought the rights to carry FIFA matches on the airwaves will get to do interviews with players and coaches. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003ch2>The food \u003c/h2>\r\n\u003cp>Some of the concessions at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium will be slightly different than what attendees of 49ers games typically see, and themed to honor soccer and the international and Bay Area food scene — or at the very least to play up the approved corporate food sponsors of the tournament. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>Chef Jon Severson, of Levy Restaurants, which runs the food and beverage programs at the stadium, said his team is offering a taquito topped with Lay’s Limon chips, jerk chicken nachos and peri peri chicken nachos. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>His team came up with the “Bay-rito,” essentially a footlong hot dog wrapped in a tortilla with standard burrito accouterments like rice, beans, cheese and avocado crema.\u003c/p>\r\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087244\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087244\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/PXL_20260610_195236727-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/PXL_20260610_195236727-Edit.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/PXL_20260610_195236727-Edit-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/PXL_20260610_195236727-Edit-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chef Jon Severson shows off a display of concession offerings created for the World Cup matches at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on June 10, 2026. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\r\n\u003cp>For fans in premium seats, Severson said there is a cheeseburger with a latticed “soccer ball pretzel bun,” complete with soccer ball-adorned sandwich pick. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>For dessert, fans can try a Cherry Coca-Cola float with fortune cookie crumbles, linked to the legacy of Chinatown fortune cookie production in the Bay Area. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>Wondering what these delicacies will cost you? Prices remained conspicuously absent from the updated concessions offerings, and FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003ch2>Other changes for FIFA\u003c/h2>\r\n\u003cp>The stadium’s security gates apparently weren’t good enough, as high, metal fencing has been installed around the edges of the stadium. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>While standard European league soccer games are typically broadcast with about 15 to 20 cameras, each FIFA match will have 45 cameras trained on the action, officials said, and elimination matches will have 50 cameras. \u003c/p>\r\n\u003cp>A platform for various artists and in-stadium entertainment during matches and pregame celebrations was being completed this week along the concourse.\u003c/p>\r\n\u003c!-- /wp:shortcode -->\r\n\r\n\u003c!-- wp:paragraph /-->\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "the-world-cup-has-arrived-in-the-san-francisco-bay-area-is-anyone-else-coming",
"title": "The World Cup Has Arrived in the San Francisco Bay Area. Is Anyone Coming?",
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"headTitle": "The World Cup Has Arrived in the San Francisco Bay Area. Is Anyone Coming? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>The 2026 FIFA World Cup that promised to bring big bucks to the Bay Area \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083101/world-cup-2026-bay-area-games-where-is-fifa-world-cup-santa-clara-levis-stadium-tickets-fan-zone-watch-parties\">kicks off this week\u003c/a>, but it’s not clear if the tournament’s global audience — and their wallets — are actually coming with it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Levi’s Stadium — temporarily rebranded the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium — in Santa Clara will host six games featuring teams like Paraguay and Australia. Local leaders say they are excited about the possibilities stemming from World Cup-related events taking place in the region, which has its own \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12076503/mens-world-cup-soccer-san-francisco-bay-area-tickets-matches-santa-clara-levis-stadium\">vibrant soccer scene\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area Host Committee, the nonprofit tasked with helping FIFA locally, \u003ca href=\"https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e4434c5fc376718dd1af892/t/666a69262d7ac4543596d909/1718249768786/BAHC+Economic+Impact+Report.pdf\">estimated in 2024\u003c/a> that the World Cup could bring in up to $630 million through hotel and restaurant bookings and other visitor spending around the tournament.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But so far, local excitement around the tournament has paled in comparison to the Super Bowl, which \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12072702/bay-area-buzzes-with-fans-parties-and-pageantry-on-super-bowl-sunday\">Levi’s Stadium also hosted\u003c/a> earlier this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hotel bookings in the Bay Area are lagging behind early projections, putting a damper on the hopes that the games will deliver a major economic boon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s plenty of research and data points out there that the expectations for the World Cup were a bit higher than what we’re actually seeing in terms of ticketing and hotels in particular,” said Jeff Bellisario, executive director of the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, a local think tank.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085866\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12085866\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/FIFAWorldCupLevisStadiumGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1235\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/FIFAWorldCupLevisStadiumGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/FIFAWorldCupLevisStadiumGetty-160x99.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/FIFAWorldCupLevisStadiumGetty-1536x948.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (temporarily renamed from Levi’s Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup) in Santa Clara, California, on May 19, 2026. Levi’s Stadium will host six matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including five group stage matches throughout June 2026. \u003ccite>(Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While U.S. cities are expected to see an economic boost from hosting the games, the Bay Area is projected to trail other areas in terms of the impact on local tourism, according to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.oxfordeconomics.com/resource/north-american-cities-on-the-front-foot-for-2026-fifa-world-cup/\">2025 report from Tourism Economics\u003c/a>, due to the popularity of the matches being played in the region and having slightly smaller stadium capacity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hotel leaders adjusted their estimates when game schedules started materializing in late 2025, according to Alex Bastian, president and CEO of the Hotel Council of San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>None of the teams playing in the Bay Area is considered a powerhouse.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We were keeping a close eye on the team placements and match schedules, and we adopted more conservative budgeting and forecasting strategies,” he said.[aside postID=arts_13990640 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/20260528-WORLDCUPBARS-JY-02-KQED.jpg']San Francisco International Airport said it was already in the midst of the usual busy summer travel season and couldn’t “link passenger volumes” to the World Cup. Among the U.S. host cities, Dallas is seeing the biggest increases in flight bookings leading into the England vs. Croatia game on June 14 and later matches, according to a spokesperson from United Airlines, the largest airline at SFO.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Across the U.S., demand for tickets and international tourism is also lackluster. Nearly 80% of hoteliers in host cities responding to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.ahla.com/news/new-report-warns-world-cup-hotel-boom-may-fall-short-expectations\">May 2026 survey\u003c/a> from the American Hotel and Lodging Association said bookings were below their initial forecast.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some experts have speculated that alleged ticketing bait-and-switches by FIFA, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084228/dont-fall-for-world-cup-ticket-scams-in-california\">high expense of admission\u003c/a> to games in the region, even for low-ranked teams, and ongoing international issues like the U.S. war in Iran and President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement campaign are driving low international travel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Experts say ticket prices, inflation fears and the so-called ‘Trump slump’ are putting fans off, with hotel rates down by a third in host cities from Atlanta to San Francisco,” reads a \u003ca href=\"https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/04/fifa-world-cup-sports-economy-growth/\">post\u003c/a> from the World Economic Forum.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s also not cheap to host the World Cup. While \u003ca href=\"https://www.propublica.org/article/world-cup-2026-host-cities-revenue-houston\">FIFA captures much of the revenue\u003c/a> from ticket sales, sponsorship and merchandise, cities take on much of the logistical costs and security.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Santa Clara city officials estimated in 2025 that hosting the six matches would cost around \u003ca href=\"https://www.santaclaraca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/86127/638743648872700000\">$50 million\u003c/a>. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Transit Administration earmarked nearly $60 million in grants to cover security expenses at Levi’s, and the host committee also agreed to backfill remaining costs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Costs aside, Bay Area elected officials have championed the World Cup as an opportunity to drive tourism dollars, foster a sense of community and shed positive light on a region that’s still recovering from the coronavirus pandemic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083439\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12083439 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mayor Matt Mahan gives his opening speech at the World Cup flag-raising ceremony at San José City Hall in San José on May 12, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We are going to be on the world stage, and we’re excited to welcome tens of thousands of people from different corners of the world to our city,” San José Mayor Matt Mahan said in an interview. “We want to show off our city.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Starting this week, the World Cup will bring energy to neighborhoods across San Francisco,” San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said in a statement. “As the Bay Area hosts six matches, San Francisco is where fans will gather — attending neighborhood watch parties and filling local restaurants and bars. And we are ready to welcome them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Australia and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086567/team-paraguay-arrives-in-san-jose-ahead-of-world-cup-games-at-levis\">Paraguay have made their home bases\u003c/a> in Oakland and San José, respectively. This year’s World Cup has expanded to include 48 teams, up from 32 in the 2022 tournament. That means more games — 104 of them — and theoretically, more opportunities for fans to fill bars and attend watch parties over the weekslong event.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The longer duration also extends costs for hosting the tournament, which is spread out among 16 cities and three countries, unlike the Super Bowl, which happens over a single weekend in one city. That creates uncertainty around how many people will travel to the Bay Area for the games and for how long.[aside postID=news_12084960 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Turkiye-vs.-Paraguay-Getty-1536x1054.jpg']The hotel association report specifically called out a “room block over commitment” by FIFA, in which the organization reserved significant chunks of rooms in host cities, only to later cancel most or all of them. The move “created an artificial early demand signal that has since unraveled,” the report said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The soccer organization withdrew its commitments just three months from the event, “returning some blocks without a single reservation having been made,” sending hoteliers scrambling to backfill the spaces.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Exact hotel data will not be available until after the tournament, but it’s already telling a different story than the 2026 Super Bowl. That game exceeded projections for how much money it would bring in, \u003ca href=\"https://bayareahostcommittee.com/newsroom/bay-area-host-committee-announces-super-bowl-lx-exceeded-economic-impact-projections-generating-approximately-720-million-for-bay-area-region\">topping $720 million\u003c/a> in total economic activity for the entire region, according to the Bay Area Host Committee.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, those numbers from the host committee have been called into question by economists like Roger Noll, a professor emeritus of economics at Stanford University.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s just grossly overstated,” Noll said of the report’s findings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said such estimates often don’t take into account mitigating factors, such as the large number of people who opted not to visit the Bay Area for business or tourism around the Super Bowl to avoid schedule conflicts and higher prices at hotels.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s purely public relations, it’s advertising,” Noll said. “They want the political leadership of the area to feel good that it did this… It’s not true that we all get richer because there’s a Super Bowl here; it’s just not true.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bellisario, with the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, thinks the World Cup is “still going to be positive for the region, but I don’t think we should be thinking about this as five or six Super Bowl-type games the region is hosting.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086748\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12086748 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/060926Paraguay-SJSU_GH_002.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1350\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/060926Paraguay-SJSU_GH_002.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/060926Paraguay-SJSU_GH_002-160x108.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/060926Paraguay-SJSU_GH_002-1536x1037.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Players with the Paraguay national football team jog during a warmup before an open training session at CEFCU Stadium in San José on June 8, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Different parts of the Bay Area will also be affected in different ways.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the host committee’s report, San Francisco raked in a large portion of the Super Bowl profits, about $425 million, compared to $195 million in Santa Clara County, where the game was played, and about $100 million in other counties.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the South Bay may see a bigger bump from the soccer matches this time around. The host committee’s predictions suggest Santa Clara County could see up to $360 million of the potential impact, double what it has projected for San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Noll hopes it will be a better event for the South Bay, because visitors will come for a longer period and will need to spend money locally in between matches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Because it’s multiple events spread over a longer period, you would expect the economic impact per visitor to be substantially higher for the World Cup than it would be for the Super Bowl,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12073892\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12073892\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260208-superbowlsunday00908_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260208-superbowlsunday00908_TV_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260208-superbowlsunday00908_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260208-superbowlsunday00908_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Spectators fill the seats at Levi’s Stadium for Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara on Feb. 8, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Until the World Cup concludes, it’s all guesswork, leaving cities unsure about the level of impact it and the Super Bowl had.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over the years, amid a falling out with the 49ers leadership who manage Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor has consistently expressed concern over the onus laid on the city for the Super Bowl, World Cup and even major concerts hosted there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a statement this week, the city highlighted that the host committee’s economic impact report only offers high-level data, not city-specific analysis, and said it plans to check the math itself.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The city is currently procuring a consultant to conduct an independent economic impact study of Levi’s Stadium events, including both the Super Bowl and FIFA Men’s World Cup, to better understand the direct and indirect benefits to Santa Clara,” the statement said. “Until that work is completed, we are unable to quantify the full economic impact to the city.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has initiated a discounted ticket program for residents, Bay Area leaders have not followed suit. The low-popularity matches are still out of price for many soccer fans in the Bay Area, however, ranging from the low hundreds to over $1,000.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076519\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076519\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1321\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An Adidas FIFA World Cup soccer ball is seen on a FIFA x NFL chair in the Media Center ahead of Super Bowl LX on Feb. 4, 2026, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California. \u003ccite>(Matthew Huang/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The matchups that we have here are not the ones that are going to be drawing the superstar players and the headlines and people from across the U.S.,” Bellisario said. “They are interested in seeing a player like [Lionel] Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, right? So I think that’s part of the muted response in our region.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, the host committee is organizing around 80 free watch parties across the Bay Area, and FIFA has licensed 20 public viewing events in San Francisco alone. Many local bars and restaurants plan to host \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13990640/where-to-watch-world-cup-bay-area-best-bars-classic-pubs\">watch parties of their own\u003c/a>, including for the many vibrant diaspora communities who call the Bay Area home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My belief is that people engage in soccer in a much more personal way that’s authentic for them, usually around friends and family in the communities in which they live,” said Zaileen Janmohamed, Bay Area Host Committee President and CEO. “We wanted to distribute that economic impact as far as possible across the region.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San José’s marquee downtown gathering space, San Pedro Square, is serving as the South Bay’s main watch party hub, with all matches televised on large screens across 39 days, and several other events in neighborhoods around the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12072762\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12072762\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260206-South-Bay-Vendors-MD-08-KQED-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260206-South-Bay-Vendors-MD-08-KQED-1-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260206-South-Bay-Vendors-MD-08-KQED-1-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260206-South-Bay-Vendors-MD-08-KQED-1-1-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People in the patio at the San Pedro Square Market in San José on Feb. 6, 2026. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“This is an order of magnitude larger than the Super Bowl for us,” Mahan said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lara Potter teaches sports management at Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business. She helped run several Super Bowls and other major sporting events before landing her current position as the Chief Revenue Officer for the Oakland Roots and Soul soccer clubs, which have developed intimate yet dedicated fan bases at a time when other major sports franchises have left the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Potter said sports executives should not expect fans to flock to games and teams they haven’t heard of without some serious community-building.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It absolutely comes down to business, community and sport working together hand-in-hand. It has to have all three working together in lockstep,” Potter said on the sideline of a recent packed Oakland Soul match. “One without the other doesn’t provide the results that are possible.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The 2026 FIFA World Cup that promised to bring big bucks to the Bay Area \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083101/world-cup-2026-bay-area-games-where-is-fifa-world-cup-santa-clara-levis-stadium-tickets-fan-zone-watch-parties\">kicks off this week\u003c/a>, but it’s not clear if the tournament’s global audience — and their wallets — are actually coming with it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Levi’s Stadium — temporarily rebranded the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium — in Santa Clara will host six games featuring teams like Paraguay and Australia. Local leaders say they are excited about the possibilities stemming from World Cup-related events taking place in the region, which has its own \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12076503/mens-world-cup-soccer-san-francisco-bay-area-tickets-matches-santa-clara-levis-stadium\">vibrant soccer scene\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area Host Committee, the nonprofit tasked with helping FIFA locally, \u003ca href=\"https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e4434c5fc376718dd1af892/t/666a69262d7ac4543596d909/1718249768786/BAHC+Economic+Impact+Report.pdf\">estimated in 2024\u003c/a> that the World Cup could bring in up to $630 million through hotel and restaurant bookings and other visitor spending around the tournament.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But so far, local excitement around the tournament has paled in comparison to the Super Bowl, which \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12072702/bay-area-buzzes-with-fans-parties-and-pageantry-on-super-bowl-sunday\">Levi’s Stadium also hosted\u003c/a> earlier this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hotel bookings in the Bay Area are lagging behind early projections, putting a damper on the hopes that the games will deliver a major economic boon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s plenty of research and data points out there that the expectations for the World Cup were a bit higher than what we’re actually seeing in terms of ticketing and hotels in particular,” said Jeff Bellisario, executive director of the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, a local think tank.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085866\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12085866\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/FIFAWorldCupLevisStadiumGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1235\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/FIFAWorldCupLevisStadiumGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/FIFAWorldCupLevisStadiumGetty-160x99.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/FIFAWorldCupLevisStadiumGetty-1536x948.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (temporarily renamed from Levi’s Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup) in Santa Clara, California, on May 19, 2026. Levi’s Stadium will host six matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including five group stage matches throughout June 2026. \u003ccite>(Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While U.S. cities are expected to see an economic boost from hosting the games, the Bay Area is projected to trail other areas in terms of the impact on local tourism, according to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.oxfordeconomics.com/resource/north-american-cities-on-the-front-foot-for-2026-fifa-world-cup/\">2025 report from Tourism Economics\u003c/a>, due to the popularity of the matches being played in the region and having slightly smaller stadium capacity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hotel leaders adjusted their estimates when game schedules started materializing in late 2025, according to Alex Bastian, president and CEO of the Hotel Council of San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>None of the teams playing in the Bay Area is considered a powerhouse.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We were keeping a close eye on the team placements and match schedules, and we adopted more conservative budgeting and forecasting strategies,” he said.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>San Francisco International Airport said it was already in the midst of the usual busy summer travel season and couldn’t “link passenger volumes” to the World Cup. Among the U.S. host cities, Dallas is seeing the biggest increases in flight bookings leading into the England vs. Croatia game on June 14 and later matches, according to a spokesperson from United Airlines, the largest airline at SFO.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Across the U.S., demand for tickets and international tourism is also lackluster. Nearly 80% of hoteliers in host cities responding to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.ahla.com/news/new-report-warns-world-cup-hotel-boom-may-fall-short-expectations\">May 2026 survey\u003c/a> from the American Hotel and Lodging Association said bookings were below their initial forecast.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some experts have speculated that alleged ticketing bait-and-switches by FIFA, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084228/dont-fall-for-world-cup-ticket-scams-in-california\">high expense of admission\u003c/a> to games in the region, even for low-ranked teams, and ongoing international issues like the U.S. war in Iran and President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement campaign are driving low international travel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Experts say ticket prices, inflation fears and the so-called ‘Trump slump’ are putting fans off, with hotel rates down by a third in host cities from Atlanta to San Francisco,” reads a \u003ca href=\"https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/04/fifa-world-cup-sports-economy-growth/\">post\u003c/a> from the World Economic Forum.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s also not cheap to host the World Cup. While \u003ca href=\"https://www.propublica.org/article/world-cup-2026-host-cities-revenue-houston\">FIFA captures much of the revenue\u003c/a> from ticket sales, sponsorship and merchandise, cities take on much of the logistical costs and security.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Santa Clara city officials estimated in 2025 that hosting the six matches would cost around \u003ca href=\"https://www.santaclaraca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/86127/638743648872700000\">$50 million\u003c/a>. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Transit Administration earmarked nearly $60 million in grants to cover security expenses at Levi’s, and the host committee also agreed to backfill remaining costs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Costs aside, Bay Area elected officials have championed the World Cup as an opportunity to drive tourism dollars, foster a sense of community and shed positive light on a region that’s still recovering from the coronavirus pandemic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083439\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12083439 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mayor Matt Mahan gives his opening speech at the World Cup flag-raising ceremony at San José City Hall in San José on May 12, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We are going to be on the world stage, and we’re excited to welcome tens of thousands of people from different corners of the world to our city,” San José Mayor Matt Mahan said in an interview. “We want to show off our city.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Starting this week, the World Cup will bring energy to neighborhoods across San Francisco,” San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said in a statement. “As the Bay Area hosts six matches, San Francisco is where fans will gather — attending neighborhood watch parties and filling local restaurants and bars. And we are ready to welcome them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Australia and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086567/team-paraguay-arrives-in-san-jose-ahead-of-world-cup-games-at-levis\">Paraguay have made their home bases\u003c/a> in Oakland and San José, respectively. This year’s World Cup has expanded to include 48 teams, up from 32 in the 2022 tournament. That means more games — 104 of them — and theoretically, more opportunities for fans to fill bars and attend watch parties over the weekslong event.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The longer duration also extends costs for hosting the tournament, which is spread out among 16 cities and three countries, unlike the Super Bowl, which happens over a single weekend in one city. That creates uncertainty around how many people will travel to the Bay Area for the games and for how long.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The hotel association report specifically called out a “room block over commitment” by FIFA, in which the organization reserved significant chunks of rooms in host cities, only to later cancel most or all of them. The move “created an artificial early demand signal that has since unraveled,” the report said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The soccer organization withdrew its commitments just three months from the event, “returning some blocks without a single reservation having been made,” sending hoteliers scrambling to backfill the spaces.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Exact hotel data will not be available until after the tournament, but it’s already telling a different story than the 2026 Super Bowl. That game exceeded projections for how much money it would bring in, \u003ca href=\"https://bayareahostcommittee.com/newsroom/bay-area-host-committee-announces-super-bowl-lx-exceeded-economic-impact-projections-generating-approximately-720-million-for-bay-area-region\">topping $720 million\u003c/a> in total economic activity for the entire region, according to the Bay Area Host Committee.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, those numbers from the host committee have been called into question by economists like Roger Noll, a professor emeritus of economics at Stanford University.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s just grossly overstated,” Noll said of the report’s findings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said such estimates often don’t take into account mitigating factors, such as the large number of people who opted not to visit the Bay Area for business or tourism around the Super Bowl to avoid schedule conflicts and higher prices at hotels.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s purely public relations, it’s advertising,” Noll said. “They want the political leadership of the area to feel good that it did this… It’s not true that we all get richer because there’s a Super Bowl here; it’s just not true.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bellisario, with the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, thinks the World Cup is “still going to be positive for the region, but I don’t think we should be thinking about this as five or six Super Bowl-type games the region is hosting.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086748\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12086748 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/060926Paraguay-SJSU_GH_002.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1350\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/060926Paraguay-SJSU_GH_002.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/060926Paraguay-SJSU_GH_002-160x108.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/060926Paraguay-SJSU_GH_002-1536x1037.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Players with the Paraguay national football team jog during a warmup before an open training session at CEFCU Stadium in San José on June 8, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Different parts of the Bay Area will also be affected in different ways.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the host committee’s report, San Francisco raked in a large portion of the Super Bowl profits, about $425 million, compared to $195 million in Santa Clara County, where the game was played, and about $100 million in other counties.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the South Bay may see a bigger bump from the soccer matches this time around. The host committee’s predictions suggest Santa Clara County could see up to $360 million of the potential impact, double what it has projected for San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Noll hopes it will be a better event for the South Bay, because visitors will come for a longer period and will need to spend money locally in between matches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Because it’s multiple events spread over a longer period, you would expect the economic impact per visitor to be substantially higher for the World Cup than it would be for the Super Bowl,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12073892\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12073892\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260208-superbowlsunday00908_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260208-superbowlsunday00908_TV_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260208-superbowlsunday00908_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260208-superbowlsunday00908_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Spectators fill the seats at Levi’s Stadium for Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara on Feb. 8, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Until the World Cup concludes, it’s all guesswork, leaving cities unsure about the level of impact it and the Super Bowl had.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over the years, amid a falling out with the 49ers leadership who manage Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor has consistently expressed concern over the onus laid on the city for the Super Bowl, World Cup and even major concerts hosted there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a statement this week, the city highlighted that the host committee’s economic impact report only offers high-level data, not city-specific analysis, and said it plans to check the math itself.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The city is currently procuring a consultant to conduct an independent economic impact study of Levi’s Stadium events, including both the Super Bowl and FIFA Men’s World Cup, to better understand the direct and indirect benefits to Santa Clara,” the statement said. “Until that work is completed, we are unable to quantify the full economic impact to the city.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has initiated a discounted ticket program for residents, Bay Area leaders have not followed suit. The low-popularity matches are still out of price for many soccer fans in the Bay Area, however, ranging from the low hundreds to over $1,000.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076519\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076519\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1321\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An Adidas FIFA World Cup soccer ball is seen on a FIFA x NFL chair in the Media Center ahead of Super Bowl LX on Feb. 4, 2026, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California. \u003ccite>(Matthew Huang/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The matchups that we have here are not the ones that are going to be drawing the superstar players and the headlines and people from across the U.S.,” Bellisario said. “They are interested in seeing a player like [Lionel] Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, right? So I think that’s part of the muted response in our region.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, the host committee is organizing around 80 free watch parties across the Bay Area, and FIFA has licensed 20 public viewing events in San Francisco alone. Many local bars and restaurants plan to host \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13990640/where-to-watch-world-cup-bay-area-best-bars-classic-pubs\">watch parties of their own\u003c/a>, including for the many vibrant diaspora communities who call the Bay Area home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My belief is that people engage in soccer in a much more personal way that’s authentic for them, usually around friends and family in the communities in which they live,” said Zaileen Janmohamed, Bay Area Host Committee President and CEO. “We wanted to distribute that economic impact as far as possible across the region.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San José’s marquee downtown gathering space, San Pedro Square, is serving as the South Bay’s main watch party hub, with all matches televised on large screens across 39 days, and several other events in neighborhoods around the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12072762\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12072762\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260206-South-Bay-Vendors-MD-08-KQED-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260206-South-Bay-Vendors-MD-08-KQED-1-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260206-South-Bay-Vendors-MD-08-KQED-1-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260206-South-Bay-Vendors-MD-08-KQED-1-1-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People in the patio at the San Pedro Square Market in San José on Feb. 6, 2026. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“This is an order of magnitude larger than the Super Bowl for us,” Mahan said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lara Potter teaches sports management at Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business. She helped run several Super Bowls and other major sporting events before landing her current position as the Chief Revenue Officer for the Oakland Roots and Soul soccer clubs, which have developed intimate yet dedicated fan bases at a time when other major sports franchises have left the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Potter said sports executives should not expect fans to flock to games and teams they haven’t heard of without some serious community-building.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It absolutely comes down to business, community and sport working together hand-in-hand. It has to have all three working together in lockstep,” Potter said on the sideline of a recent packed Oakland Soul match. “One without the other doesn’t provide the results that are possible.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "Team Paraguay Arrives in San José Ahead of World Cup Games at Levi’s",
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"content": "\u003cp>On a warm Monday evening at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-jose-state-university\">San José State University\u003c/a>, roughly 500 fans pressed against the chain-link fence surrounding the Spartan Soccer Complex, straining for a glimpse of Paraguay’s national soccer team running drills on the field below.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Children clutched autograph books. Parents held up phones. A few fans wore the team’s red and white stripes — La Albirroja, as the squad is known — even though most had never followed Paraguayan soccer a day in their lives.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The whole campus is excited about having Team Paraguay here,” said Jeff Konya, athletics director at San José State. “They’re having two games up here in the Bay, so they’re kind of our adopted team locally.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off Thursday in Mexico City — the largest edition of the tournament in history, with 48 nations competing — San José has positioned itself as one of its central hubs. Paraguay’s base camp is at SJSU.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Both team hotels for the tournament are in San José. The venue-specific training site is at PayPal Park. And starting June 11, downtown San Pedro Square Market will host watch parties for all 104 matches over 39 days, free to the public; the largest and longest viewing party series in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086752\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086752\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/060926Paraguay-SJSU_GH_016.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1359\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/060926Paraguay-SJSU_GH_016.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/060926Paraguay-SJSU_GH_016-160x109.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/060926Paraguay-SJSU_GH_016-1536x1044.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Paraguay forward Ramón Sosa takes a selfie with a fan following an open training session at CEFCU Stadium in San José on June 8, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Paraguay, ranked 40th in the world and making their ninth World Cup appearance, will face the United States in Los Angeles on Friday, June 12, before returning to the Bay Area for matches against Australia and Turkey at Levi’s Stadium — temporarily renamed the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium — in Santa Clara. The team’s base camp remains at SJSU through the group stage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At Monday’s open practice, fans from across the region watched as coaches barked instructions and players moved around the field practicing drills. Kai Burgess, who drove over from the East Bay with his father, Evan, said the experience had made him an instant convert.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My favorite part was seeing how the intensity is always high and never drops, even when they’re just training,” the young fan said. Walking out, he clutched a FIFA autograph book he had gotten signed.[aside postID=news_12084960 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/FIFAWorldCupLevisStadiumGetty.jpg']Konya said the moment carried particular meaning for the university, which last hosted a World Cup base camp during the 1994 tournament that was also held in the United States, with games played up the Peninsula at Stanford University.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We were back in ’94 and now again here in ’26,” he said. “We couldn’t be more thrilled.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The World Cup’s economic footprint is expected to be significant. At a press conference earlier Monday at San Pedro Square Market, Mayor Matt Mahan said the regional economic impact is projected to land somewhere between $480 and $630 million, with the bulk of it concentrated in the South Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Every single event that comes into the Bay, the first city that calls me is San José,” Bay Area Host Committee CEO Zaileen Janmohamed said. “They say: how do we get involved, how do we make it the biggest thing possible? You have leadership in this city that cares.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The San José Earthquakes team is organizing the Soccer Celebration watch parties at San Pedro Square, like the city previously \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12072657/san-joses-downtown-has-had-a-strong-recovery-is-it-ready-for-the-super-bowl-surge\">did for Super Bowl fans\u003c/a>. San José Earthquakes President Jared Shawlee said the goal is to make the tournament feel accessible to everyone, including those who cannot afford match tickets, some of which are running thousands of dollars, at Levi’s Stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“For 39 days, this will be the home of the World Cup in San José,” Shawlee said. “Families, friends, soccer fans and visitors from around the world will have a place to come together and experience the biggest sporting event on the planet.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086750\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1724px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086750\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/060926Paraguay-SJSU_GH_009.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1724\" height=\"1149\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/060926Paraguay-SJSU_GH_009.jpg 1724w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/060926Paraguay-SJSU_GH_009-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/060926Paraguay-SJSU_GH_009-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1724px) 100vw, 1724px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Paraguay goalkeeper Gastón Olveira reacts to a shot during a training scrimmage at CEFCU Stadium in San José on June 8, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The watch parties will feature multiple large screens, the biggest nearly 500 square feet, along with food vendors offering World Cup-themed menus, youth zones and an outdoor entertainment zone where fans can purchase and carry to-go alcoholic beverages. Admission is free with an RSVP. The celebration runs through the tournament’s final match on July 19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mahan, a former youth soccer coach, said the city is also working to extend the World Cup energy beyond downtown — with programming planned at Mexican Heritage Plaza and commercial districts across all 10 council districts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s nowhere better than San José to welcome the world,” Mahan said. “The world already lives in San José; over 40% of our residents were born in another country. So we are ready to host anyone and everyone from around the world and make them feel at home.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>On a warm Monday evening at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-jose-state-university\">San José State University\u003c/a>, roughly 500 fans pressed against the chain-link fence surrounding the Spartan Soccer Complex, straining for a glimpse of Paraguay’s national soccer team running drills on the field below.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Children clutched autograph books. Parents held up phones. A few fans wore the team’s red and white stripes — La Albirroja, as the squad is known — even though most had never followed Paraguayan soccer a day in their lives.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The whole campus is excited about having Team Paraguay here,” said Jeff Konya, athletics director at San José State. “They’re having two games up here in the Bay, so they’re kind of our adopted team locally.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off Thursday in Mexico City — the largest edition of the tournament in history, with 48 nations competing — San José has positioned itself as one of its central hubs. Paraguay’s base camp is at SJSU.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Both team hotels for the tournament are in San José. The venue-specific training site is at PayPal Park. And starting June 11, downtown San Pedro Square Market will host watch parties for all 104 matches over 39 days, free to the public; the largest and longest viewing party series in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086752\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086752\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/060926Paraguay-SJSU_GH_016.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1359\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/060926Paraguay-SJSU_GH_016.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/060926Paraguay-SJSU_GH_016-160x109.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/060926Paraguay-SJSU_GH_016-1536x1044.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Paraguay forward Ramón Sosa takes a selfie with a fan following an open training session at CEFCU Stadium in San José on June 8, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Paraguay, ranked 40th in the world and making their ninth World Cup appearance, will face the United States in Los Angeles on Friday, June 12, before returning to the Bay Area for matches against Australia and Turkey at Levi’s Stadium — temporarily renamed the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium — in Santa Clara. The team’s base camp remains at SJSU through the group stage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At Monday’s open practice, fans from across the region watched as coaches barked instructions and players moved around the field practicing drills. Kai Burgess, who drove over from the East Bay with his father, Evan, said the experience had made him an instant convert.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My favorite part was seeing how the intensity is always high and never drops, even when they’re just training,” the young fan said. Walking out, he clutched a FIFA autograph book he had gotten signed.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Konya said the moment carried particular meaning for the university, which last hosted a World Cup base camp during the 1994 tournament that was also held in the United States, with games played up the Peninsula at Stanford University.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We were back in ’94 and now again here in ’26,” he said. “We couldn’t be more thrilled.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The World Cup’s economic footprint is expected to be significant. At a press conference earlier Monday at San Pedro Square Market, Mayor Matt Mahan said the regional economic impact is projected to land somewhere between $480 and $630 million, with the bulk of it concentrated in the South Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Every single event that comes into the Bay, the first city that calls me is San José,” Bay Area Host Committee CEO Zaileen Janmohamed said. “They say: how do we get involved, how do we make it the biggest thing possible? You have leadership in this city that cares.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The San José Earthquakes team is organizing the Soccer Celebration watch parties at San Pedro Square, like the city previously \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12072657/san-joses-downtown-has-had-a-strong-recovery-is-it-ready-for-the-super-bowl-surge\">did for Super Bowl fans\u003c/a>. San José Earthquakes President Jared Shawlee said the goal is to make the tournament feel accessible to everyone, including those who cannot afford match tickets, some of which are running thousands of dollars, at Levi’s Stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“For 39 days, this will be the home of the World Cup in San José,” Shawlee said. “Families, friends, soccer fans and visitors from around the world will have a place to come together and experience the biggest sporting event on the planet.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086750\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1724px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086750\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/060926Paraguay-SJSU_GH_009.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1724\" height=\"1149\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/060926Paraguay-SJSU_GH_009.jpg 1724w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/060926Paraguay-SJSU_GH_009-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/060926Paraguay-SJSU_GH_009-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1724px) 100vw, 1724px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Paraguay goalkeeper Gastón Olveira reacts to a shot during a training scrimmage at CEFCU Stadium in San José on June 8, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The watch parties will feature multiple large screens, the biggest nearly 500 square feet, along with food vendors offering World Cup-themed menus, youth zones and an outdoor entertainment zone where fans can purchase and carry to-go alcoholic beverages. Admission is free with an RSVP. The celebration runs through the tournament’s final match on July 19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mahan, a former youth soccer coach, said the city is also working to extend the World Cup energy beyond downtown — with programming planned at Mexican Heritage Plaza and commercial districts across all 10 council districts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s nowhere better than San José to welcome the world,” Mahan said. “The world already lives in San José; over 40% of our residents were born in another country. So we are ready to host anyone and everyone from around the world and make them feel at home.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "world-cup-tickets-levis-stadium-santa-clara-parking-bart-vta-capitol-corridor",
"title": "Got World Cup Tickets? What to Know About Getting to a Match in Santa Clara",
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"headTitle": "Got World Cup Tickets? What to Know About Getting to a Match in Santa Clara | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>This month, the World Cup is coming to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/levis-stadium\">Levi’s Stadium\u003c/a> in Santa Clara.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over two weeks beginning on June 13, the stadium — also known as “San Francisco Bay Area Stadium” for the purposes of the World Cup — will host six matches, including one elimination match, as part of a worldwide celebration of soccer that happens once every four years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With events at Levi’s Stadium already \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/49ers-cowboys-game-traffic-jam-17734652.php\">infamous\u003c/a> for causing hourslong traffic jams, local leaders are encouraging the tens of thousands of fans expected to attend each match to take public transportation instead of driving.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area’s public transit agencies are rolling out extended schedules to accommodate night games that are likely to end around midnight, discounted multi-day fare passes and increased service to make sure fans are able to get to and from games.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So whether you’re a Bay Area local who’s snagged World Cup tickets or you’re visiting our region from out of town, consider leaving your car — and definitely that \u003ca href=\"https://theworld.org/stories/2016/07/30/world-cups-official-instrument-now-banned-world-cup\">vuvuzela \u003c/a>— at home and keep reading for how to get to and from Levi’s Stadium on public transit. (And if you’re \u003cem>really \u003c/em>determined to drive there, we’ve got information on where to find parking at Levi’s Stadium, too.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#CanIstillgetticketstoWorldCupmatchesinSantaClara\">Can I still get tickets to World Cup matches in Santa Clara?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#HowcanIgethomefromWorldCupnightgamesonpublictransit\">How can I get home from World Cup night games on public transit?\u003c/a> \u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#WhatstheparkingsituationatLevisStadium\">What’s the parking situation at Levi’s Stadium?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What matches are being played at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi’s Stadium)\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There are\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083101/world-cup-2026-bay-area-games-where-is-fifa-world-cup-santa-clara-levis-stadium-tickets-fan-zone-watch-parties\"> six World Cup matches at Levi’s Stadium\u003c/a>: five “group stage matches and one “Round of 32” match.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Group B: Qatar vs. Switzerland\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Saturday, June 13 at 12 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Group J: Austria vs. Jordan\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tuesday, June 16 at 9 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Group D: Türkiye vs. Paraguay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Friday, June 19 at 8 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085857\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12085857\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Turkiye-vs.-Paraguay-Getty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1372\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Turkiye-vs.-Paraguay-Getty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Turkiye-vs.-Paraguay-Getty-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Turkiye-vs.-Paraguay-Getty-1536x1054.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Turkey’s player Kerem Kesgin (8) duels for the ball against Paraguay’s Luis Zarate (15) during the FIFA U-17 World Cup match between Turkey and Paraguay in Mumbai, India, on Oct. 12, 2017. \u003ccite>(Imtiyaz Shaikh/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Group J: Jordan vs. Algeria\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Monday, June 22 at 8 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Group D: Paraguay vs. Australia\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Thursday, June 25 at 7 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Levi’s Stadium will then host one knockout match:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Top-scoring team from Group D vs. the third-best team from either Group B, E, F, I or J\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wednesday, July 1 at 5 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"CanIstillgetticketstoWorldCupmatchesinSantaClara\">\u003c/a>Can I still get World Cup tickets for the Santa Clara matches this month?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes, at the time of publication, some tickets were still available — but that might change. Check out \u003ca href=\"https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/tickets\">FIFA’s ticket portal\u003c/a>, which includes last-minute sales and verified resales. You can also look for tickets on a verified resale website, such as \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/soccer\">Ticketmaster \u003c/a>or \u003ca href=\"https://www.stubhub.com/world-cup-tickets/grouping/45410\">StubHub\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We recommend reading \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084228/dont-fall-for-world-cup-ticket-scams-in-california\">our guide on how to avoid World Cup resale ticket scams\u003c/a> first, though.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How many people are expected to come to the Bay Area for the World Cup?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area Host Committee, which plans for major events like Super Bowl LX and the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics, is expecting 260,000 visitors from outside the Bay Area over the course of the region’s World Cup matches — according to Zaileen Janmohamed, the host committee’s CEO and president.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Compared to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12070878/watch-super-bowl-lx-santa-clara-2026-levis-stadium-nfl-tickets-parking-bag-policy\">Super Bowl LX\u003c/a>, which Levi’s Stadium hosted in February, the World Cup’s Bay Area engagements are longer and more spread out, with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083101/world-cup-2026-bay-area-games-where-is-fifa-world-cup-santa-clara-levis-stadium-tickets-fan-zone-watch-parties\">fan-related activities and experiences \u003c/a>spanning multiple locations and weeks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076519\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076519\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1321\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An Adidas FIFA World Cup soccer ball is seen on a FIFA x NFL chair in the Media Center ahead of Super Bowl LX on Feb. 4, 2026, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California. \u003ccite>(Matthew Huang/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“From a transit perspective, that means planning for repeated waves of movement across counties, venues, hotels and neighborhoods,” Janmohamed said — “for both local fans and a higher percentage of global visitors navigating the Bay Area for the first time.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This is the first time one region has hosted both the Super Bowl and the World Cup in the same year, Janmohamed said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"HowcanIgethomefromWorldCupnightgamesonpublictransit\">\u003c/a>How do I get to Levi’s Stadium using public transportation?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There are three transit agencies that will get you to the front door of Levi’s Stadium: Capitol Corridor, ACE Rail and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority or VTA. And if you aren’t close to one of their stops, there are multiple ways to transfer to them from other transit agencies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are the agencies that are changing their service schedules to accommodate World Cup fans.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>VTA\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority provides bus, light rail and paratransit services in Santa Clara County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Great America and Lick Mill are the VTA stations closest to Levi’s Stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12072787\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12072787 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260208-SUPERBOWLSUNDAY00166_TV-KQED-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260208-SUPERBOWLSUNDAY00166_TV-KQED-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260208-SUPERBOWLSUNDAY00166_TV-KQED-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260208-SUPERBOWLSUNDAY00166_TV-KQED-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Super Bowl attendees ride VTA to Levi’s Stadium for Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara on Feb. 8, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For information on fares, inter-agency transfers and where to park at VTA stations, check out the agency’s \u003ca href=\"https://worldcup.vta.org/fares\">World Cup page\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>VTA is expecting to carry as many as 15,000 people in and out of each match at Levi’s Stadium, according to Stacey Hendler Ross, the agency’s public information officer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hendler Ross said the agency will be adjusting routes to accommodate an expected increase in local riders heading to the stadium. For instance, the blue line will serve Levi’s Stadium for World Cup matches, instead of traveling straight to its scheduled stop in Bay Point.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ We’ll be running additional light rail service before and after matches, with trains serving the stadium every 10 minutes from Mountain View Transit Center, which connects to Caltrain — and every twenty minutes from the Milpitas Transit Center in downtown San José, which connects with BART,” Hendler Ross said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency says it’ll let riders know more information by email, SMS and VTA’s \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/vtaservice\">service updates on X\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://worldcup.vta.org/updates\">Sign up for route change updates for each match here.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are hoping to put out a lot of messaging about that so that people know that the service plan is going to be a little bit different than it is for every day,” Hendler Ross said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For late-night games, Hendler Ross said VTA will guarantee service for up to about two hours after the end of each match.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ If there are still hundreds of people on the platform two hours after the game, obviously we’re going to continue our service to get people where they need to go,” Hendler Ross said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hendler Ross also recommends using the \u003ca href=\"https://transitapp.com/\">Transit app\u003c/a> for trip planning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Learn more about \u003ca href=\"https://www.vta.org/go/fares\">paying for VTA rides\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>ACE Rail\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>ACE Rail connects Central Valley communities with the East and South Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency is planning additional services for three World Cup matches. Take a look at the \u003ca href=\"https://acerail.com/event-train/\">ACE Rail schedule. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Learn more about \u003ca href=\"https://acerail.com/tickets/\">paying for ACE Rail here\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Capitol Corridor\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Capitol Corridor connects the Sacramento area with the Bay Area by train, taking passengers from as far away as Rocklin and Auburn directly to Levi’s Stadium. The railway also provides easy transfers to BART and VTA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Capitol Corridor is planning special match day service for five of the latest matches at Levi’s. The agency has a \u003ca href=\"https://www.capitolcorridor.org/fwc26-sfbayarea/\">World Cup page \u003c/a>including \u003ca href=\"https://www.capitolcorridor.org/trainschedule/FIFA-Train-Schedule_2026.pdf?v=28052026\">service adjustments\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For evening and night games, Capitol Corridor will time its final departure from Levi’s Stadium to 15 minutes after the match is expected to end, according to Rob Padgette, the managing director of Capitol Corridor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That means if you are taking Capitol Corridor to the game, you’ll want to leave the stadium \u003cem>right \u003c/em>after the match ends to ensure you catch your train home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11932707\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11932707 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/Capitol-Corridor-Alviso.jpeg\" alt=\"A passenger train reflected in a trackside puddle at sunset.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/Capitol-Corridor-Alviso.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/Capitol-Corridor-Alviso-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/Capitol-Corridor-Alviso-1020x680.jpeg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/Capitol-Corridor-Alviso-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/Capitol-Corridor-Alviso-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/Capitol-Corridor-Alviso-1920x1280.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Amtrak California’s Capitol Corridor at Alviso on the south end of San Francisco Bay. \u003ccite>(Max Camden/Link21-BART)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Padgette also suggests riders \u003ca href=\"https://www.capitolcorridor.org/\">buy their ticket\u003c/a> in advance to make sure they get a seat. “ Because we expect a lot of fans to ride, we’re going to cap the number of sales on the train,” Padgette said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Learn more about \u003ca href=\"https://www.capitolcorridor.org/tickets/\">paying for Capitol Corridor rides here\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Caltrain\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Caltrain connects Santa Clara County to San Francisco by rail, passing through Silicon Valley, Stanford and San Mateo County on the way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you plan to take Caltrain to Levi’s Stadium, get off at the \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/station/mountainview\">Mountain View station\u003c/a> and transfer to \u003ca href=\"https://www.vta.org/go/routes/orange-line\">VTA’s Orange Line\u003c/a> and ride towards Alum Rock station and get off at Great America station. VTA recommends entering and exiting the stadium through \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/place/4900+Centennial+Blvd+Intel+Gate+A,+Santa+Clara,+CA+95054/@37.4027987,-121.9717298,431m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x808fc9c827c5f0df:0x11455a372e1f7d18!2sLevi's+Stadium!8m2!3d37.4033165!4d-121.9693774!16s%2Fm%2F0269w0y!3m5!1s0x808fc9b7fe7b6d4b:0x40de625050fafeb7!8m2!3d37.4037655!4d-121.9712125!16s%2Fg%2F11f48k_zld?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDUyNi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">Gate A\u003c/a> to get back to the Orange Line.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency is planning its regular \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/worldcup26?active_tab=route_explorer_tab&destination=7021\">half-hourly service\u003c/a> for World Cup matches, with additional trains on top of that, Caltrain public information officer Dan Lieberman said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re going to have one or two scheduled additional post-game trains for each match, while also keeping an additional train on standby if crowds necessitate it,” Lieberman said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lieberman said Caltrain will publish specific \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/about-caltrain/caltrain-news\">service plans for each match online soon\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Learn more about paying for \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/fares\">Caltrain fares\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>BART\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bay Area Rapid Transit serves five Bay Area counties, connecting a wide swath of the East Bay with San Francisco and the South Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To get to Levi’s Stadium, BART recommends riders take its Green or Orange Line (labeled “Berryessa” or “OAK/Berryessa”) to Milpitas Station and use the pedestrian bridge to transfer to VTA’s Orange Line and then get off at Lick Mill Station. To get back to VTA after the match, follow “Gate F” signs while exiting the stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080719\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12080719 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BARTSFGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1391\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BARTSFGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BARTSFGetty-160x111.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BARTSFGetty-1536x1068.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A commuter looks for a less crowded section of a westbound BART train at the West Oakland station in Oakland, California, on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. \u003ccite>(Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The last scheduled BART train that stops at all stations systemwide leaves Milpitas at 11:53 p.m., heading towards the East Bay and San Francisco. But the agency is adding special limited-express service after midnight for matches that start at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those trains will generally depart Milpitas every 30 minutes between 12:30 a.m. and 1:40 a.m., depending on how long it takes to clear the stadium and timed transfers with VTA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Riders taking these special limited-express service trains should note that the trains will \u003cem>not \u003c/em>stop at all BART stations. Instead, they’ll l only serve the following BART stations:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Bay Fair\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Dublin\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>MacArthur\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>El Cerrito del Norte\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Pleasant Hill\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Powell Street\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-11935689\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/12/gettyimages-1448202231-01daa7c0eabc9dfe5eff17bfe429ac097ee645ce-scaled-e1780442735101.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\">So if you plan to drive to a BART station and park your car, make sure you park at one of those stations to avoid getting stranded carless.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Find more details about special service on \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/news/fun/fifaworldcup\">BART’s World Cup page\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Learn more about \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/tickets\">BART fares\u003c/a> here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Muni \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Muni is the public transit agency serving the city of San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To get to Levi’s Stadium, riders can take Muni routes like the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/routes/30-stockton\">30 Stockton\u003c/a> bus, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/routes/45-unionstockton\">45 Union/Stockton\u003c/a> bus and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/routes/t-third-street\">T Third Street\u003c/a> train and transfer to either BART or Caltrain and then transfer to VTA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency is planning \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/travel-updates/fifa-world-cup-26%E2%84%A2-sf-bay-area\">additional bus shuttle service\u003c/a> for nighttime World Cup matches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The shuttle will operate between Union Square, the SoMa neighborhood, the Powell Street BART station and Caltrain’s Fourth and King Station, using the 45 Union/Stockton route. The shuttle will operate as late as 3:15 a.m., depending on the day. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/travel-updates/fifa-world-cup-26%E2%84%A2-sf-bay-area\">Check here for specific shuttle times.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Learn more about \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/muni/fares\">Muni fares\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How do I pay for public transit to get to World Cup matches at Levi’s Stadium?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There are a number of different ways to pay your fare.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tap to pay with a chip-enabled credit or debit card\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most transit agencies that will get you to Levi’s Stadium accept chip-enabled credit or debit cards as a form of payment. Just tap your card on the card reader as you enter a station or board a vehicle, and in some cases, tap when you exit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Two exceptions to know: Capitol Corridor accepts tap to pay, \u003ca href=\"https://www.capitolcorridor.org/tap2ride/\">but it requires registration ahead of time. \u003c/a>ACE Rail does not accept tap to pay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040954\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040954\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20241204-BART-JY-028_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20241204-BART-JY-028_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20241204-BART-JY-028_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20241204-BART-JY-028_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20241204-BART-JY-028_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20241204-BART-JY-028_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20241204-BART-JY-028_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A passenger tags their Clipper card at Montgomery BART Station in San Francisco on Dec. 4, 2024. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Clipper\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most Bay Area transit agencies accept \u003ca href=\"https://www.clippercard.com/\">Clipper\u003c/a>, a fare payment platform for public transit. You can use Clipper by either purchasing a physical card for $3 at a ticket vending machine (located at many BART, Muni and Caltrain stations) and pre-loading money onto it, or by \u003ca href=\"https://www.clippercard.com/clipper-app\">downloading the app\u003c/a> and pre-loading money that way — through which you can also tap using your phone by transferring your Clipper card to your Apple or Google Wallet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Look up \u003ca href=\"https://www.clippercard.com/locations\">Clipper card sales and service locations\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>ACE Rail and Capitol Corridor trains do not accept Clipper as a form of payment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Token Transit\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>VTA is offering one-day, three-day, five-day and seven-day adult passes via the \u003ca href=\"https://tokentransit.com/app\">Token Transit app\u003c/a>. The agency is also offering a joint VTA/Caltrain Adult one-day pass that includes unlimited transfers within VTA, valid for World Cup match days only.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://worldcup.vta.org/fares\">Read more about paying for VTA\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cash\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>VTA buses only accept exact fare, while light rail ticket machines accept cash or card.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cash fareboxes are located at the front of each Muni bus or train. Use exact change and keep your transfer as proof of payment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11254007\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11254007\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/01/31909760916_d88814d339_o-e1483581327477.jpg\" alt=\"The side of a Caltrain train as it enters a station.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Caltrain cars at San José’s Diridon Station, December 2016. \u003ccite>(Dan Brekke/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>BART trains don’t accept cash, but you can pay with cash on BART by using the add value machines located inside every station to purchase or reload a plastic Clipper Card.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Caltrain has ticket vending machines at every station that accept coins and bills.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Capitol Corridor riders can use cash to pay for a ticket directly from a conductor on board a train.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>ACE Rail accepts cash for ticket purchases at staffed locations.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Can I ride my bike to Levi’s Stadium?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes — and the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition is offering secure, free bike valet for all World Cup matches at Levi’s Stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The SVBC describes bike valet as a “secure, monitored coat check for your bicycle.” Check out their page on \u003ca href=\"https://bikesiliconvalley.org/learn-ride/levis-stadium\">how to use the bike valet\u003c/a> for World Cup matches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bike valet opens three hours before kick-off and closes exactly one hour after the end of the match. It will be located at Gate C only (Green Lot 1).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bike valet won’t accept shared fleet rentals like Lime, Bird or Spin, gas-powered bikes and bikes that aren’t owned by the rider.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for how to get to Levi’s by bike, it’s worth noting that the San Tomas Aquino Creek Trail adjacent to the stadium is closed during match days. Check out the \u003ca href=\"https://bikesiliconvalley.org/learn-ride/levis-stadium\">recommended detour\u003c/a> to access the bike valet if you are coming from the south.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s a list of all \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfbayareafwc26.com/road-closures-fifa-world-cup\">match-day road closures\u003c/a> and World Cup-related changes to Levi’s from FIFA.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"WhatstheparkingsituationatLevisStadium\">\u003c/a>What if I want to drive and park my car at Levi’s Stadium?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Parking at Levi’s Stadium must be purchased in advance, and only one parking pass may be purchased per World Cup match ticket. \u003ca href=\"https://www.justpark.com/us/event-parking/fifa-world-cup-2026/fifa-worldcup-2026-san-francisco/\">Check out FIFA’s official parking page. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also park at a \u003ca href=\"https://www.vta.org/go/stations\">VTA station,\u003c/a> a \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/rider-information/parking\">Caltrain station\u003c/a> or a \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/guide/parking\">BART station\u003c/a> and ride public transit to Levi’s Stadium from there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember: If you are taking BART to a night game, make sure you park at one of the stations that will be available by BART’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/news/fun/fifaworldcup\">limited express service\u003c/a> (Bay Fair, Dublin, MacArthur, El Cerrito del Norte, Pleasant Hill and Powell Street stations).\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Can I get to Levi’s Stadium using a ride-hailing app like Uber, Lyft or Waymo?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes, but according to the FIFA website, there will be “geofenced” rideshare stops for pickup starting one hour after kick-off — that is, you’ll have to meet your rideshare at a designated location at Levi’s Stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rideshare North (Red Lot 7) covers northbound rides to San Francisco and Rideshare South (Freedom Circle) covers southbound rides to San José.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12063808\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12063808\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/WaymoSFGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/WaymoSFGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/WaymoSFGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/WaymoSFGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A self-driving Waymo car with rooftop lidar and a bird-themed mural on the Embarcadero with the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in the background, in San Francisco, California, on Aug. 14, 2025. \u003ccite>(Smith Collection/Gado via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>FIFA advises that World Cup guests leaving from Gates A, E and F will be directed to Rideshare North Red Lot 7. Guests leaving from Gates B or C will be directed to Rideshare South on Freedom Circle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Autonomous vehicles like Waymo are not allowed into the rideshare lots at Levi’s Stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What about people with mobility needs?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>FIFA said accessible pickup and drop-off points for fans are located on Patrick Henry Drive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Accessible parking is also offered to fans via the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 \u003ca href=\"https://www.justpark.com/us/event-parking/fifa-world-cup-2026/\">Parking Page\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The association said guests with mobility needs who use rideshare should use the Rideshare North lot and be shuttled to the Stadium Plaza drop-off.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Check out FIFA’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/stadiums/san-francisco-bay-area/accessibility\">accessibility page\u003c/a> here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>This month, the World Cup is coming to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/levis-stadium\">Levi’s Stadium\u003c/a> in Santa Clara.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over two weeks beginning on June 13, the stadium — also known as “San Francisco Bay Area Stadium” for the purposes of the World Cup — will host six matches, including one elimination match, as part of a worldwide celebration of soccer that happens once every four years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With events at Levi’s Stadium already \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/49ers-cowboys-game-traffic-jam-17734652.php\">infamous\u003c/a> for causing hourslong traffic jams, local leaders are encouraging the tens of thousands of fans expected to attend each match to take public transportation instead of driving.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area’s public transit agencies are rolling out extended schedules to accommodate night games that are likely to end around midnight, discounted multi-day fare passes and increased service to make sure fans are able to get to and from games.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So whether you’re a Bay Area local who’s snagged World Cup tickets or you’re visiting our region from out of town, consider leaving your car — and definitely that \u003ca href=\"https://theworld.org/stories/2016/07/30/world-cups-official-instrument-now-banned-world-cup\">vuvuzela \u003c/a>— at home and keep reading for how to get to and from Levi’s Stadium on public transit. (And if you’re \u003cem>really \u003c/em>determined to drive there, we’ve got information on where to find parking at Levi’s Stadium, too.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#CanIstillgetticketstoWorldCupmatchesinSantaClara\">Can I still get tickets to World Cup matches in Santa Clara?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#HowcanIgethomefromWorldCupnightgamesonpublictransit\">How can I get home from World Cup night games on public transit?\u003c/a> \u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#WhatstheparkingsituationatLevisStadium\">What’s the parking situation at Levi’s Stadium?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What matches are being played at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi’s Stadium)\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There are\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083101/world-cup-2026-bay-area-games-where-is-fifa-world-cup-santa-clara-levis-stadium-tickets-fan-zone-watch-parties\"> six World Cup matches at Levi’s Stadium\u003c/a>: five “group stage matches and one “Round of 32” match.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Group B: Qatar vs. Switzerland\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Saturday, June 13 at 12 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Group J: Austria vs. Jordan\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tuesday, June 16 at 9 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Group D: Türkiye vs. Paraguay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Friday, June 19 at 8 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085857\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12085857\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Turkiye-vs.-Paraguay-Getty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1372\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Turkiye-vs.-Paraguay-Getty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Turkiye-vs.-Paraguay-Getty-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Turkiye-vs.-Paraguay-Getty-1536x1054.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Turkey’s player Kerem Kesgin (8) duels for the ball against Paraguay’s Luis Zarate (15) during the FIFA U-17 World Cup match between Turkey and Paraguay in Mumbai, India, on Oct. 12, 2017. \u003ccite>(Imtiyaz Shaikh/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Group J: Jordan vs. Algeria\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Monday, June 22 at 8 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Group D: Paraguay vs. Australia\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Thursday, June 25 at 7 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Levi’s Stadium will then host one knockout match:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Top-scoring team from Group D vs. the third-best team from either Group B, E, F, I or J\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wednesday, July 1 at 5 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"CanIstillgetticketstoWorldCupmatchesinSantaClara\">\u003c/a>Can I still get World Cup tickets for the Santa Clara matches this month?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes, at the time of publication, some tickets were still available — but that might change. Check out \u003ca href=\"https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/tickets\">FIFA’s ticket portal\u003c/a>, which includes last-minute sales and verified resales. You can also look for tickets on a verified resale website, such as \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/soccer\">Ticketmaster \u003c/a>or \u003ca href=\"https://www.stubhub.com/world-cup-tickets/grouping/45410\">StubHub\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We recommend reading \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084228/dont-fall-for-world-cup-ticket-scams-in-california\">our guide on how to avoid World Cup resale ticket scams\u003c/a> first, though.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How many people are expected to come to the Bay Area for the World Cup?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area Host Committee, which plans for major events like Super Bowl LX and the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics, is expecting 260,000 visitors from outside the Bay Area over the course of the region’s World Cup matches — according to Zaileen Janmohamed, the host committee’s CEO and president.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Compared to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12070878/watch-super-bowl-lx-santa-clara-2026-levis-stadium-nfl-tickets-parking-bag-policy\">Super Bowl LX\u003c/a>, which Levi’s Stadium hosted in February, the World Cup’s Bay Area engagements are longer and more spread out, with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083101/world-cup-2026-bay-area-games-where-is-fifa-world-cup-santa-clara-levis-stadium-tickets-fan-zone-watch-parties\">fan-related activities and experiences \u003c/a>spanning multiple locations and weeks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076519\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076519\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1321\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An Adidas FIFA World Cup soccer ball is seen on a FIFA x NFL chair in the Media Center ahead of Super Bowl LX on Feb. 4, 2026, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California. \u003ccite>(Matthew Huang/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“From a transit perspective, that means planning for repeated waves of movement across counties, venues, hotels and neighborhoods,” Janmohamed said — “for both local fans and a higher percentage of global visitors navigating the Bay Area for the first time.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This is the first time one region has hosted both the Super Bowl and the World Cup in the same year, Janmohamed said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"HowcanIgethomefromWorldCupnightgamesonpublictransit\">\u003c/a>How do I get to Levi’s Stadium using public transportation?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There are three transit agencies that will get you to the front door of Levi’s Stadium: Capitol Corridor, ACE Rail and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority or VTA. And if you aren’t close to one of their stops, there are multiple ways to transfer to them from other transit agencies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are the agencies that are changing their service schedules to accommodate World Cup fans.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>VTA\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority provides bus, light rail and paratransit services in Santa Clara County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Great America and Lick Mill are the VTA stations closest to Levi’s Stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12072787\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12072787 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260208-SUPERBOWLSUNDAY00166_TV-KQED-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260208-SUPERBOWLSUNDAY00166_TV-KQED-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260208-SUPERBOWLSUNDAY00166_TV-KQED-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260208-SUPERBOWLSUNDAY00166_TV-KQED-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Super Bowl attendees ride VTA to Levi’s Stadium for Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara on Feb. 8, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For information on fares, inter-agency transfers and where to park at VTA stations, check out the agency’s \u003ca href=\"https://worldcup.vta.org/fares\">World Cup page\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>VTA is expecting to carry as many as 15,000 people in and out of each match at Levi’s Stadium, according to Stacey Hendler Ross, the agency’s public information officer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hendler Ross said the agency will be adjusting routes to accommodate an expected increase in local riders heading to the stadium. For instance, the blue line will serve Levi’s Stadium for World Cup matches, instead of traveling straight to its scheduled stop in Bay Point.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ We’ll be running additional light rail service before and after matches, with trains serving the stadium every 10 minutes from Mountain View Transit Center, which connects to Caltrain — and every twenty minutes from the Milpitas Transit Center in downtown San José, which connects with BART,” Hendler Ross said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency says it’ll let riders know more information by email, SMS and VTA’s \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/vtaservice\">service updates on X\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://worldcup.vta.org/updates\">Sign up for route change updates for each match here.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are hoping to put out a lot of messaging about that so that people know that the service plan is going to be a little bit different than it is for every day,” Hendler Ross said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For late-night games, Hendler Ross said VTA will guarantee service for up to about two hours after the end of each match.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ If there are still hundreds of people on the platform two hours after the game, obviously we’re going to continue our service to get people where they need to go,” Hendler Ross said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hendler Ross also recommends using the \u003ca href=\"https://transitapp.com/\">Transit app\u003c/a> for trip planning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Learn more about \u003ca href=\"https://www.vta.org/go/fares\">paying for VTA rides\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>ACE Rail\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>ACE Rail connects Central Valley communities with the East and South Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency is planning additional services for three World Cup matches. Take a look at the \u003ca href=\"https://acerail.com/event-train/\">ACE Rail schedule. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Learn more about \u003ca href=\"https://acerail.com/tickets/\">paying for ACE Rail here\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Capitol Corridor\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Capitol Corridor connects the Sacramento area with the Bay Area by train, taking passengers from as far away as Rocklin and Auburn directly to Levi’s Stadium. The railway also provides easy transfers to BART and VTA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Capitol Corridor is planning special match day service for five of the latest matches at Levi’s. The agency has a \u003ca href=\"https://www.capitolcorridor.org/fwc26-sfbayarea/\">World Cup page \u003c/a>including \u003ca href=\"https://www.capitolcorridor.org/trainschedule/FIFA-Train-Schedule_2026.pdf?v=28052026\">service adjustments\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For evening and night games, Capitol Corridor will time its final departure from Levi’s Stadium to 15 minutes after the match is expected to end, according to Rob Padgette, the managing director of Capitol Corridor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That means if you are taking Capitol Corridor to the game, you’ll want to leave the stadium \u003cem>right \u003c/em>after the match ends to ensure you catch your train home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11932707\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11932707 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/Capitol-Corridor-Alviso.jpeg\" alt=\"A passenger train reflected in a trackside puddle at sunset.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/Capitol-Corridor-Alviso.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/Capitol-Corridor-Alviso-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/Capitol-Corridor-Alviso-1020x680.jpeg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/Capitol-Corridor-Alviso-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/Capitol-Corridor-Alviso-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/Capitol-Corridor-Alviso-1920x1280.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Amtrak California’s Capitol Corridor at Alviso on the south end of San Francisco Bay. \u003ccite>(Max Camden/Link21-BART)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Padgette also suggests riders \u003ca href=\"https://www.capitolcorridor.org/\">buy their ticket\u003c/a> in advance to make sure they get a seat. “ Because we expect a lot of fans to ride, we’re going to cap the number of sales on the train,” Padgette said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Learn more about \u003ca href=\"https://www.capitolcorridor.org/tickets/\">paying for Capitol Corridor rides here\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Caltrain\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Caltrain connects Santa Clara County to San Francisco by rail, passing through Silicon Valley, Stanford and San Mateo County on the way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you plan to take Caltrain to Levi’s Stadium, get off at the \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/station/mountainview\">Mountain View station\u003c/a> and transfer to \u003ca href=\"https://www.vta.org/go/routes/orange-line\">VTA’s Orange Line\u003c/a> and ride towards Alum Rock station and get off at Great America station. VTA recommends entering and exiting the stadium through \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/place/4900+Centennial+Blvd+Intel+Gate+A,+Santa+Clara,+CA+95054/@37.4027987,-121.9717298,431m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x808fc9c827c5f0df:0x11455a372e1f7d18!2sLevi's+Stadium!8m2!3d37.4033165!4d-121.9693774!16s%2Fm%2F0269w0y!3m5!1s0x808fc9b7fe7b6d4b:0x40de625050fafeb7!8m2!3d37.4037655!4d-121.9712125!16s%2Fg%2F11f48k_zld?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDUyNi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">Gate A\u003c/a> to get back to the Orange Line.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency is planning its regular \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/worldcup26?active_tab=route_explorer_tab&destination=7021\">half-hourly service\u003c/a> for World Cup matches, with additional trains on top of that, Caltrain public information officer Dan Lieberman said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re going to have one or two scheduled additional post-game trains for each match, while also keeping an additional train on standby if crowds necessitate it,” Lieberman said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lieberman said Caltrain will publish specific \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/about-caltrain/caltrain-news\">service plans for each match online soon\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Learn more about paying for \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/fares\">Caltrain fares\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>BART\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bay Area Rapid Transit serves five Bay Area counties, connecting a wide swath of the East Bay with San Francisco and the South Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To get to Levi’s Stadium, BART recommends riders take its Green or Orange Line (labeled “Berryessa” or “OAK/Berryessa”) to Milpitas Station and use the pedestrian bridge to transfer to VTA’s Orange Line and then get off at Lick Mill Station. To get back to VTA after the match, follow “Gate F” signs while exiting the stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080719\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12080719 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BARTSFGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1391\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BARTSFGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BARTSFGetty-160x111.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BARTSFGetty-1536x1068.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A commuter looks for a less crowded section of a westbound BART train at the West Oakland station in Oakland, California, on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. \u003ccite>(Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The last scheduled BART train that stops at all stations systemwide leaves Milpitas at 11:53 p.m., heading towards the East Bay and San Francisco. But the agency is adding special limited-express service after midnight for matches that start at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those trains will generally depart Milpitas every 30 minutes between 12:30 a.m. and 1:40 a.m., depending on how long it takes to clear the stadium and timed transfers with VTA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Riders taking these special limited-express service trains should note that the trains will \u003cem>not \u003c/em>stop at all BART stations. Instead, they’ll l only serve the following BART stations:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Bay Fair\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Dublin\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>MacArthur\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>El Cerrito del Norte\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Pleasant Hill\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Powell Street\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-11935689\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/12/gettyimages-1448202231-01daa7c0eabc9dfe5eff17bfe429ac097ee645ce-scaled-e1780442735101.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\">So if you plan to drive to a BART station and park your car, make sure you park at one of those stations to avoid getting stranded carless.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Find more details about special service on \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/news/fun/fifaworldcup\">BART’s World Cup page\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Learn more about \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/tickets\">BART fares\u003c/a> here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Muni \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Muni is the public transit agency serving the city of San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To get to Levi’s Stadium, riders can take Muni routes like the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/routes/30-stockton\">30 Stockton\u003c/a> bus, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/routes/45-unionstockton\">45 Union/Stockton\u003c/a> bus and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/routes/t-third-street\">T Third Street\u003c/a> train and transfer to either BART or Caltrain and then transfer to VTA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency is planning \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/travel-updates/fifa-world-cup-26%E2%84%A2-sf-bay-area\">additional bus shuttle service\u003c/a> for nighttime World Cup matches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The shuttle will operate between Union Square, the SoMa neighborhood, the Powell Street BART station and Caltrain’s Fourth and King Station, using the 45 Union/Stockton route. The shuttle will operate as late as 3:15 a.m., depending on the day. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/travel-updates/fifa-world-cup-26%E2%84%A2-sf-bay-area\">Check here for specific shuttle times.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Learn more about \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/muni/fares\">Muni fares\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How do I pay for public transit to get to World Cup matches at Levi’s Stadium?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There are a number of different ways to pay your fare.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tap to pay with a chip-enabled credit or debit card\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most transit agencies that will get you to Levi’s Stadium accept chip-enabled credit or debit cards as a form of payment. Just tap your card on the card reader as you enter a station or board a vehicle, and in some cases, tap when you exit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Two exceptions to know: Capitol Corridor accepts tap to pay, \u003ca href=\"https://www.capitolcorridor.org/tap2ride/\">but it requires registration ahead of time. \u003c/a>ACE Rail does not accept tap to pay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040954\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040954\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20241204-BART-JY-028_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20241204-BART-JY-028_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20241204-BART-JY-028_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20241204-BART-JY-028_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20241204-BART-JY-028_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20241204-BART-JY-028_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20241204-BART-JY-028_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A passenger tags their Clipper card at Montgomery BART Station in San Francisco on Dec. 4, 2024. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Clipper\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most Bay Area transit agencies accept \u003ca href=\"https://www.clippercard.com/\">Clipper\u003c/a>, a fare payment platform for public transit. You can use Clipper by either purchasing a physical card for $3 at a ticket vending machine (located at many BART, Muni and Caltrain stations) and pre-loading money onto it, or by \u003ca href=\"https://www.clippercard.com/clipper-app\">downloading the app\u003c/a> and pre-loading money that way — through which you can also tap using your phone by transferring your Clipper card to your Apple or Google Wallet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Look up \u003ca href=\"https://www.clippercard.com/locations\">Clipper card sales and service locations\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>ACE Rail and Capitol Corridor trains do not accept Clipper as a form of payment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Token Transit\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>VTA is offering one-day, three-day, five-day and seven-day adult passes via the \u003ca href=\"https://tokentransit.com/app\">Token Transit app\u003c/a>. The agency is also offering a joint VTA/Caltrain Adult one-day pass that includes unlimited transfers within VTA, valid for World Cup match days only.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://worldcup.vta.org/fares\">Read more about paying for VTA\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cash\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>VTA buses only accept exact fare, while light rail ticket machines accept cash or card.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cash fareboxes are located at the front of each Muni bus or train. Use exact change and keep your transfer as proof of payment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11254007\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11254007\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/01/31909760916_d88814d339_o-e1483581327477.jpg\" alt=\"The side of a Caltrain train as it enters a station.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Caltrain cars at San José’s Diridon Station, December 2016. \u003ccite>(Dan Brekke/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>BART trains don’t accept cash, but you can pay with cash on BART by using the add value machines located inside every station to purchase or reload a plastic Clipper Card.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Caltrain has ticket vending machines at every station that accept coins and bills.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Capitol Corridor riders can use cash to pay for a ticket directly from a conductor on board a train.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>ACE Rail accepts cash for ticket purchases at staffed locations.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Can I ride my bike to Levi’s Stadium?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes — and the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition is offering secure, free bike valet for all World Cup matches at Levi’s Stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The SVBC describes bike valet as a “secure, monitored coat check for your bicycle.” Check out their page on \u003ca href=\"https://bikesiliconvalley.org/learn-ride/levis-stadium\">how to use the bike valet\u003c/a> for World Cup matches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bike valet opens three hours before kick-off and closes exactly one hour after the end of the match. It will be located at Gate C only (Green Lot 1).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bike valet won’t accept shared fleet rentals like Lime, Bird or Spin, gas-powered bikes and bikes that aren’t owned by the rider.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for how to get to Levi’s by bike, it’s worth noting that the San Tomas Aquino Creek Trail adjacent to the stadium is closed during match days. Check out the \u003ca href=\"https://bikesiliconvalley.org/learn-ride/levis-stadium\">recommended detour\u003c/a> to access the bike valet if you are coming from the south.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s a list of all \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfbayareafwc26.com/road-closures-fifa-world-cup\">match-day road closures\u003c/a> and World Cup-related changes to Levi’s from FIFA.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"WhatstheparkingsituationatLevisStadium\">\u003c/a>What if I want to drive and park my car at Levi’s Stadium?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Parking at Levi’s Stadium must be purchased in advance, and only one parking pass may be purchased per World Cup match ticket. \u003ca href=\"https://www.justpark.com/us/event-parking/fifa-world-cup-2026/fifa-worldcup-2026-san-francisco/\">Check out FIFA’s official parking page. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also park at a \u003ca href=\"https://www.vta.org/go/stations\">VTA station,\u003c/a> a \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/rider-information/parking\">Caltrain station\u003c/a> or a \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/guide/parking\">BART station\u003c/a> and ride public transit to Levi’s Stadium from there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember: If you are taking BART to a night game, make sure you park at one of the stations that will be available by BART’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/news/fun/fifaworldcup\">limited express service\u003c/a> (Bay Fair, Dublin, MacArthur, El Cerrito del Norte, Pleasant Hill and Powell Street stations).\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Can I get to Levi’s Stadium using a ride-hailing app like Uber, Lyft or Waymo?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes, but according to the FIFA website, there will be “geofenced” rideshare stops for pickup starting one hour after kick-off — that is, you’ll have to meet your rideshare at a designated location at Levi’s Stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rideshare North (Red Lot 7) covers northbound rides to San Francisco and Rideshare South (Freedom Circle) covers southbound rides to San José.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12063808\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12063808\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/WaymoSFGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/WaymoSFGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/WaymoSFGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/WaymoSFGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A self-driving Waymo car with rooftop lidar and a bird-themed mural on the Embarcadero with the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in the background, in San Francisco, California, on Aug. 14, 2025. \u003ccite>(Smith Collection/Gado via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>FIFA advises that World Cup guests leaving from Gates A, E and F will be directed to Rideshare North Red Lot 7. Guests leaving from Gates B or C will be directed to Rideshare South on Freedom Circle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Autonomous vehicles like Waymo are not allowed into the rideshare lots at Levi’s Stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What about people with mobility needs?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>FIFA said accessible pickup and drop-off points for fans are located on Patrick Henry Drive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Accessible parking is also offered to fans via the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 \u003ca href=\"https://www.justpark.com/us/event-parking/fifa-world-cup-2026/\">Parking Page\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The association said guests with mobility needs who use rideshare should use the Rideshare North lot and be shuttled to the Stadium Plaza drop-off.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Check out FIFA’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/stadiums/san-francisco-bay-area/accessibility\">accessibility page\u003c/a> here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "dont-fall-for-world-cup-ticket-scams-in-california",
"title": "Don’t Fall for World Cup Ticket Scams in California",
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"headTitle": "Don’t Fall for World Cup Ticket Scams in California | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>With less than a month before the 2026 FIFA Men’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/world-cup\">World Cup\u003c/a> kicks off, soccer fans are scrambling to grab the last remaining tickets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the time of publication, there are still some tickets available for the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083101/world-cup-2026-bay-area-games-where-is-fifa-world-cup-santa-clara-levis-stadium-tickets-fan-zone-watch-parties\">six World Cup games\u003c/a> hosted at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But while the Bay Area hasn’t yet experienced the kind of ticket frenzy seen in \u003ca href=\"https://www.wsj.com/sports/soccer/colombia-portugal-world-cup-6c1f318b\">other World Cup host cities\u003c/a>, prices are still out of reach for many fans — raising concerns about how fans looking for a bargain could fall prey to scams falsely promising far cheaper tickets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And most recently, the World Cup’s own governing body, FIFA, has drawn scrutiny from California state officials over \u003ca href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/fifa-world-cup-fans-seat-category-changes-ticket-complaints/\">changes to its ticketing system\u003c/a> — following reports from ticketholders who say they have been assigned seats in a different category than advertised when they bought their tickets through FIFA’s own online portal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We have laws in California against misleading or deceptive business practices,” said state Attorney General Rob Bonta, who sent \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/Letter%20to%20FIFA_.pdf\">a letter\u003c/a> to FIFA last week requesting a list of ticket buyers who were assigned seats in a lower category than what they purchased. “We want to learn more from FIFA in order to assess whether what was done was lawful or not.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bonta also expressed concern that sky-high prices could deter people from buying a ticket through FIFA’s official website or other verified vendors. Passionate soccer fans, he said, “may go into a site that isn’t as reliable and maybe they get taken advantage of.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076519\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076519\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1321\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An Adidas FIFA World Cup soccer ball is seen on a FIFA x NFL chair in the Media Center ahead of Super Bowl LX on Feb. 4, 2026, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Matthew Huang via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>So how can \u003cem>you \u003c/em>spot a scam when buying a World Cup ticket, or just make sure you get what you pay for?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading to learn what officials recommend about buying World Cup tickets online and what to do if you already bought a ticket on the official FIFA site but feel that the seat you were assigned does not match what you originally paid for.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And rest assured: there are still plenty of ways to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083101/world-cup-2026-bay-area-games-where-is-fifa-world-cup-santa-clara-levis-stadium-tickets-fan-zone-watch-parties\">watch the World Cup in the Bay Area\u003c/a> for free — or for a fraction of the cost of a Levi’s Stadium ticket, real or fake.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#IthinkIgotscammedforaWorldCupticketWhatcanIdo\">I think I got scammed for a World Cup ticket. What can I do?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#IboughtaticketofftheFIFAwebsitebutIthinkmyseatingisnotwhatIpaidfor\"> I bought a ticket off the FIFA website, but I think my seating is not what I paid for.\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Remember, if something’s too good to be true …\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>First off: If you’re feeling confused over what a World Cup ticket actually costs, that’s understandable, Santa Clara County Assistant District Attorney James Gibbons-Shapiro said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For this World Cup, FIFA adopted \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7166874/2026/04/02/fifa-dynamic-pricing-2026-world-cup-tickets/\">a pricing system\u003c/a> known as “dynamic pricing,” where the cost of a seat changes based on current demand for that specific game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12084233\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12084233\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/worldcup5192026.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1321\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/worldcup5192026.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/worldcup5192026-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/worldcup5192026-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The 2026 FIFA World Cup winner’s trophy is seen on stage at the 2026 World Cup halftime show announcement during the Global Citizen and FIFA World Cup panel at the Global Citizen NOW event in New York City on May 14, 2026. \u003ccite>(Charly Triballeau / AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“That has made some think that a [deal] that’s too good to be true actually \u003cstrong>is \u003c/strong>a true deal, because they don’t know what the set price for a ticket is,” Gibbons-Shapiro said. “Actually, those too-good-to-be-true deals are not true.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While FIFA’s official ticket portal — along with official resale sites like StubHub, SeatGeek, TicketMaster and SuiteHop — may show much higher prices, at least these platforms are verified, Gibbons-Shapiro said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But once you make contact with a seller, make sure you make the purchase \u003cem>on \u003c/em>the website through which you contacted this person — and not on another platform.[aside postID=news_12083101 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2233765237.jpg']Scammers often promise you “a better deal” if you make the payment using instant payment sites like Zelle, Venmo and Cash App. But fraudsters aren’t trying to save you money with this suggestion: They’re trying to make it easier for \u003cem>themselves\u003c/em> to keep your money.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Talking to strangers on a resale or payments site that’s not verified puts you at greater risk of getting ripped off, Gibbons-Shapiro said. “The criminal is simply looking for someone desperate enough to go to the World Cup that they’re willing to send a lot of money right away to a total stranger,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In other words, he said: “It’s not that the country that you are supporting is going to lose — it’s going to be you that loses.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How do I know if the World Cup tickets I’m being offered are real?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Scammers have become incredibly good at printing fake tickets that look highly realistic, Gibbons-Shapiro said. So much so, he said, that when sports fans ask him for advice on how to spot a fake ticket, he tells them that he doesn’t \u003cem>have \u003c/em>any tips that reliably work — that’s how identical the scam tickets can physically appear.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The real pro tip here, Gibbons-Shapiro said, is “don’t go to the stadium to try to buy a ticket there.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Because the great likelihood is that you’re buying a fake ticket,” he said. “You’re not gonna be able to get in, and you’re going to lose all your money.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scalpers are actually not permitted on stadium grounds — and reselling tickets near the stadium is \u003ca href=\"https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/penal-code/pen-sect-346/#:~:text=Any%20person%20who%2C%20without%20the,is%20guilty%20of%20a%20misdemeanor.\">a misdemeanor\u003c/a> crime in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s why it’s important to buy your ticket on a third-party ticket resale site that will deliver the ticket directly to you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12084234\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12084234\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2276449211.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1320\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2276449211.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2276449211-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2276449211-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Footballs and jerseys are displayed during the opening day of the official 2026 FIFA World Cup merchandising store in Miami Beach, Florida, on May 18, 2026. \u003ccite>(Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Platforms like WhatsApp or Facebook Marketplace usually will not verify if what’s being offered is what’s actually sold.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And even if you’re using reliable third-party sites like SeatGeek or TicketMaster, check the reseller’s refund policy to see whether they offer a guarantee regarding the authenticity and timely arrival of the tickets.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"IthinkIgotscammedforaWorldCupticketWhatcanIdo\">\u003c/a>I just got scammed buying a fake World Cup ticket. What can I do?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>First of all, make sure to document all your communication with the person who promised to sell you a ticket — and take screenshots of those messages in case they attempt to delete anything from their end of the conversation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you were scammed online or over the phone:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can then report the situation to your local police department, as the city where you live is defined as where the crime took place.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you bought the fake ticket in person from a scalper: \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Contact the police department of the city where the transaction took place. “If that happened right outside the stadium, that would be Santa Clara Police Department,” Gibbons-Shapiro said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also file a complaint with the \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/contact/consumer-complaint-against-business-or-company\">California Attorney General’s office\u003c/a> or the \u003ca href=\"https://www.bbb.org/file-a-complaint\">Better Business Bureau\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gibbons-Shapiro said his office is ready to prosecute anyone who tricks others into buying fake World Cup tickets, adding that he would consider that to be a felony.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We have robust teams for consumer protection and theft enforcement,” he said. “We’re going to prosecute the scammers.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"IboughtaticketofftheFIFAwebsitebutIthinkmyseatingisnotwhatIpaidfor\">\u003c/a>I bought a ticket on the FIFA website, and I think I got seated in a different place than what I paid for.\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you bought your ticket from the online FIFA purchasing portal during the initial sales phase last October, Attorney General Bonta recommends that you keep a record of everything from that purchase. This could include, he said, “images of the map they were shown and the original receipt for the ticket that they purchased and what it says, and the existing ticket that they have.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/contact/consumer-complaint-against-business-or-company\">contact Bonta’s office\u003c/a> to share your experience.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bonta told KQED his office is still investigating what happened during this initial ticketing phase and hopes that FIFA provides the information he has requested by the May 29 deadline. “And if they don’t, we can ratchet up the level of severity here,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12017252\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12017252\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/RobBontaSFAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/RobBontaSFAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/RobBontaSFAP-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/RobBontaSFAP-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/RobBontaSFAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/RobBontaSFAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/RobBontaSFAP-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">California Attorney General Rob Bonta speaks at a news conference in front of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. \u003ccite>(Terry Chea/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It’s not something that we want to do, but we always have an ability to send civil investigative demands or subpoenas,” Bonta said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>FIFA did not respond to a request for comment from KQED. However, the organization has told \u003ca href=\"https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/fifa-responds-to-world-cup-ticket-map-concerns-but-questions-remain/blt85dd14bcb45a2f39\">other media outlets\u003c/a> that the initial maps consumers saw last year were meant to “provide guidance rather than the exact seat layout,” and seating arrangements could be subject to change — as happened when the organization introduced new seating categories in later phases of ticket sales.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But that could potentially be in violation of California law, Bonta said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The law in California is that businesses and organizations cannot justify misleading practices by pointing to the fine print or other terms that an everyday reasonable consumer would not have seen or understood,” he said. “If you’re told something, then you’re entitled to rely on the representation and to trust what you were told.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The attorney general’s office could seek some civil penalty if its investigation concludes that the rights of California consumers were indeed violated, Bonta said. “Then we could help those individuals get the ticket that they actually purchased, not the one that they received after they were misled.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the investigation is still ongoing, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Sky-high prices for some matches and ongoing controversy over FIFA’s seating practices may push some fans to buy their tickets from unverified vendors. Officials are warning that doing so could increase scams.",
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"title": "Don’t Fall for World Cup Ticket Scams in California | KQED",
"description": "Sky-high prices for some matches and ongoing controversy over FIFA’s seating practices may push some fans to buy their tickets from unverified vendors. Officials are warning that doing so could increase scams.",
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"headline": "Don’t Fall for World Cup Ticket Scams in California",
"datePublished": "2026-05-19T12:00:34-07:00",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>With less than a month before the 2026 FIFA Men’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/world-cup\">World Cup\u003c/a> kicks off, soccer fans are scrambling to grab the last remaining tickets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the time of publication, there are still some tickets available for the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083101/world-cup-2026-bay-area-games-where-is-fifa-world-cup-santa-clara-levis-stadium-tickets-fan-zone-watch-parties\">six World Cup games\u003c/a> hosted at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But while the Bay Area hasn’t yet experienced the kind of ticket frenzy seen in \u003ca href=\"https://www.wsj.com/sports/soccer/colombia-portugal-world-cup-6c1f318b\">other World Cup host cities\u003c/a>, prices are still out of reach for many fans — raising concerns about how fans looking for a bargain could fall prey to scams falsely promising far cheaper tickets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And most recently, the World Cup’s own governing body, FIFA, has drawn scrutiny from California state officials over \u003ca href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/fifa-world-cup-fans-seat-category-changes-ticket-complaints/\">changes to its ticketing system\u003c/a> — following reports from ticketholders who say they have been assigned seats in a different category than advertised when they bought their tickets through FIFA’s own online portal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We have laws in California against misleading or deceptive business practices,” said state Attorney General Rob Bonta, who sent \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/Letter%20to%20FIFA_.pdf\">a letter\u003c/a> to FIFA last week requesting a list of ticket buyers who were assigned seats in a lower category than what they purchased. “We want to learn more from FIFA in order to assess whether what was done was lawful or not.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bonta also expressed concern that sky-high prices could deter people from buying a ticket through FIFA’s official website or other verified vendors. Passionate soccer fans, he said, “may go into a site that isn’t as reliable and maybe they get taken advantage of.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076519\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076519\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1321\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An Adidas FIFA World Cup soccer ball is seen on a FIFA x NFL chair in the Media Center ahead of Super Bowl LX on Feb. 4, 2026, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Matthew Huang via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>So how can \u003cem>you \u003c/em>spot a scam when buying a World Cup ticket, or just make sure you get what you pay for?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading to learn what officials recommend about buying World Cup tickets online and what to do if you already bought a ticket on the official FIFA site but feel that the seat you were assigned does not match what you originally paid for.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And rest assured: there are still plenty of ways to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083101/world-cup-2026-bay-area-games-where-is-fifa-world-cup-santa-clara-levis-stadium-tickets-fan-zone-watch-parties\">watch the World Cup in the Bay Area\u003c/a> for free — or for a fraction of the cost of a Levi’s Stadium ticket, real or fake.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#IthinkIgotscammedforaWorldCupticketWhatcanIdo\">I think I got scammed for a World Cup ticket. What can I do?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#IboughtaticketofftheFIFAwebsitebutIthinkmyseatingisnotwhatIpaidfor\"> I bought a ticket off the FIFA website, but I think my seating is not what I paid for.\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Remember, if something’s too good to be true …\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>First off: If you’re feeling confused over what a World Cup ticket actually costs, that’s understandable, Santa Clara County Assistant District Attorney James Gibbons-Shapiro said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For this World Cup, FIFA adopted \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7166874/2026/04/02/fifa-dynamic-pricing-2026-world-cup-tickets/\">a pricing system\u003c/a> known as “dynamic pricing,” where the cost of a seat changes based on current demand for that specific game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12084233\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12084233\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/worldcup5192026.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1321\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/worldcup5192026.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/worldcup5192026-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/worldcup5192026-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The 2026 FIFA World Cup winner’s trophy is seen on stage at the 2026 World Cup halftime show announcement during the Global Citizen and FIFA World Cup panel at the Global Citizen NOW event in New York City on May 14, 2026. \u003ccite>(Charly Triballeau / AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“That has made some think that a [deal] that’s too good to be true actually \u003cstrong>is \u003c/strong>a true deal, because they don’t know what the set price for a ticket is,” Gibbons-Shapiro said. “Actually, those too-good-to-be-true deals are not true.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While FIFA’s official ticket portal — along with official resale sites like StubHub, SeatGeek, TicketMaster and SuiteHop — may show much higher prices, at least these platforms are verified, Gibbons-Shapiro said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But once you make contact with a seller, make sure you make the purchase \u003cem>on \u003c/em>the website through which you contacted this person — and not on another platform.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Scammers often promise you “a better deal” if you make the payment using instant payment sites like Zelle, Venmo and Cash App. But fraudsters aren’t trying to save you money with this suggestion: They’re trying to make it easier for \u003cem>themselves\u003c/em> to keep your money.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Talking to strangers on a resale or payments site that’s not verified puts you at greater risk of getting ripped off, Gibbons-Shapiro said. “The criminal is simply looking for someone desperate enough to go to the World Cup that they’re willing to send a lot of money right away to a total stranger,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In other words, he said: “It’s not that the country that you are supporting is going to lose — it’s going to be you that loses.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How do I know if the World Cup tickets I’m being offered are real?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Scammers have become incredibly good at printing fake tickets that look highly realistic, Gibbons-Shapiro said. So much so, he said, that when sports fans ask him for advice on how to spot a fake ticket, he tells them that he doesn’t \u003cem>have \u003c/em>any tips that reliably work — that’s how identical the scam tickets can physically appear.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The real pro tip here, Gibbons-Shapiro said, is “don’t go to the stadium to try to buy a ticket there.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Because the great likelihood is that you’re buying a fake ticket,” he said. “You’re not gonna be able to get in, and you’re going to lose all your money.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scalpers are actually not permitted on stadium grounds — and reselling tickets near the stadium is \u003ca href=\"https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/penal-code/pen-sect-346/#:~:text=Any%20person%20who%2C%20without%20the,is%20guilty%20of%20a%20misdemeanor.\">a misdemeanor\u003c/a> crime in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s why it’s important to buy your ticket on a third-party ticket resale site that will deliver the ticket directly to you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12084234\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12084234\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2276449211.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1320\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2276449211.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2276449211-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2276449211-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Footballs and jerseys are displayed during the opening day of the official 2026 FIFA World Cup merchandising store in Miami Beach, Florida, on May 18, 2026. \u003ccite>(Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Platforms like WhatsApp or Facebook Marketplace usually will not verify if what’s being offered is what’s actually sold.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And even if you’re using reliable third-party sites like SeatGeek or TicketMaster, check the reseller’s refund policy to see whether they offer a guarantee regarding the authenticity and timely arrival of the tickets.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"IthinkIgotscammedforaWorldCupticketWhatcanIdo\">\u003c/a>I just got scammed buying a fake World Cup ticket. What can I do?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>First of all, make sure to document all your communication with the person who promised to sell you a ticket — and take screenshots of those messages in case they attempt to delete anything from their end of the conversation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you were scammed online or over the phone:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can then report the situation to your local police department, as the city where you live is defined as where the crime took place.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you bought the fake ticket in person from a scalper: \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Contact the police department of the city where the transaction took place. “If that happened right outside the stadium, that would be Santa Clara Police Department,” Gibbons-Shapiro said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also file a complaint with the \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/contact/consumer-complaint-against-business-or-company\">California Attorney General’s office\u003c/a> or the \u003ca href=\"https://www.bbb.org/file-a-complaint\">Better Business Bureau\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gibbons-Shapiro said his office is ready to prosecute anyone who tricks others into buying fake World Cup tickets, adding that he would consider that to be a felony.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We have robust teams for consumer protection and theft enforcement,” he said. “We’re going to prosecute the scammers.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"IboughtaticketofftheFIFAwebsitebutIthinkmyseatingisnotwhatIpaidfor\">\u003c/a>I bought a ticket on the FIFA website, and I think I got seated in a different place than what I paid for.\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you bought your ticket from the online FIFA purchasing portal during the initial sales phase last October, Attorney General Bonta recommends that you keep a record of everything from that purchase. This could include, he said, “images of the map they were shown and the original receipt for the ticket that they purchased and what it says, and the existing ticket that they have.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/contact/consumer-complaint-against-business-or-company\">contact Bonta’s office\u003c/a> to share your experience.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bonta told KQED his office is still investigating what happened during this initial ticketing phase and hopes that FIFA provides the information he has requested by the May 29 deadline. “And if they don’t, we can ratchet up the level of severity here,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12017252\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12017252\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/RobBontaSFAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/RobBontaSFAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/RobBontaSFAP-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/RobBontaSFAP-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/RobBontaSFAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/RobBontaSFAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/RobBontaSFAP-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">California Attorney General Rob Bonta speaks at a news conference in front of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. \u003ccite>(Terry Chea/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It’s not something that we want to do, but we always have an ability to send civil investigative demands or subpoenas,” Bonta said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>FIFA did not respond to a request for comment from KQED. However, the organization has told \u003ca href=\"https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/fifa-responds-to-world-cup-ticket-map-concerns-but-questions-remain/blt85dd14bcb45a2f39\">other media outlets\u003c/a> that the initial maps consumers saw last year were meant to “provide guidance rather than the exact seat layout,” and seating arrangements could be subject to change — as happened when the organization introduced new seating categories in later phases of ticket sales.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But that could potentially be in violation of California law, Bonta said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The law in California is that businesses and organizations cannot justify misleading practices by pointing to the fine print or other terms that an everyday reasonable consumer would not have seen or understood,” he said. “If you’re told something, then you’re entitled to rely on the representation and to trust what you were told.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The attorney general’s office could seek some civil penalty if its investigation concludes that the rights of California consumers were indeed violated, Bonta said. “Then we could help those individuals get the ticket that they actually purchased, not the one that they received after they were misled.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the investigation is still ongoing, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "Which World Cup Games Will Be Played in the Bay Area — and How Can You Watch?",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/world-cup\">Bay Area soccer fans\u003c/a> have come to accept a tough truth: superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lamine Yamal or James Rodríguez will \u003cem>not\u003c/em> be coming to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the lack of big names aside, the Bay Area will nonetheless be hosting six games as part of the tournament that stretches across North America starting June 11.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For two weeks in June, eight national teams — Qatar, Switzerland, Austria, Jordan, Türkiye, Paraguay, Algeria and Australia — are scheduled to play at Levi’s Stadium for World Cup group stage matches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#WhichWorldCupgamesareintheBayArea\"> Which World Cup games are in the Bay Area?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Then, on July 1, the Bay Area will host one match from the knockout stage of the competition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Which teams play will be decided later based on results from the group stage, but a glance at the \u003ca href=\"https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/articles/knockout-stage-match-schedule-bracket\">tournament rules\u003c/a> shows there’s a \u003cem>very small\u003c/em> possibility that this game could see the United States face off against a powerhouse team like France, the Netherlands or Argentina.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076519\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076519\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1321\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An Adidas FIFA World Cup soccer ball is seen on a FIFA x NFL chair in the Media Center ahead of Super Bowl LX on Feb. 4, 2026, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Matthew Huang via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>That’s right: in the unlikely scenario that his team places third in the group phase, Lionel Messi could play a game in Santa Clara. It’s the World Cup — anything \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/takeaway/segments/world-cup-defeat-national-trauma\">can happen\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A silver lining for the Bay Area lineup’s relative lack of star power: While other World Cup host venues have already sold out — with resale tickets for the game between Colombia and Portugal in Miami Gardens \u003ca href=\"https://www.wsj.com/sports/soccer/colombia-portugal-world-cup-6c1f318b\">surpassing\u003c/a> Super Bowl prices — there \u003cem>are \u003c/em>still seats available for the matches at Levi’s Stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you don’t want to splurge, there are many ways to enjoy the matches remotely.[aside postID=news_12080384 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-48_qed-1020x716.jpg'](Perhaps even with a dance party after the game, since FIFA has once again \u003ca href=\"https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/48710188/shakira-unveils-teaser-official-world-cup-anthem-burna-boy\">chosen\u003c/a> musical icon Shakira to sing the competition’s official theme song, featuring Nigerian singer Burna Boy.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading to learn which World Cup matches are being played in the Bay Area, where you can watch these games surrounded by fans for free and how you can still find World Cup tickets for Levi’s Stadium next month if you’re willing to part with the cash.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>When does the World Cup start?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The World Cup kicks off in Mexico City on June 11. Then, over the following five weeks, more than 100 games will be played in the major metropolitan areas of the U.S., Mexico and Canada for the following five weeks.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"WhichWorldCupgamesareintheBayArea\">\u003c/a>Which World Cup games will be played at Levi’s Stadium?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The initial phase of the tournament is known as the group stage, where the \u003ca href=\"https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/teams\">48 participating nations\u003c/a> are divided into groups of four. Each team will play one game against the other three members of its group, and the results of these matches determine who passes to the knockout stage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During the first two weeks of the tournament, Levi’s Stadium will host the following games from groups B, D and J:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Group B: Qatar vs. Switzerland\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Saturday, June 13 at 12 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Group J: Austria vs. Jordan\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tuesday, June 16 at 9 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Group D: Türkiye vs. Paraguay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Friday, June 19 at 8 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Group J: Jordan vs. Algeria\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Monday, June 22 at 8 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Group D: Paraguay vs. Australia\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Thursday, June 25 at 7 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once all teams have played against their fellow group members, the top two performers from each group — along with eight additional third-place teams — advance to the knockout stage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083161\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083161\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2250193143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1320\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2250193143.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2250193143-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2250193143-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The screen displays the final draw during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Dec. 5, 2025 in Washington, D.C. \u003ccite>(Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Levi’s Stadium will host one knockout match:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Top-scoring team from Group D vs. the third-best team from either Group B, E, F, I or J\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wednesday, July 1 at 5 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The World Cup final will be played on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How can I watch a World Cup game in the Bay Area?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Buy World Cup ticket to watch in person\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you want to watch one of the matches at Levi’s Stadium in person, you can still buy tickets either on the \u003ca href=\"https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/tickets\">official FIFA portal\u003c/a> (which includes a resale marketplace) or on a verified resale website like \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/soccer\">Ticketmaster\u003c/a> or \u003ca href=\"https://www.stubhub.com/world-cup-tickets/grouping/45410\">StubHub\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As of this story’s publishing, prices range from several hundred dollars for nosebleed seats in the upper sideline sections to thousands of dollars for a \u003ca href=\"https://fifaworldcup26.hospitality.fifa.com/\">VIP hospitality experience\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Watch the World Cup remotely at fan events\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Don’t want to buy a ticket but still want to feel like you’re close to the action? The Bay Area Host Committee — a nonprofit established by the region’s professional sports teams — has organized \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfbayareafwc26.com/bay-area-events\">“Fan Zones” in multiple cities\u003c/a>, including San Francisco, Oakland, Richmond and Redwood City.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to organizers, Fan Zones are free community watch parties that will feature live matches on giant screens, along with local food vendors. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfbayareafwc26.com/bay-area-events\">\u003cstrong>Find the Fan Zone closest to you.\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044957\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044957\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/SJEarthquakesGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/SJEarthquakesGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/SJEarthquakesGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/SJEarthquakesGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nick Lima #24 of San José Earthquakes with the ball tackled by Jayden Reid #99 of St. Louis City SC during the second half of an MLS game between St. Louis City SC and San José Earthquakes at Energizer Park on May 31, 2025, in St Louis, Missouri. \u003ccite>(Bill Barrett/ISI Photos/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The San José Earthquakes — the Bay Area’s very own Major League Soccer team — will also be hosting family-friendly watch parties for \u003ca href=\"http://sjearthquakes.com/soccercelebration\">all 104 games\u003c/a> in the tournament at San Pedro Square in downtown San José.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you want to feel \u003cem>even \u003c/em>closer to the players, the Hilton Santa Clara is organizing “The End Zone” — the closest thing fans will see to a tailgate (since informal tailgates are not allowed at Levi’s Stadium) at its parking lot a block down from the stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The End Zone will host fans of all ages during \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/world-cup-takeover-the-endzone-tickets-1986365934983?\">all Bay Area games\u003c/a> and will include live DJs and food available for purchase.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Stream World Cup games at home\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you want to watch the game at home with family and friends, World Cup games will be aired live on NBC, Telemundo and Peacock streaming.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How did the Bay Area get these World Cup match-ups?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Nobody knew which teams would play in Santa Clara till the World Cup Draw \u003ca href=\"https://time.com/7338971/world-cup-draw-fifa-2026/\">last December\u003c/a>. FIFA officials, along with the leaders of the three host nations, gathered in Washington, D.C. to assign each participating country to one of the 12 initial groups — through a blind draw in front of the media and a live audience.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before the draw, organizers had already decided that Levi’s Stadium would host matches from groups B, D and J.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083158\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083158\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2249849133.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1320\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2249849133.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2249849133-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2249849133-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The FIFA World Cup Trophy is seen on stage at the Kennedy Center ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw on Dec. 3, 2025, in Washington, D.C. \u003ccite>(Michael Regan via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Once the makeup of each group was confirmed, Bay Area fans then learned which teams would get to play in the home of the 49ers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And don’t expect FIFA officials to grant the Bay Area more games or change which teams will play in Santa Clara.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The tournament’s governing body has stayed firm with its current schedule — even despite \u003ca href=\"https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116216801278101254\">recent statements\u003c/a> by President Donald Trump discouraging the Iranian soccer team from competing as the war between the U.S. and Iran continues.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/world-cup\">Bay Area soccer fans\u003c/a> have come to accept a tough truth: superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lamine Yamal or James Rodríguez will \u003cem>not\u003c/em> be coming to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the lack of big names aside, the Bay Area will nonetheless be hosting six games as part of the tournament that stretches across North America starting June 11.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For two weeks in June, eight national teams — Qatar, Switzerland, Austria, Jordan, Türkiye, Paraguay, Algeria and Australia — are scheduled to play at Levi’s Stadium for World Cup group stage matches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#WhichWorldCupgamesareintheBayArea\"> Which World Cup games are in the Bay Area?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Then, on July 1, the Bay Area will host one match from the knockout stage of the competition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Which teams play will be decided later based on results from the group stage, but a glance at the \u003ca href=\"https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/articles/knockout-stage-match-schedule-bracket\">tournament rules\u003c/a> shows there’s a \u003cem>very small\u003c/em> possibility that this game could see the United States face off against a powerhouse team like France, the Netherlands or Argentina.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076519\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076519\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1321\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2259411504-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An Adidas FIFA World Cup soccer ball is seen on a FIFA x NFL chair in the Media Center ahead of Super Bowl LX on Feb. 4, 2026, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Matthew Huang via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>That’s right: in the unlikely scenario that his team places third in the group phase, Lionel Messi could play a game in Santa Clara. It’s the World Cup — anything \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/takeaway/segments/world-cup-defeat-national-trauma\">can happen\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A silver lining for the Bay Area lineup’s relative lack of star power: While other World Cup host venues have already sold out — with resale tickets for the game between Colombia and Portugal in Miami Gardens \u003ca href=\"https://www.wsj.com/sports/soccer/colombia-portugal-world-cup-6c1f318b\">surpassing\u003c/a> Super Bowl prices — there \u003cem>are \u003c/em>still seats available for the matches at Levi’s Stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you don’t want to splurge, there are many ways to enjoy the matches remotely.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>(Perhaps even with a dance party after the game, since FIFA has once again \u003ca href=\"https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/48710188/shakira-unveils-teaser-official-world-cup-anthem-burna-boy\">chosen\u003c/a> musical icon Shakira to sing the competition’s official theme song, featuring Nigerian singer Burna Boy.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading to learn which World Cup matches are being played in the Bay Area, where you can watch these games surrounded by fans for free and how you can still find World Cup tickets for Levi’s Stadium next month if you’re willing to part with the cash.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>When does the World Cup start?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The World Cup kicks off in Mexico City on June 11. Then, over the following five weeks, more than 100 games will be played in the major metropolitan areas of the U.S., Mexico and Canada for the following five weeks.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"WhichWorldCupgamesareintheBayArea\">\u003c/a>Which World Cup games will be played at Levi’s Stadium?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The initial phase of the tournament is known as the group stage, where the \u003ca href=\"https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/teams\">48 participating nations\u003c/a> are divided into groups of four. Each team will play one game against the other three members of its group, and the results of these matches determine who passes to the knockout stage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During the first two weeks of the tournament, Levi’s Stadium will host the following games from groups B, D and J:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Group B: Qatar vs. Switzerland\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Saturday, June 13 at 12 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Group J: Austria vs. Jordan\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tuesday, June 16 at 9 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Group D: Türkiye vs. Paraguay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Friday, June 19 at 8 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Group J: Jordan vs. Algeria\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Monday, June 22 at 8 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Group D: Paraguay vs. Australia\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Thursday, June 25 at 7 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once all teams have played against their fellow group members, the top two performers from each group — along with eight additional third-place teams — advance to the knockout stage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083161\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083161\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2250193143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1320\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2250193143.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2250193143-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2250193143-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The screen displays the final draw during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Dec. 5, 2025 in Washington, D.C. \u003ccite>(Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Levi’s Stadium will host one knockout match:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Top-scoring team from Group D vs. the third-best team from either Group B, E, F, I or J\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wednesday, July 1 at 5 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The World Cup final will be played on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How can I watch a World Cup game in the Bay Area?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Buy World Cup ticket to watch in person\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you want to watch one of the matches at Levi’s Stadium in person, you can still buy tickets either on the \u003ca href=\"https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/tickets\">official FIFA portal\u003c/a> (which includes a resale marketplace) or on a verified resale website like \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/soccer\">Ticketmaster\u003c/a> or \u003ca href=\"https://www.stubhub.com/world-cup-tickets/grouping/45410\">StubHub\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As of this story’s publishing, prices range from several hundred dollars for nosebleed seats in the upper sideline sections to thousands of dollars for a \u003ca href=\"https://fifaworldcup26.hospitality.fifa.com/\">VIP hospitality experience\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Watch the World Cup remotely at fan events\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Don’t want to buy a ticket but still want to feel like you’re close to the action? The Bay Area Host Committee — a nonprofit established by the region’s professional sports teams — has organized \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfbayareafwc26.com/bay-area-events\">“Fan Zones” in multiple cities\u003c/a>, including San Francisco, Oakland, Richmond and Redwood City.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to organizers, Fan Zones are free community watch parties that will feature live matches on giant screens, along with local food vendors. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfbayareafwc26.com/bay-area-events\">\u003cstrong>Find the Fan Zone closest to you.\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044957\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044957\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/SJEarthquakesGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/SJEarthquakesGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/SJEarthquakesGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/SJEarthquakesGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nick Lima #24 of San José Earthquakes with the ball tackled by Jayden Reid #99 of St. Louis City SC during the second half of an MLS game between St. Louis City SC and San José Earthquakes at Energizer Park on May 31, 2025, in St Louis, Missouri. \u003ccite>(Bill Barrett/ISI Photos/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The San José Earthquakes — the Bay Area’s very own Major League Soccer team — will also be hosting family-friendly watch parties for \u003ca href=\"http://sjearthquakes.com/soccercelebration\">all 104 games\u003c/a> in the tournament at San Pedro Square in downtown San José.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you want to feel \u003cem>even \u003c/em>closer to the players, the Hilton Santa Clara is organizing “The End Zone” — the closest thing fans will see to a tailgate (since informal tailgates are not allowed at Levi’s Stadium) at its parking lot a block down from the stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The End Zone will host fans of all ages during \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/world-cup-takeover-the-endzone-tickets-1986365934983?\">all Bay Area games\u003c/a> and will include live DJs and food available for purchase.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Stream World Cup games at home\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you want to watch the game at home with family and friends, World Cup games will be aired live on NBC, Telemundo and Peacock streaming.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How did the Bay Area get these World Cup match-ups?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Nobody knew which teams would play in Santa Clara till the World Cup Draw \u003ca href=\"https://time.com/7338971/world-cup-draw-fifa-2026/\">last December\u003c/a>. FIFA officials, along with the leaders of the three host nations, gathered in Washington, D.C. to assign each participating country to one of the 12 initial groups — through a blind draw in front of the media and a live audience.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before the draw, organizers had already decided that Levi’s Stadium would host matches from groups B, D and J.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083158\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083158\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2249849133.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1320\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2249849133.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2249849133-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2249849133-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The FIFA World Cup Trophy is seen on stage at the Kennedy Center ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw on Dec. 3, 2025, in Washington, D.C. \u003ccite>(Michael Regan via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Once the makeup of each group was confirmed, Bay Area fans then learned which teams would get to play in the home of the 49ers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And don’t expect FIFA officials to grant the Bay Area more games or change which teams will play in Santa Clara.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The tournament’s governing body has stayed firm with its current schedule — even despite \u003ca href=\"https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116216801278101254\">recent statements\u003c/a> by President Donald Trump discouraging the Iranian soccer team from competing as the war between the U.S. and Iran continues.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
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"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
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"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
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"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
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"info": "Our weekly podcast explores how the media 'sausage' is made, casts an incisive eye on fluctuations in the marketplace of ideas, and examines threats to the freedom of information and expression in America and abroad. For one hour a week, the show tries to lift the veil from the process of \"making media,\" especially news media, because it's through that lens that we see the world and the world sees us",
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"title": "Political Breakdown",
"tagline": "Politics from a personal perspective",
"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
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"possible": {
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"title": "Possible",
"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm",
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"pri-the-world": {
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"title": "PRI's The World: Latest Edition",
"info": "Each weekday, host Marco Werman and his team of producers bring you the world's most interesting stories in an hour of radio that reminds us just how small our planet really is.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 2pm-3pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-World-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
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},
"radiolab": {
"id": "radiolab",
"title": "Radiolab",
"info": "A two-time Peabody Award-winner, Radiolab is an investigation told through sounds and stories, and centered around one big idea. In the Radiolab world, information sounds like music and science and culture collide. Hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, the show is designed for listeners who demand skepticism, but appreciate wonder. WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Freakonomics Radio, Death, Sex & Money, On the Media and many more.",
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},
"reveal": {
"id": "reveal",
"title": "Reveal",
"info": "Created by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX, Reveal is public radios first one-hour weekly radio show and podcast dedicated to investigative reporting. Credible, fact based and without a partisan agenda, Reveal combines the power and artistry of driveway moment storytelling with data-rich reporting on critically important issues. The result is stories that inform and inspire, arming our listeners with information to right injustices, hold the powerful accountable and improve lives.Reveal is hosted by Al Letson and showcases the award-winning work of CIR and newsrooms large and small across the nation. In a radio and podcast market crowded with choices, Reveal focuses on important and often surprising stories that illuminate the world for our listeners.",
"airtime": "SAT 4pm-5pm",
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"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.revealnews.org/episodes/",
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"link": "/radio/program/reveal",
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"rss": "http://feeds.revealradio.org/revealpodcast"
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},
"rightnowish": {
"id": "rightnowish",
"title": "Rightnowish",
"tagline": "Art is where you find it",
"info": "Rightnowish digs into life in the Bay Area right now… ish. Journalist Pendarvis Harshaw takes us to galleries painted on the sides of liquor stores in West Oakland. We'll dance in warehouses in the Bayview, make smoothies with kids in South Berkeley, and listen to classical music in a 1984 Cutlass Supreme in Richmond. Every week, Pen talks to movers and shakers about how the Bay Area shapes what they create, and how they shape the place we call home.",
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"order": 16
},
"link": "/podcasts/rightnowish",
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