As World Cup nears, LA County exploring unofficial fan zones with match viewing, entertainment

With ticket prices for the World Cup soccer tournament out of reach for many fans, Los Angeles County wants to create more fan zones in county parks or local cities where folks can watch the matches on big screens and take in some of that team spirit.

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The L.A. County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, May 12 adopted a motion to create unofficial fan zones to coincide with the eight World Cup matches played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood during June and July. Two official fan zones sanctioned by the FIFA World Cup were approved by the board in January in the following county parks:

• Whittier Narrows Recreation Area (Legg Lake), 750 S Santa Anita Ave, South El Monte. The 1,492-acre county park is located in the City of South El Monte in the southern San Gabriel Valley and is one of the county’s largest and most popular parks.

• Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park, the 104-acre county recreation area is located in the Willowbrook neighborhood at 905 E El Segundo Blvd, Los Angeles.

The county is seeking to establish additional, smaller viewing parties in county parks or in cities that are interested. One option is for the Parks & Recreation Department to run the event, or allow a local city to host it. The county is looking for sponsorships and grant dollars that it could pass along, according to a motion by Fourth District Supervisor Janice Hahn and Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger.

The motion was adopted by a 5-0 vote, with the goal of “expanding the opportunities for residents to experience the excitement of the World Cup without having to purchase tickets or travel far from home, while connecting the beauty of an international cultural sporting event to local culture.”

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host Committee held a media event Tuesday at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium, designated as “Los Angeles Stadium” for the tournament, and provided updates on operations, fan engagement and community planning.

“The 2026 FIFA World Cup is finally here, and we’re excited about all the opportunities Angelenos and visitors from around the world will have to participate in the world’s biggest sporting event here in the sports capital of the world,” Host Committee CEO Kathryn Schloessman said Tuesday.

“This spectacular stadium will host the U.S. Men’s National Team opening match, and seven more matches over 39 days this summer. But the World Cup experience is more than just the eight matches at SoFi, Los Angeles Stadium. The LA World Cup experience is 39 days of soccer-themed events taking place around our region, giving visitors an opportunity to see all that L.A. has to offer.”

The group stage begins June 12 with the United States facing Paraguay. The Inglewood venue will also host two Round of 32 matches and a quarterfinal scheduled for July 10.

Out in the community, Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors action directs the county’s Chief Executive Officer to find funding and sponsorships for unofficial sites either at county-owned properties or within any of the 88 cities in LA County. The County Counsel would set up agreements to accept grants to pay for these unofficial fan zones.

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The city of Pico Rivera in March announced it intended to establish “Cultural Celebration Hubs” both for the World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympic Games. The hub would include live broadcasting of the games, music, food and exhibits.

“Cultural Celebration Hubs create a unique, inclusive atmosphere where fans can cheer on their teams, engage with international cultures, and participate in Olympic and World Cup festivities,” said Steve Carmona, Pico Rivera City Manager in a statement released in March.

Pico Rivera is hosting two “World Spirit Festival” events to showcase World Cup games: Friday, June 26, at Smith Park, from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. with two jumbo screens for showing the match of the day. The other will be Saturday June 27, also at Smith Park. But the Saturday event includes the temporary closure of Whittier Boulevard, where there will be two more jumbo screens, food vendors and a fun zone, explained Javier Hernandez, city spokesperson.

“We are trying to capture the spirit of the world — of the world soccer games,” Hernandez said.

Other official fan zones are taking place in Los Angeles’ Union Station, in Burbank and in Downey.

“The Los Angeles World Cup 26 Fan Zones are about bringing the World Cup into the heart of our communities,” said Kathryn Schloessman, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission and CEO of the Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host Committee. “These locations will play an important role in welcoming fans, creating shared moments, and ensuring that the excitement of FIFA World Cup 2026 is felt across Los Angeles County.”

Supervisor Hahn said Downey is hosting the party on its own, without help from the FIFA World Cup or the county, as is Pico Rivera.

“Most of us don’t have tickets to the World Cup games, but these free parties are an opportunity for the residents to get out and enjoy the game on a big screen, surrounded by their families and neighbors,” Hahn said.

The fan zones will open after the tournament’s opening weekend and remain active throughout the competition. While several locations will offer free admission, most events are expected to charge between $5 and $25.

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The Los Angeles World Cup 26 Fan Zones include:

• The Original Farmers Market – June 18-21;

• City of Downey – June 20;

• Heart of the City: Union Station & LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes – June 25-28;

• Hansen Dam Lake – July 2-5;

• Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park – July 4-5;

• Whittier Narrows – July 9-11;

•  Venice Beach – July 11;

• Fairplex, Pomona – July 14-15 and July 18-19;

• West L.A. Harbor – July 14-15 and July 18-19; and

• Downtown Burbank – July 18-19.

City News Service contributed to this report