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FIFA World Cup 2026 Travel Guide

The San Francisco Bay Area is set to play a prominent role in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosting six matches at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. Here’s what you need to know about why the region was chosen, how to get to the games, and tips for making the most of your visit this July.

SF has a rich soccer history, diverse population, and world-class infrastructure. In 1994, it was one of nine cities in the US that hosted the FIFA World Cup, so it has a strong tradition of supporting both international and domestic soccer. The Bay Area’s diversity and internationalism, unbeatable connectivity, and vibrant, accepting fan culture made it an obvious choice for FIFA in 2026.

As a giant warm-up event at the same arena, San Francisco Bay Area plays host to Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium on February 8, 2026.

With a capacity for up to 80,000 spectators, the Levi’s Stadium opened in 2014 as home to the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers. In Santa Clara near San Jose, its Silicon Valley location (also known as South Bay and The Peninsula) is 40 miles south of San Francisco. Microclimates are a fact of life, so you can shed layers of hoodies and sweaters, because the sunshine quotient and daytime temperatures rise considerably beyond San Francisco’s borders.

Venue: Levi’s Stadium

Capacity: 75,000

Match dates

The San Francisco Bay Area will host six FIFA World Cup 2026 matches. Times have not yet been announced.

• Saturday, June 13, 2026: Group Stage, Match 8
• Tuesday, June 16, 2026: Group Stage, Match 20
• Friday, June 19, 2026: Group Stage, Match 31
• Monday, June 22, 2026: Group Stage, Match 44
• Thursday, June 25, 2026: Group Stage, Match 60
• Wednesday, July 1, 2026: Round of 32, Match 81

Soccer culture in the Bay Area

In 1994, San Francisco was one of nine US host cities for the FIFA World Cup. Shortly after that tournament, San Jose got its own MLS team, now known as San Jose Earthquakes, winner of two MLS Cup titles.

More soccer is on the way. Plans are now in the works for San Francisco’s first professional men’s soccer team. Golden City FC is set to begin play in the MLS Next Pro league in 2026 or 2027 at a renovated Kezar Stadium in Golden Gate Park. Since its debut in 2024, Bay FC is the local women’s professional soccer club team currently building a training site on Treasure Island between San Francisco and Oakland.

How to get to Levi’s Stadium from San Francisco

Levi’s Stadium is about 45 minutes south of San Francisco by car, but getting there on public transportation is straightforward (though it requires a transfer).

The first option is to take Caltrain to Mountain View Station (about an hour). At Mountain View, transfer to the VTA Light Rail’s Orange Line toward Alum Rock. Exit at the Great America Station next to Levi’s Stadium’s north entrance. The light rail segment takes about 35 minutes. Give yourself about two hours to make the trip just to be safe, though that’s probably a little overkill.

Alternatively, you can take BART to the Millbrae Station or Milpitas Station to catch Caltrain, if where you’re staying in the city is closer to a station. You’ll then do the same thing (take Caltrain to Mountain View, then transfer to the Light Rail).

For payment, use a Clipper Card, which works on both Caltrain and VTA. You can use a physical card or buy one on the Clipper phone app.

Official Fan Zones for the San Francisco World Cup Matches

Details will be announced here when official locations are available.

What to know about going to the games in the Bay Area

“Beyond the games, there is so much for visitors to explore in San Francisco from coastal hiking trails and iconic landmarks like Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge, to a diverse culinary scene with everything from famous Mission-style burritos to innovative restaurants that reflect the diversity and creativity of our city,” says Anna Marie Presutti, CEO of San Francisco Travel Association. “As a well-connected gateway city, San Francisco provides plenty of public transportation options to get fans between the city’s downtown, Levi’s Stadium and the San Francisco International Airport.”

If San Francisco is on your bucket list as one of the three West Coast host cities to visit during the World Cup, here are a few things to know before you go.

Summer in the City: Sweater Weather

Coastal fog creeping over the Golden Gate Bridge and spreading across San Francisco on summer days is so commonplace that it has its own name: Karl the Fog. A famous quote is sometimes attributed to Mark Twain, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” According to the Bay Area National Weather Service, the average temperature in San Francisco for June through July 2025 was a chilly 57.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

The best advice from San Franciscans? Dress in layers. Any local can explain the phenomenon of microclimates and why some days feel like all four seasons are packed into 24 hours. Need more advice? Use GuideGeek, a free AI-powered travel assistant to get instant personalized tips via Instagram, Facebook Messenger, or WhatsApp.

Getting to the Bay Area and Levi’s Stadium

Three major international airports serve visitors to the region: San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK), and San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC). All three airports (city, East Bay, and South Bay) are conveniently located for Levi’s Stadium.

For airport transfers by public transportation, use the Bay Area Rapid Transit System known as BART, which accepts contactless cards, Google Pay, or Apple Pay. At SFO, the BART station is located in the International Terminal at Level 3, a short walk from Terminals 1 and 3. You can also use the free SFO AirTrain operating 24/7 to connect all terminals. The ride to downtown San Francisco is approximately 30 minutes. At OAK, take an 8-minute train to the BART Coliseum Station to downtown San Francisco. For Levi’s Stadium, transfer at Milpitas Station to the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Light Rail Orange Line at the Santa Clara-Great America Station on the stadium’s north side.

Amtrak is another option. Oakland and Emeryville are the two staffed train stations with waiting rooms that offer direct bus links from the East Bay to downtown San Francisco. Santa Clara has its own Amtrak stop, although there is no facility for passengers.

Caltrain also serves the region from its main station at 4th Street/King Street, stopping at multiple towns throughout Silicon Valley and the South Bay. Mountain View is the nearest station to Levi’s Stadium, where there’s a VTA transfer to the venue.

Uber and Lyft are popular options. Note that rideshare pick-up locations at SFO have recently moved to Domestic Garage Level 5 for domestic arrivals and International Terminal Departures Level for international arrivals. Taxis are also available.

As the city is surrounded by water on three sides, driving into San Francisco from the north may involve a scenic route across the Golden Gate Bridge and from the east, across the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Plan ahead for your car parking arrangements in San Francisco.

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