Bay Area Host Committee Announces Fan Zones for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Announcement
Earlier today, the Bay Area Host Committee (BAHC) announced it will host official FIFA World Cup 2026™ Fan Zone locations and watch parties at Thrive City on Friday, June 12, for USA vs. Paraguay and Thursday, June 18, for Mexico vs. South Korea. Guests can RSVP for the event here.
The Bay Area Host Committee today announced Fan Zone locations and watch parties across the Bay Area and beyond for the FIFA World Cup 2026, bringing the global celebration of the sport to fans throughout the region. Aligning with the BAHC’s mission to unite the Bay through sport, residents and visitors from San Francisco to Santa Cruz, Oakland to San Jose and everywhere in between will have access to free, public viewing experiences tailored to their local communities.
Beginning June 11, 2026, fans will be able to watch FIFA World Cup 2026 matches at 30+ venues along with participating sports bars the across the Bay Area, including:
San Francisco
- Thrive City at Chase Center
- China Basin Park at Mission Rock (hosted by Giants Enterprises)
- PIER 39
- Yerba Buena Lane (hosted by Pride House)
- The Midway (hosted by Visa)
- The Crossing at East Cut (hosted by Pride House)
East Bay
- Alameda County Fair Grounds, Pleasanton
- Raimondi Park, Oakland (hosted by the Oakland Sports Group & Oakland Ballers)
- Downtown Oakland
- Hoffmann Theater, Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek
- SS Red Oak Victory Historic Ship, Richmond
- East Brother Beer Company, Richmond
South Bay
- San Jose Earthquakes Soccer Celebration at San Pedro Square, San JoseOpening Weekend presented by the Bay Area Host Committee and SJ26
- The Row Cup, Santana Row, San Jose
- Civic Center Plaza, Milpitas
- Milpitas Community Center
- Morgan Hill
- Cityline Redwood Square, Sunnyvale
North Bay
- Sausalito
- Napa Valley
- Santa Rosa
The Peninsula
- Courthouse Square, Redwood City
- Central Park, San Mateo
- Wheeler Parking Plaza, San Carlos
- Half Moon Bay
- Burlingame
- Mountain View
Santa Cruz
- Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
- Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
"The FIFA World Cup 2026 is about bringing communities together and celebrating the beautiful game in every corner of our region," said Zaileen Janmohamed, President & CEO of the Bay Area Host Committee. “We're harnessing the breadth, diversity, and natural beauty of the entire Bay Area to ensure that no matter where you live or visit, you'll have access to fun, community celebrations. This regional approach reflects our commitment to inclusivity and gives every county and community the opportunity to activate and be part of this historic moment."
The distributed fan experience strategy aligns with the BAHC's commitment to supporting local businesses, cities, and organizations. In addition to the Fan Zones, the Bay Area Host Committee is providing the 2026 Bay Area Public Screening Playbook – a comprehensive resource to help bars, restaurants, community groups, and businesses confidently and compliantly host their own FIFA World Cup viewing events. The playbook includes FIFA public-viewing guidelines, downloadable templates, and promotional materials. For businesses and organizations interested in hosting their own FIFA World Cup watch parties, resources and guidelines are available at https://bayareahostcommittee.com/playbook.
"The World Cup thrives on variety and participation at every level," said Janmohamed. "We're empowering the entire region to celebrate – whether you're gathering at a major fan zone, supporting a local restaurant hosting a watch party, or catching a match with friends at your neighborhood bar. This is a moment for all of us to come together."
Watch Party Highlights:
- Opening Weekend watch party in San Jose: Starting June 11 and highlighted by the San Jose Earthquakes Soccer Celebration Opening Weekend, presented by BAHC and SJ26 in San Pedro Square. Partner activations include Kaiser Permanente, Genentech, PG&E, and more.
- Elevated Fan Experiences in San Francisco: join the excitement at Thrive City in San Francisco on June 12 for USA vs Paraguay and June 18 for Mexico vs South Korea (Telemundo Broadcast)
- Extended Celebrations: From multiple match fan zones across the Bay Area like San Pedro Square and Santana Row in San Jose, Thrive City, Mission Rock and PIER 39 in San Francisco, the Alameda County Fair, to iconic neighborhood sports bars and community gatherings.
- Pride House SF: Experience the joy of the World Cup through the spirit of San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ community. Rooted in the legacy of queer soccer, Pride House SF brings people together through connection and celebration, with marquee watch parties including ‘Family Day’ for USA vs. Australia at The Crossing at East Cut on June 19th in partnership with Street Soccer USA and the ‘SF Pride Watch Party’ in partnership with SF Pride and Yerba Buena Partnership for USA vs. Türkiye on June 25 at Yerba Buena Lane.
- Free and open to the public: All watch parties are free to attend.
Complete details about all watch party locations, dates, and times are available at https://www.sfbayareafwc26.com/bay-area-events
The Bay Area Host Committee invites the entire region to activate and celebrate the FIFA World Cup 2026™. For official venue partners, local businesses, and community organizers, now is the time to join the celebration and bring the beautiful game to fans throughout the Bay Area.
NOTE: Watch party locations and dates are subject to change based on final approvals by FIFA and Broadcast partners.
About the Bay Area Host Committee
The Bay Area Host Committee (BAHC) is the region’s first long-term sports entity, dedicated to uniting the Bay Area through sport by building pride, connecting communities, and reenergizing the region. As a nonprofit, BAHC partners with local teams, civic leaders, and businesses to bring world-class sporting events to the Bay Area—driving lasting economic, cultural, and social impact. BAHC is proud to have Boston Consulting Group (BCG), EA SPORTS, Kaiser Permanente, Genentech and other visionary organizations as founding partners, supporting its mission to bring communities together and create lasting legacies through world-class events and sports. For more information, visit www.bayareahostcommittee.com or email us at info@bayareahostcommittee.com.
