Those unable to afford the exorbitant ticket prices to watch the United States men’s national team’s opening World Cup match at SoFi Stadium will have a free option in Pasadena on Friday, June 12.
Pasadena City Council Monday, May 18, approved the appropriation of a $50,000 Los Angeles County grant to support a World Cup fan zone watch party in the area surrounding the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Green Street from Marengo Avenue to Los Robles Avenue.
Unlike the 1994 men’s World Cup and 1999 women’s World Cup, the Rose Bowl will not serve as Los Angeles’ venue for the 2026 tournament.
Los Angeles County is hosting Official World Cup Fan Zones at Whittier Narrows Recreation Area and Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park. In addition, the county is exploring unofficial fan zones in cities across the region to expand free access to the event.
Pasadena’s transit-first fan zone will be part of a collaboration between L.A. Metro and the Fifth Supervisorial District. Metro will be activating the Memorial Park and Del Mar A Line stations to encourage fans to ride light rail to attend, according to a city staff report.
Volunteers will be at the stations to assist fans with directions to the fan zone. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. with the United States versus Paraguay game set to start at 6 p.m. Street closures will be in place from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., according to city spokesperson Lisa Derderian.
“The World Cup presents a timely and valuable ‘dress rehearsal’ for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games (2028 Games),” the report read. “Lessons learned from the World Cup Fan Zones will inform and strengthen the planning and implementation of proposed fan-based celebrations for the 2028 Games.”
The City of Los Angeles will be hosting free fan watch parties during the World Cup at 19 city parks.
Here are the other locations announced so far for official and unofficial World Cup fan zones in the Los Angeles-area this summer. Some official fan zone locations require ticket purchases:
- The Original Farmers Market, 6333 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles (June 18-June 21)
- City of Downey, 251 Stonewood St., Downey (June 20)
- Union Station, 800 N. Alameda St., Los Angeles (June 25-June 28)
- Hansen Dam Lake, 10965 Dronfield Ave., Lake View Terrace (July 2-July 5)
- Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park, 12552 Avalon Blvd., Los Angeles (July 4-July 5)
- Whittier Narrows Recreation Area, 1600 Rosemead Blvd., South El Monte (July 9-July 11)
- Venice Beach, 1 Winward Ave., Los Angeles (July 10-July 11)
- Pomona Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona (July 14-July 15 and July 18-July 19)
- West Harbor, 1332 S. Habor Blvd., San Pedro (July 14-July 15 and July 18-July 19)
- Downtown Burbank, 200 N. San Fernando Blvd., Burbank (July 18-July 19)
- Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300 E. Green St., Pasadena (June 12)
- Duarte Sports Park, 1401 Central Ave., Duarte (June 12)