The World Cup is in Los Angeles, and even if you aren’t going to an actual match, the city has basically turned into one giant watch party.
From beachside fan zones to official FIFA events, LA is having a summer full of jerseys, big screens, food vendors, and people suddenly becoming deeply emotional over penalty kicks. Whether you’re a lifelong soccer fan or just looking for something fun to do with friends, there are so many places around the city to experience the tournament.
Here are some of the best World Cup watch parties and fan fests around LA to keep on your radar.
The Official FIFA Fan Festival at the Coliseum
The biggest event to know about is the FIFA Fan Festival at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, running from June 11 to June 14.
This is the official LA Fan Festival, so it is definitely the most “main event” option. The festival is expected to include live match screenings, music, food, entertainment, interactive activities, and cultural programming. Since it is at the Coliseum, it also has that classic LA sports energy, which feels very fitting for a World Cup summer.
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, with adult tickets starting at $18. Kids 12 and under are free with a paid adult, so it is also a good option for families. The venue is cashless, and there is no on-site parking, so taking Metro is probably the move.
If you want the biggest official World Cup atmosphere without paying actual match prices, this is probably the first place to look.
Official LA Fan Zones Across the City
LA is not just hosting2 one fan zone. The city is spreading official fan zones across different neighborhoods, which honestly makes sense because driving across LA for every match is not realistic.
The full list of official LA World Cup 26 Fan Zones is available through the Los Angeles World Cup 26 Fan Zones page, and the Discover Los Angeles World Cup event guide is also a helpful place to check for updated events.
Some of the main official fan zones include The Original Farmers Market, Union Station, Venice Beach, Hansen Dam Lake, Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park, Whittier Narrows, Fairplex in Pomona, West Harbor in San Pedro, and Downtown Burbank.
Basically, no matter what side of LA you are on, there should be something happening nearby.
The Original Farmers Market
If you want your World Cup experience to involve really good food, The Original Farmers Market Fan Zone is a strong option.
The fan zone runs from June 18 to June 21 and includes match screenings, entertainment, food, and a beer garden. Since the Farmers Market already has so many food vendors, this feels like one of the easiest places to go with a group where everyone wants something different.
Tickets are available through the Farmers Market ticket page, with single-day tickets listed at $5 and a four-day pass listed at $17.
Union Station
For anyone trying to avoid parking drama, Union Station’s Fan Zone might be one of the easiest options.
The event runs from June 25 to June 28 and is free to attend. Since Union Station connects to multiple Metro lines, this is probably one of the most transit-friendly watch party locations in the city.
It also feels very LA in a different way. Watching the World Cup in one of the city’s most historic transit hubs sounds like the kind of random but memorable summer plan people end up talking about later.
Venice Beach
If you want the World Cup with beach chaos, Venice Beach’s Fan Zone is happening July 10 and July 11.
This one might be the most fun purely based on location. Venice already has tourists, performers, locals, skaters, beach crowds, and random energy at all times. Add World Cup fans in jerseys and big match screenings, and it will probably feel like one of the most LA versions of a fan fest.
The official page recommends taking the Metro E Line to Downtown Santa Monica and then using the Big Blue Bus, which is probably much better than trying to park near the beach.
Santa Monica and the Westside
Santa Monica is also getting in on the World Cup energy. The Michelob ULTRA Pitchside Club at Santa Monica Pier runs June 12 through June 25. It is free, but it is 21+ and requires an RSVP.
If you want something a little more polished and sponsor-event style, this is probably the move. It is less of a traditional fan zone and more of a Santa Monica Pier activation, which could be fun if you want to make a beach day out of it.
There is also a FIFA retail store on the Third Street Promenade, which is not a watch party but could be a fun stop if you are already in Santa Monica and want merch.
USA Soccer House in Venice
For a more soccer-focused hangout, USA Soccer House in Venice is another option to know about.
It runs from June 11 to June 26 and is free to enter. The space is expected to include daily watch parties, meet-and-greets, a Pitchside Bar, and a Chobani Cafe. If you are rooting for the U.S. or just want a more casual soccer environment near the beach, this could be one of the better low-cost options.
Hammer Museum Watch Parties
For UCLA students or anyone on the Westside, the Hammer Museum World Cup Watch Parties are definitely worth checking out.
The watch parties are free and run on select dates from June 24 to July 19. The Hammer also allows outside food and non-alcoholic drinks, which makes it feel more low-key and student-friendly than some of the bigger festival-style options.
If you want to watch without dealing with massive crowds, this could be one of the calmer picks.
LAFC and Angel City FC Events
If you want to watch with people who are definitely soccer fans, LA’s local clubs are also hosting events.
LAFC’s Soccer Celebration is happening at Santa Monica Brew Works on June 19. The listing also mentions LAFC-related activations in Downtown LA, Koreatown, and the Coliseum Fan Festival.
Angel City FC is also hosting a Global Game Tour Watch Party in West Hollywood on June 11, June 12, and June 14. If you want a club atmosphere instead of a general crowd, these could be fun options.
Final Weekend Spots: West Harbor and Downtown Burbank
For later in the tournament, West Harbor in San Pedro and Downtown Burbank are two bigger official fan zones to watch.
West Harbor runs on July 14, 15, 18, and 19, with tickets available through the West Harbor ticket page. Downtown Burbank runs July 18 and 19, with tickets available through the Downtown Burbank fan zone ticket page.
These feel like good options for the final weekend when the tournament energy is at its peak.
Community Watch Parties
Some of the best World Cup environments will probably be the smaller community watch parties that pop up around LA. Restaurants, cultural centers, fan groups, and local venues often host watch parties for specific national teams, and those can be even more fun than the big official events because everyone is fully invested.
I would keep checking Instagram, Eventbrite, and local venue pages for team-specific events, especially for communities around LA like Croatian, Arab, Mexican, Brazilian, Argentine, English, and other fan bases. I could not fully verify specific Croatian Hall or Habibi-style Arab watch parties yet, so I would not list them as confirmed unless they post an official event page or ticket link.
The Bottom Line
The World Cup is one of those events that feels better in a crowd. Watching at home is fine, but watching with people reacting to every goal, missed shot, and penalty kick is a completely different experience.
With the Coliseum, Venice Beach, Union Station, Santa Monica, the Hammer, and fan zones all across LA, this summer is going to feel like a preview of the city’s next few years as a global sports hub.
So whether you are a soccer fan, a casual viewer, or just someone looking for a reason to wear a jersey and get out of the house, LA has plenty of places to watch.
Even if you are not usually a World Cup person, this might be the summer you accidentally become one.