⚽ Southern California Prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

A Generational Opportunity for Our Business Community

Southern California is preparing to take center stage as a host region for the FIFA World Cup 2026 — the largest World Cup in history.

For our region — and especially for local chambers, small businesses, hospitality operators, and community leaders — this is more than a sporting event. It is a multi-week economic and cultural moment that will place Los Angeles and surrounding cities before a global audience.

Match Hosting in Inglewood

The primary Southern California venue will be SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.

Los Angeles has been selected as one of the official host cities, and SoFi Stadium will host multiple tournament matches during June and July 2026, including:

• Group stage matches

• Knockout round games

• A high-profile quarterfinal

This positions Southern California as one of the tournament’s most visible and strategically important markets.

For businesses across LA County — from restaurants and retailers to transportation and security services — the ripple effect will extend far beyond match days.

Here’s the list of matches scheduled at SoFi Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

SoFi Stadium will host eight total matches – five in the group stage, two Round of 32 knockout games, and one quarterfinal.

Group Stage Matches

• June 12 – USA vs Paraguay (Group D)

• June 15 – Iran vs New Zealand (Group G)

• June 18 – Switzerland vs UEFA Playoff A Winner (Group B)

• June 21 – Belgium vs Iran (Group G)

• June 25 – UEFA Playoff C Winner vs USA (Group D)

Knockout Rounds

• June 28 – Round of 32: Group A Second-Place vs Group B Second-Place 

• July 2 – Round of 32: Group H Winner vs Group J Runner-Up 

• July 10 – Quarterfinal Match (TBD teams)

FIFA Fan Festival & Regional Fan Zones

In addition to stadium matches, Southern California will host large-scale public celebrations.

The official FIFA Fan Festival is planned at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The official FIFA Fan Festival at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will be featuring:

• Large public match broadcasts

• Live entertainment and cultural programming

• Interactive soccer experiences

• Food vendors and sponsor activations

Beyond the central festival, multiple community “fan zones” are expected throughout Los Angeles County — activating parks, waterfront areas, and major civic gathering points.

For chambers and business associations, this creates opportunities for:

• Pop-up retail and food service participation

• Sponsorship alignments

• Local supplier contracts

• Community engagement events

Economic Impact & Business Readiness

The 2026 World Cup is projected to bring hundreds of thousands of domestic and international visitors to the region.

Expected impacts include:

• Increased hotel occupancy

• Surge in short-term rental demand

• Higher restaurant and retail traffic

• Transportation and logistics growth

• Temporary workforce expansion

Cities throughout LA County — not just downtown Los Angeles — will see visitor spillover.

For chambers of commerce, this means:

• Helping members prepare operationally

• Encouraging storefront readiness and beautification

• Coordinating public safety communication

• Connecting small businesses to procurement opportunities

• Promoting “shop local” campaigns tied to the World Cup

A Global Spotlight on Our Communities

The 2026 tournament will be broadcast worldwide, with billions of viewers.

For the City of Los Angeles and surrounding cities — including Inglewood — this represents:

• International visibility

• Tourism branding opportunities

• Cultural exchange

• Long-term investor interest

Communities that present themselves as safe, vibrant, welcoming, and business-ready stand to benefit most.

What Businesses Should Be Doing Now

With the tournament approaching in 2026, chambers can encourage members to:

1. Review staffing and supply chain capacity

2. Plan multilingual customer engagement

3. Explore soccer-themed promotions

4. Coordinate with city officials on event planning

5. Ensure storefronts and surrounding areas reflect pride and readiness

Preparation in 2025 will determine who captures opportunity in 2026.

⚽ Final Thought

The FIFA World Cup comes to a region once in a generation.

Southern California will not only host matches — it will host the world.

For chambers of commerce and local business leaders, the question is not whether this will be impactful.

The question is: Are we ready to leverage it?