Eschewing large-scale official FIFA Fan Festivals in the Bay Area, the Bay Area Host Committee instead announced that soccer fans will have multiple opportunities to attend smaller-sized ‘Fan Zone’ viewing parties throughout the region during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
These free viewing parties will not be run by FIFA or the Bay Area Host Committee. Instead, they will be sponsored and run by cities, towns, sports teams, and businesses throughout the region. Many of the sites will also show only select games.
In San Francisco, viewing parties will include China Basin Park, hosted by the SF Giants, that will show at least 15 days of World Cup games. The big screen at Thrive City at Chase Center will have public viewings for many games. Other SF locations include the Crossing at East Cut, Pier 39, and Yerba Buena Lane.
Besides the six World Cup matches at Levi’s Stadium, in the South Bay the San Jose Earthquakes are sponsoring a viewing party at San Pedro Square in San Jose. It is the only Bay Area site confirmed to have public viewings of every game of this summer’s World Cup. There will also be viewing parties at Santana Row and Milpitas Civic Center.
On the Peninsula, fan zones will be set up in multiple locations, including Courthouse Square in Redwood City, Central Park in San Mateo, and Wheeler Parking Plaza in San Carlos.
In Santa Cruz, there will be a fan zone at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for at least some USA games.
In the East Bay, select games will be shown at Raimondi Park and in Downtown Oakland. The Hoffmann Theater at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek will host some games. Fairgoers will be able to watch games at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. In Richmond there will be a viewing party on the SS Red Oak Victory Historic Ship.
In the North Bay, there will be viewing parties in Sausalito, Napa Valley, and Santa Rosa.
This multiple-location fan zone setup will differ from the last several FIFA World Cups, where all host cities held large-scale FIFA Fan Fests for fans to watch the games. In fact, the SF Bay Area’s initial proposal to host World Cup games noted there would be four official FIFA Fan Fests in San Francisco, three in San Jose, and two in Oakland.
The reasons that the Bay Area Host Committee and FIFA decided against any SF Bay Area Fan Fests appear to be financial, according to the Athletic. Because the region has no marquee matchup, including no Pot 1 teams playing at Levi’s Stadium, officials were worried that casual fans would not attend a Bay Area fan fest and cover the anticipated $1 million-per-day cost to run such a facility.
The Bay Area is not the only host region to have decided against holding FIFA Fan Festivals. Seattle will host similar, smaller-sized fan zones. After New York City recently canceled its FIFA Fan Festival, the New York Red Bulls announced the would host a FIFA Fan Hub at their soccer specific stadium. The other nine host cities in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada, will have FIFA Fan Festivals.
“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,” said Zaileen Janmohamed, President & CEO of the Bay Area Host Committee, in the announcement. “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 Bay Area Host Committee has more information about the Bay Area Fan Zones, and the days they will be open, on their website: https://www.sfbayareafwc26.com/bay-area-events.
The committee is also encouraging other local businesses and organizations to host their own fan zones and put together a playbook on how to host public screenings for the 2026 World Cup games. The major requirement is that the event has to be free to the public.
“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,” said Janmohamed. “This is a moment for all of us to come together.”
