How to Celebrate 2026 World Cup Soccer in San Diego

As the FIFA World Cup 2026 approaches, global soccer excitement is building across Southern California and San Diego is getting in on the action. While not an official host city for the tournament, America’s Brightest City is welcoming international teams, staging pre-kickoff friendlies and hosting high-energy fan experiences in celebration.

San Diego will serve as a training base for two national teams: New Zealand’s men’s national soccer team at the University of San Diego’s Torero Stadium, and Switzerland’s national team at the San Diego Jewish Academy in Carmel Valley.

For those looking to catch every moment of the action, we rounded up top places across San Diego to watch the matches, cheer on your favorite team and be part of the global game. 

 Snapdragon Stadium will host two “Countdown to ’26” international friendlies — Switzerland vs. Australia on June 6 and Colombia vs. Jordan on June 7 — giving fans an early preview of World Cup-level competition. Snapdragon is partnering with Sports San Diego and Lions Sports & Media on the matches. Learn more about the events here.

Fit Social in Mission Beach is set to become Soccer Celebration headquarters for San Diego FC, the city's new Major League Soccer franchise, during the tournament, bringing nonstop World Cup energy to the coast. Dubbed San Diego’s fan central and ultimate soccer hangout, the venue will host free, all-ages live entertainment and live viewings for every match.

Fit Social is situated right on the bustling and colorful Mission Beach boardwalk and next to historic Belmont Park, San Diego's classic SoCal oceanfront amusement park, making it the perfect place to take in both soccer action and surfside views. Fans can score giveaways, exclusive merchandise and game-day food and drink specials. And when you're ready for a break in the action, go grab a bite at one of Belmont's numerous great restaurants and food stands, or check out the park's fun games and rides, including the vintage Giant Dipper roller coaster.

There will be additional Soccer Celebration viewing parties in Chula Vista (on June 12 at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center for the match between the U.S. and Paraguay, and June 18 on downtown's Third Avenue for Mexico vs. South Korea), as well as Little Italy (June 12 on the Piazza della Famiglia for Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina at noon and the U.S. vs. Paraguay).

Puesto

Starting June 11, Puesto invites soccer fans to root for their favorite team and enter for a chance to win a free taco through its Puesto Fútbol Championship promotion. Just fill out a form before kickoff and every time your selected team wins a game, you receive an email the next morning redeemable for a free taco that same day at all Puesto locations (Seaport Village, Mission Valley and La Jolla).

Goal Post Garden

The Goal Post Garden in Mission Valley, located on the lawn outside San Diego FC’s official team store, Eighteen Threads, and Novo Brazil Brewing Co., will be outfitted as a family-friendly fan zone with a soccer activity area for kids, photo ops and games. Novo Brazil will livestream every game and offer drink specials throughout the tournament.

Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa & Marina

The Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa & Marina will host live watch parties starting June 12 for the first U.S. match, and the resort will welcome guests to view the matches by its pool. To add to the fun, the resort will offer interactive kids' games, food specials from Pelican's on the Bay, festive decorations and a bracket to keep track of matches.

LEGOLAND California Resort

Where: One Legoland Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008
LEGOLAND Resorts launched a limited-time FIFA World Cup 2026 Experience running June 11 – July 19, transforming the resort into a celebration of soccer fandom. Guests can build a dream soccer uniform in LEGO bricks, see LEGO FIFA Heroes including Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi and Vini Jr., and test their skills in an interactive soccer challenge. The event also features newly released LEGO sets, including the LEGO Soccer Ball Set 43019 and LEGO FIFA World Cup Official Trophy Set 43020, available at the LEGOLAND LEGO Shop while supplies last.

San Diego has a network of neighborhood pubs where dedicated soccer fans gather to cheer on their favorite teams. Bellying up to the bar at any of these favorite establishments guarantees an unforgettable spot to catch the World Cup action alongside the city's most passionate supporters, from the start of the Group Stage on June 11 to the tournament final July 19.

O’Brien’s

Where: 4646 Convoy St., San Diego, CA 92111
Tucked away in a Convoy District strip mall, O’Brien’s is one of San Diego’s oldest and most acclaimed craft beer bars, and home to the San Diego chapter of American Outlaws, the official U.S. National Team fan organization. Named the nation's best beer bar by USA Today, O'Brien's is famous for rare brews and is an official San Diego FC pub partner. Expect a packed, festive crowd during the World Cup.

Bluefoot Bar & Lounge

Where: 3404 30th St., San Diego, CA 92104
Bluefoot Bar & Lounge in North Park was voted one of the Top 10 Soccer Bars in the Country by Men in Blazers and is a favorite for devout soccer fans. The bar has 11 TVs, a large patio and encourages guests to bring in food from neighboring restaurants and cafes. During the World Cup, it is partnering with Truly, Modelo and Michelob Ultra for daily drink specials and giveaways. Their sister sports bar in North Park, Fairplay, is also offering drink specials and a dedicated food menu, and is expanding their front patio to accommodate more seating.

Shakespeare Pub & Grille

Where: 3701 India St., San Diego, CA 92103
Shakespeare Pub & Grille has been open for nearly 40 years and is famous for its authentic British fish and chips, Tudor-style interior and soccer culture  — they have a dedicated page on their website for their football game schedule and fans will arrive as early as 4 a.m. on some mornings to watch European matches.

Princess Pub & Grille

Where: 1665 India St., San Diego, CA 92101
Princess Pub & Grille in Little Italy is another premier soccer bar in the city, and the owners are from Liverpool, England — hence the pub is the local home for fans of Liverpool F.C. Guest will find a custom nitro tap for the perfect pour of Guinness, a menu of classic British fare and three spacious patios.

Queenstown

Where: Multiple locations
Queenstown, a New Zealand–themed restaurant and bar with four locations across San Diego, serves as a home base for fans of the All Whites, New Zealand’s national men’s soccer team. In addition to showing matches at all four venues and offering drink specials — if the team wins, drinks are half-price all day.

Carté Hotel San Diego

Where: 401 W. Ash St., San Diego, CA 92101
The rooftop at the Carté Hotel San Diego, set 16 floors above the city with sweeping views of Little Italy and downtown, will host FIFA watch parties throughout the tournament. Guests can watch matches on a large screen in an open-air setting with fire pits, and enjoy special game-day food and dessert menus.

Rooftop Cinema Club Little Italy

Where: 1835 Columbia St., Fifth Floor, San Diego, CA 92101
The newly reopened Rooftop Cinema Club Little Italy is hosting World Cup watch parties at its outdoor cinema atop the fifth floor of the Porto Vista Hotel. Fans can cheer on the U.S. men’s national soccer team against Paraguay on Friday, June 12 at 6 p.m. and against Australia on Friday, June 19 at noon while enjoying cool breezes and views of planes landing at San Diego International Airport.

Hilton San Diego Bayfront

Where: 1 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101
At the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, NÜTRL Seltzer will host a World Cup watch party on June 12, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Starting in June and for the duration of the summer, Cutwater Spirits will be at The Pool Club on Fridays, offering cocktail samplings.

Barleymash

Where: 600 Fifth Ave. #6916, San Diego, CA 92101
Situated in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter, Barleymash is a premier sports viewing destination. The spacious venue has 36 TVs both indoors and outdoors, guaranteeing visibility of the game from any seat, and a menu of upscale comfort foods designed by Executive Chef and former “Chopped” champion Kevin Templeton.

El Chingon

Where: 560 Fifth Ave., San Diego, CA 92101
El Chingon in the Gaslamp Quarter is offering viewing parties and match day food specials for the duration of the tournament, including a shareable “All In Fries” platter with carne asada, pollo asado, al pastor, carnitas, house cheese blend, jalapeños, pico de gallo and Mexican citrus crema; and a birria “pizza” with flour tortillas layered with slow-braised beef birria, mozzarella, onions and cilantro, topped with avocado cream and a side of consommé for dipping.

If you have tickets for World Cup games in L.A., it's easy to hop aboard Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner for a quick and relaxing ride north along region's beautiful coastline. You can catch the train at the Santa Fe Depot in Downtown San Diego and be in Los Angeles in just about two hours, enjoying the sights along the way.

San Diego easily ranks as one of the top soccer cities in America, and it's not hard to see why: The city boasts elite pro teams in both men's and women's soccer, an energized and growing fan base, great places to play and great weather to do it in.

Major League Soccer's San Diego FC, which debuted in 2025, made the playoffs in its first season and continues to be an exciting presence in men's soccer, while the San Diego Wave of the National Women's Soccer League has likewise been a perennial contender since it began play in 2022. Both teams play in Mission Valley's beautiful Snapdragon Stadium, close to shopping, restaurants and San Diego's awesome attractions. And both play from spring into fall, which means plenty of opportunities to catch a home match at Snapdragon.

And with plenty of grassroots, amateur, youth and college soccer also happening around the San Diego region, fans of the game will this the perfect place to take in a game any time of year.