Fans arrive at SoFi Stadium to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup match between USA and Paraguay.
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Etienne Laurent
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Getty Images
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Topline:
USA is set to face Paraguay today in the first World Cup game to be held at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
What we know: It’s the second group stage match in the soccer tournament that officially started yesterday. The two teams faced off in a friendly match last year, in which the U.S. won.
What’s it like to get to the game? One of the biggest questions surrounding the local World Cup games is whether it will be easy to navigate to SoFi Stadium. LAist is joining fans from Union Station to see how the journey goes.
Read on … to follow updates from today’s big game.
The first 2026 World Cup game on U.S. soil saw the United States face off against Paraguay in a decisive win for the favored home team. L.A. is one of 16 cities hosting the games across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Fans from across the country and from around the world made their way to Los Angeles Stadium, FIFA’s rebrand for SoFi Stadium in Inglewood during the tournament. Many arrived four hours before the start time.
Lines to board buses wrapped around blocks at Union Station where buses shuttled fans to the stadium. LAist joined fans from downtown L.A. to see how the journey went.
Check-in on the journey
The first SoFi Stadium-bound bus left Union Station around 1:30 p.m. while fans cheered its departure. Many were eager to get to the game, chanting “USA!”
Just over four hours before the game, lines were wrapped around the block to get on the Metro bus.
Fans of both USA and Paraguay take a bus from the LAX/Metro transit station to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup at SoFi Stadium.
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Etienne Laurent
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Getty Images
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A view of L.A. Stadium before the FIFA World Cup match between USA and Paraguay begins.
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Omar Vega
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Getty Images
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Just over four hours before the game, lines were wrapped around the block to get on the Metro bus.
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Destiny Torres
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LAist
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LA Metro is the main transit system taking fans to and from the stadium.
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Kavish Harjai
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LAist
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Cristian Vasquez, from the Antelope Valley, was the first person in line for the World Cup shuttles. He said he left home around 9:30 a.m. to line up.
“It’s a service that really helps out the community that probably can't afford SoFi Stadium's parking lot or the existing parking areas,” Vasquez said.
Shuttle fares are the same as usual: $1.75 one-way.
Emily and Mason Allen traveled from Arkansas for the tournament in L.A. and were some of the dozens of riders waiting to board the buses.
The siblings said they were looking forward to cheering on the U.S. team.
“We’re going to win, no doubt,” Mason said.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I can’t be more excited than I am right now,” Emily added.
United States fans arrive before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium.
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Stu Forster
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Getty Images
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The United States faces off against Paraguay on Friday in L.A. It’s the first FIFA World Cup game of the season in the U.S.
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Destiny Torres
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LAist
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Union Station is among the 15 transit stations that are directing shuttle service to SoFi Stadium.
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Kavish Harjai
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LAist
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Jose Caballero traveled to L.A. from Paraguay to cheer on his team. He and his son saved up for the last year to afford tickets.
"Es emocionante. Es algo unico. Es un evento que se ve cada cuatro años y logicamente, las emociones y sobre todo el gran espectaculo que brindan antes, durantes y despues del partido es emocionante," Caballero said.
He said that the tournament is an exciting spectacle that is seen every four years.
Caballero added that he wants to see the Paraguay team win and bring home the World Cup trophy.
Paraguay fans arrive before the FIFA World Cup 2026 match between USA and Paraguay at SoFi Stadium.
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Dean Mouhtaropoulos
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Getty Images
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Less than two hours before kick off, there were hundreds of people standing outside one of the entrances to the stadium.
People came dressed in jerseys with flags draped around their shoulders and tied around their waists. Some were in costumes, dressing up as Abraham Lincoln, Captain America and in a bald eagle mask.
Getting to the stadium
LA Metro is the main transit system taking fans to and from the stadium. The countywide transportation agency is shuttling fans from 15 different locations in L.A. and Orange counties to SoFi Stadium, or as it’s known for the duration of the tournament, Los Angeles Stadium.
The shuttles begin hours in advance of the game, with the exact timing depending on the location you depart from. Here's a full guide on getting to the stadium on public transit.
You can catch a stadium-bound shuttle at locations throughout L.A. and Orange counties.
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L.A. Metro
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Getting to watch parties
There are going to be more than 100 free watch parties in the city of L.A. at different park locations. It’s part of an initiative called Kick it in the Park. You can find out more about the watch parties here.
Some of the locations are accessible on Metro rail.
Check out the city’s interactive website to learn which Metro, L.A. Dash or other regional transit can take you to the Kick it in the Park events.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 14: Max Muncy #13, Tommy Edman #25, Mookie Betts #50, Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers look on during a pitching change during the eighth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game three of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
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Sean M. Haffey
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Getty Images North America
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Topline:
Milwaukee’s brilliant bullpen slammed the door late and the Brewers rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-4 on Thursday in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series to earn their first trip to the World Series since 1982.
What happened: Shohei Ohtani’s first home run this postseason helped put the Dodgers ahead 4-0 in the second inning before the Brewers came back to complete a four-game sweep of the two-time defending World Series champions a year after getting swept by Los Angeles in the NLCS.
Garrett Mitchell hit a go-ahead homer in the sixth inning, Milwaukee’s brilliant bullpen slammed the door late and the Brewers rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-4 on Thursday in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series to earn their first trip to the World Series since 1982.
No. 9 hitter David Hamilton’s two-out solo shot off Edwin Díaz gave the Brewers a two-run cushion in the ninth. Hamilton had just four homers in the regular season.
“We got down early tonight and we were like, it’s going to be a great story,” Brewers captain Christian Yelich said. “We’re going to come back and win this. Like, stay together, start chipping away. And that’s exactly what they did.”
Shohei Ohtani’s first home run this postseason helped put the Dodgers ahead 4-0 in the second inning before the Brewers came back to complete a four-game sweep of the two-time defending World Series champions a year after getting swept by Los Angeles in the NLCS.
Milwaukee became the first major league club to complete a postseason sweep after getting swept by that same opponent in the previous postseason.
“Playing with that chip on our shoulder,” Brewers reliever Aaron Ashby said. “You don’t ever know what to expect going into a series like that last year. You don’t know how bad it can be, and then it was as bad as it was. And we came out and we survived, and we came back this year, and those guys played their tails off.”
The Brewers lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games in their only other World Series appearance, when Milwaukee played in the American League.
With the score tied 4-all, Mitchell fell behind 0-2 before reliever Tanner Scott threw three straight balls for a full count. Mitchell’s 409-foot leadoff drive to center field — the first homer of his career on an 0-2 count — put the Brewers ahead for the first time. Mitchell also homered in their 6-2 victory Wednesday.null
“I’ve always dreamt of moments like these as a kid,” Mitchell said.
The Brewers’ bullpen coolly turned away multiple threats when the Dodgers had the potential tying run on base.
Winning pitcher JoJo Romero struck out Max Muncy with Kyle Tucker at third to end the sixth.
Ashby, who worked three scoreless innings for a save, struck out Ohtani swinging before Mookie Betts grounded out with Andy Pages at third to end the seventh. Will Smith doubled to right with one out in the eighth and was safe at third when the ball got away from Sal Frelick for an error before Ashby got Tucker to fly out and Teoscar Hernández to strike out.
The Brewers tied it in the fifth, when the Dodgers bullpen issued four walks and Milwaukee stole two bases. Hamilton’s single chased starter Tyler Glasnow and scored Frelick, who walked and stole second, to pull Milwaukee to 4-3.
Alex Vesia came in and promptly walked Brice Turang and William Contreras to load the bases. Vesia then walked NLCS MVP Jake Bauers with two outs to force in Hamilton with the tying run.
Glasnow retired his first 10 batters — six on strikeouts — before the Brewers got to him in the fourth. Turang walked, Contreras hit a ground-rule double and Bauers followed with another ground-rule double that closed Milwaukee to 4-2.
Ohtani broke out of his postseason slump with a three-run homer after Pages’ RBI single in the second. The four-time MVP released weeks of pent-up frustration by raising his arms and yelling and the crowd of 49,104 joined him in celebration.
Matthew Ballinger
is the senior editor for climate and environment coverage at LAist.
Published October 15, 2026 5:52 PM
The Henderson Fire sparked Thursday afternoon at Camp Pendleton.
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Alert California
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UC San Diego
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Topline:
Parts of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton have been ordered to evacuate, and the 5 Freeway has been closed in both directions as a wildfire burns in the area. The Henderson Fire had charred more than 1,100 acres as of 4:40 p.m.
What we know so far: The 5 Freeway was closed between Harbor Drive, near Oceanside, and Basilone Road, near the Orange County line. The Camp Pendleton Fire Department was fighting the fire, according to Cal Fire.
Read on ... for more on evacuations and weather conditions.
This is a developing story. For the most up-to-date information about the fire you can check:
Parts of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton have been ordered to evacuate, and the 5 Freeway was briefly closed in both directions due to a wildfire in the area. The Henderson Fire had charred more than 1,118 acres as of 7 p.m.
CHP closed the 5 Freeway between Harbor Drive, near Oceanside, and Basilone Road, near the Orange County line, but began reopening the interstate just before 6 p.m.
The Camp Pendleton Fire Department was fighting the fire, according to Cal Fire.
The basics
Acreage: 1,118 acres as of Thursday afternoon
Containment: 0%
Structures destroyed: None reported
Deaths: None reported
Injuries: None reported
Evacuation orders
According to Cal Fire: "An evacuation order has been published for the Las Flores (41 Area). All affected personnel, please evacuate to Paige Field House, located in the 11 Area." A secondary evacuation point was set up at 21 Area gym, according to the Camp Pendleton Facebook page.
Road closures
5 Freeway between Basilone Road and Harbor Drive, but it was being reopened.
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Destiny Torres
covers all things SoCal, from breaking news to local government, with a focus on Orange County.
Published October 15, 2026 4:19 PM
A Costa Mesa woman who pleaded guilty earlier this year for registering her dog to vote and casting ballots in two elections has had her case dismissed
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Tiffany Ujiiye
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LAist
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Topline:
A Costa Mesa woman who pleaded guilty earlier this year for registering her dog to vote and casting ballots in two elections has had her case dismissed, according to the district attorney’s office Thursday. She won’t serve time but will have to pay for four anti-voter fraud billboards that feature her dog’s image.
Background: Laura Lee Yourex, 64, was charged with five felonies in 2025 for illegally registering her dog and casting ballots on its behalf. Yourex was facing up to six years in prison. In April, Yourex pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor charge of knowingly registering a “non-existent person to vote,” and the DA’s office dismissed the remaining four felony charges against her. LAist did not immediately hear from Yourex’s lawyer.
More on the billboards:As part of the plea deal, Yourex was required to pay $1,500 for four anti-voter fraud billboards along the 55 and 22 freeways in Orange County for the Nov. 3 General Election. The billboards read, “Don’t be a dog. Voter Fraud is a Crime. If you can’t legally vote, don’t vote. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office will prosecute.”
Laura Lee Yourex was required to pay $1,500 for four anti-voter fraud billboards along the 55 and 22 freeways in Orange County.
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Courtesy of the OC District Attorney's Office.
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Why this matters: The dog incident comes at a time of heightened debate over voter ID. In the General Election, Californians will be asked whether to require voters to show proof of ID at polling places and provide identification numbers on mail-in ballots. Currently, voters only need to provide an ID and Social Security number when they register to vote.
Wine sales have decreased by more than 20% over a five-year period.
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Kelsey Knight
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Unsplash
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Topline:
California’s wine industry is still trying to figure out how to adapt to a world with fewer alcohol drinkers, where even the most high-end wineries are fighting a losing battle. Because the state has more wine than people want to drink, some wineries are quietly selling their premium bottles under generic retail home brands like Costco’s Kirkland Signature or Kroger and Aldi labels.
Sales: Wine sales have decreased by more than 20% over a five-year period, causing grape prices to drop and prompting California growers to take roughly a quarter of the state’s vineyards out of production.
“They have way too much of it, and they haven’t been able to sell it the last few years,” said Jess Lander, wine reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, during a conversation on AirTalk, LAist 89.3’s daily news show.
Listen
15:51
How California wineries are dealing with a high-end bottle surplus
Bargain bottles: Lander has reported that bottles that typically cost around $150 are now, in some cases, going for less than $30 under a different brand label.
How to take advantage: Lander says if you’re looking to take advantage of the surplus bargain, look at the region on the bottle and then do a little experimenting with your palate.
Listen to the full conversation above: To learn more about the wine industry’s outlook and the effects on consumers.
Topline:
California’s wine industry is still trying to figure out how to adapt to a world with fewer alcohol drinkers, where even the most high-end wineries are fighting a losing battle. Because the state has more wine than people want to drink, some wineries are quietly selling their premium bottles under generic retail home brands like Costco’s Kirkland Signature or Kroger and Aldi labels.
Sales: Wine sales have decreased by more than 20% over a five-year period, causing grape prices to drop and prompting California growers to take roughly a quarter of the state’s vineyards out of production.
“They have way too much of it, and they haven’t been able to sell it the last few years,” said Jess Lander, wine reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, during a conversation on AirTalk, LAist 89.3’s daily news show.
Bargain bottles: Lander has reported that bottles that typically cost around $150 are now, in some cases, going for less than $30 under a different label.
How to take advantage: Lander says if you’re looking to take advantage of the surplus bargain, look at the region on the bottle and then do a little experimenting with your palate.
Listen to the full conversation above: To learn more about the wine industry’s outlook and the effects on consumers.
