With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
USA to face Paraguay in Los Angeles for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
(L-R) FIFA President Gianni Infantino, US President Donald Trump, Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney stand on stage during the draw for the 2026 FIFA Football World Cup taking place in the US, Canada and Mexico, at the Kennedy Center, in Washington, DC.
(
Brendan Smialowski
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
Topline:
The U.S. will host Paraguay in Los Angeles when the 2026 FIFA World Cup arrives for the first time in over three decades. Friday morning’s draw in Washington D.C. laid out what the 48-team tournament will look like in what will be the largest World Cup ever.
Who is playing in L.A.? The U.S. will face Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium. The winner of that match will face Australia or the winning team in Playoff C, which could be Türkiye, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo. FIFA will reveal the official schedule with kick-off times Saturday at 9 a.m.
Can you still get tickets? Around 2 million tickets have been sold globally, and yes, there’s still time to get yours. Ticketing for all games — including in Los Angeles — happens in phases through a lottery draw system. For access to all ticket sales, you’ll need to register a profile through FIFA’s site. The third phase of ticket sales begins on Dec. 11, according to FIFA officials.
Sponsored message
What about the Women’s World Cup? There’s a chance that Southern California could host the 2031 Women’s World Cup. Four Los Angeles stadiums placed their bids as potential sites last month, including the Rose Bowl, L.A. Memorial Coliseum, Dignity Health Sports Park and SoFi Stadium.
Read on… for your essential LAist guide on the 2026 World Cup in Los Angeles here.
At LAist, we focus on what matters to our community: clear, fair, and transparent reporting that helps you make decisions with confidence and keeps powerful institutions accountable.
Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
