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World Cup, the latest from the Eaton and Palisades fires, waiting in lines and more
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood is the Los Angeles venue for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
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Catherine Ivill
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Jump to
- 2026 FIFA World Cup: the biggest storylines and the local economics
- A roundup of the latest from the Eaton and Palisades fires
- Roddy McDowall’s transition from childhood star to adult character actor
- The latest from the FIFA World Cup Fan Festival
- Was waiting in line really worth it?
- TV Talk: ‘Alice & Steve,’ ‘Every Year After,’ NBA Finals, and more!
Today's show: AirTalk host Larry Mantle discusses the 2026 World Cup, the latest on the Eaton and Palisades fires, a new biography on actor Roddy McDowall, FIFA World Cup Fan Festival, waiting in lines and TV Talk.
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2026 FIFA World Cup: the biggest storylines and the local economics
The topic:
The 2026 World Cup officially kicks off today, with national soccer teams from across the globe arriving in North America to compete in hopes of playing the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Along with the typical sports narratives that come from the tournament every four years, Los Angeles is one of many cities hoping to economically benefit.
Change in format: 48 national teams are participating in this year’s World Cup, expanding the tournament’s longtime, 32-team format and increasing the total number of matches to 104.
Potential weather impacts: Although national teams in the Americas might be accustomed to the local climate, many European teams, who tend to dominate international competition, will need to acclimate themselves. To better accommodate players, FIFA has instituted three-minute hydration breaks.
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Economic impacts: Research done by consulting firm Micronomics estimates that in L.A. County as a whole, there will be a total positive impact of more than $594 million. The estimate also noted that this would be most reflected in lodging costs, with that estimated to make up 46% of direct spending.
Guests:
- Kevin Baxter, staff writer for the L.A. Times covering soccer
- Stefan Szymanski, professor of Sport Management at the University of Michigan; he’s also the author of Soccernomics: Why European Men and American Women Usually Win – and American Men Don’t Yet
A roundup of the latest from the Eaton and Palisades fires
Workers with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spray hydro seedling over a cleared property in Altadena on April 2025.
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Brian Feinzimer
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LAist
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The topic:
Today on AirTalk, we check in on the latest developments from the continuing impact of the Eaton and Palisades fires, including a study on pollution spread and alleged new video footage of the start of the Eaton Fire.
Pollution spread: A potent carcinogen may have spread to communities as far as nine miles downwind of the Eaton and Palisades fire burn zones during debris clean-up, according to a new peer-reviewed study in the journal Nature.
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Background: A team of researchers has been studying the air pollution effects of clearing the remains of more than 16,000 homes and businesses destroyed in the 2025 fires. Go deeper and read the full story here.
New video footage: Lawyers from insurers who are seeking a ruling that would hold Edison financially accountable for the Eaton Fire say new video footage shows two flashes at the location of a decommissioned utility tower that line up with when Edison recorded two faults. They allege the video confirms Edison’s equipment caused the fire.
SoCal Edison’s response: Edison says they “will address the specifics of this video through the standard legal process,” and “absent additional evidence, SCE believes that it is likely that its equipment could have been associated with the ignition of the Eaton Fire.” We’ll hear more directly from Edison on today’s program.
Guests:
- Erin Stone, LAist climate and environment senior reporter
- David Eisenhauer, spokesperson for Southern California Edison
Roddy McDowall’s transition from childhood star to adult character actor
Samuel Garza Bernstein will be discussing his new biography on actor Roddy McDowall tonight.
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Penguin Random House
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The topic:
In his new book, Roddy McDowall: An Actor’s Life–From How Green Was My Valley to Lassie to Planet of the Apes, author and screenwriter Samuel Garza Bernstein chronicles McDowall’s career from being a critically acclaimed child star in How Green is My Valley to his acting renaissance in adulthood as a recurring lead in the Planet of the Apes films.
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Childhood stardom: Many actors get their start as child stars, but few are capable of making the smooth transition from a teeny-bopper into a mature actor. After making a name for himself as a youth, McDowall took somewhat of a hiatus from Hollywood, opting for the theater, acting in Broadway productions such as Misalliance and Camelot.
Later success: He eventually wound up back on the big screen with major success as Cornelius and later Caesar in the Planet of the Apes franchise.
Event details: You can join author Samuel Garza Bernstein at Book Soup in West Hollywood tonight at 7 p.m. for a discussion on his new book and to get your own copy signed. More information for the event is at Book Soup’s website linked here.
Guest:
- Samuel Garza Bernstein, screenwriter and author of Roddy McDowall: An Actor’s Life
The latest from the FIFA World Cup Fan Festival
An aerial view of the L.A. Memorial Coliseum on November 28, 2025
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Kirby Lee
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The topic:
A five-day fan festival taking over the L.A. Memorial Coliseum kicks off today to welcome the World Cup to Los Angeles. We’ll look at the festival, and get the latest on concerns around ticket pricing and the logistics of the event.
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What it is: The festival will kick off the same day as the tournament, June 11, and run through June 15. It will include live broadcasts of the games, music and food, and provide a place for fans to celebrate as Team USA plays its first game against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on June 12.
In the background: The lead-up to these games has been a bumpy one. It's still not clear if Iran's national team will make it to its two games here amid the U.S. war, and if they do, they'll show up to a diaspora unsure how to greet them. SoFi workers have voted to authorize a strike at the stadium, but have since reached a tentative deal to avoid a strike. And ICE agents are part of the World Cup security apparatus.
With files from LAist. Check out LAist's full guide to the World Cup here.
Guests:
- Libby Rainey, LAist reporter who has been reporting on L.A.'s preparations for World Cup games this year
- Paul Krekorian, executive director for the Office of Major Events for the city of Los Angeles, former L.A. City Council member and council president
Was waiting in line really worth it?
What's the longest you've waited in a line?
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The topic:
We all know that feeling. The sun’s beaming in your face, and your knees and back are starting to give out — all for the sake of sharing a collective human experience of waiting in a line for something that you really want. But… was it worth it?
Join the conversation: Whether it was for a trendy food item, a museum entry or even a new ride at an amusement park — What is the longest you’ve ever waited in line and for what? And, was it really worth the hype and extended wait time? Give us a call at (866) 893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
TV Talk: ‘Alice & Steve,’ ‘Every Year After,’ NBA Finals, and more!
What should you watch over the weekend?
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Pituk Loonhong
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Getty Images / iStockphoto
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The topic:
Have you felt completely overwhelmed when deciding what new show to watch these days? Us too. There’s just so much content out there between network TV and numerous streaming platforms. This week, listeners will get the latest scoop on what’s worth watching.
TV shows:
- 2026 NBA Finals (ABC)
- Alice & Steve [Season 1] (Hulu)
- Every Year After [Season 1] (Prime Video)
- The Rest is Football [Video-Podcast] (Netflix)
- 2026 World Cup (FOX | FS1 | Telemundo | Universo)
Guests:
- Dominic Patten, executive editor at Deadline Hollywood
- Angie Han, TV critic for The Hollywood Reporter
-
Downtown Los Angeles hosts an array of historic theaters that are screening classic films this month. -
Today on AirTalk: Governor's race, new data on CA teaching programs, golf's popularity, mosquito sterilization, AI in healthcare and last day of school memories. -
Today on AirTalk: L.A. mayoral election, PUSD turmoil, Broadway's historic movie palaces, Colorado River water use solutions, and the World Cup.
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Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
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