The FIFA World Cup 2026 has officially arrived in Los Angeles, bringing millions of visitors, fan events, watch parties, and international soccer excitement to Southern California.
With matches taking place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood and fan activations happening throughout Los Angeles County, visitors can expect busy roads, crowded transit lines, and increased demand for parking throughout the tournament.
In anticipation of packed public spaces and plenty of first-time visitors navigating L.A., we’ve put together a guide to help you get from A to B during the World Cup, which runs from June 12 through July 19, 2026.
World Cup Matches and Times
The following games are taking place at SoFi Stadium.
- USA vs. Turkiye — June 25, 7 PM
- Round of 32 — June 28, 12 PM
- Round of 32 — July 2, 12 PM
- Quarterfinal — July 10, 12 PM
How far is SoFi Stadium from Downtown Los Angeles?
SoFi Stadium is located in Inglewood, approximately 10 miles southwest of Downtown Los Angeles and just a few miles east of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Travel times vary dramatically depending on traffic. By car, the trip can take anywhere from 20 minutes to more than an hour on busy match days.
Keep reading for tips about parking, public transportation, airport connections, and match-day travel planning:
Driving and parking at SoFi Stadium
📍Address: SoFi Stadium, 1001 Stadium Drive, Inglewood, CA 90301
Transportation officials and stadium operators are strongly encouraging fans to arrive early and plan ahead if driving to matches.
Unlike many NFL game days, World Cup attendance is expected to be significantly larger, creating heavy congestion throughout Inglewood and neighboring communities.
Visitors should know:
- Parking passes generally must be purchased in advance
- Many official parking locations are off-site lots
- Some parking areas require a 10-20 minute walk to the stadium
- Parking inventory may sell out before match day
- Traffic delays are expected several hours before kickoff
Fans arriving less than two hours before a match should expect significant delays entering parking facilities and surrounding roadways.
If you’re planning to drive, organizers recommend arriving at least three hours before kickoff.
Park-and-ride alternatives
For visitors staying outside central Los Angeles, park-and-ride options may be the easiest solution.
Several Metro stations and transportation hubs offer parking facilities where visitors can leave their vehicles and transfer to transit services heading toward the stadium area.
This option helps avoid some of the congestion surrounding SoFi Stadium and can make post-match departures considerably easier.
Taking public transit to SoFi Stadium
Public transportation is expected to be the preferred method of travel for many World Cup attendees.
LA Metro has expanded service and introduced dedicated World Cup transportation options to help fans reach SoFi Stadium without relying on personal vehicles.
$1.75 direct shuttles to SoFi
L.A. Metro is offering direct rides to SoFi Stadium during every World Cup match from June 12 to July 10, 2026. Services run every 10 minutes.
Buses will drop off and pick up riders at “Lot R – Intuit East Garage”, about a 12-minute walk to the stadium entrance Gate E.
The direct service locations are:
- 🚍️ Hawthorne/Lennox Station
- 11191 Larch Av, Lennox, CA 90304
- 🚍️ Crenshaw Station,
- 11901 S Crenshaw Bl, Hawthorne, CA 90250
- 🚍️ LAX/Metro Transit Center
- 9225 Aviation Bl, Los Angeles, CA 90045
- 🚍️ Hotels & Parking LAX
- Eastbound 98th St at Jetway Bl (near Courtyard by Marriott, Hyatt Regency, Sonesta, Sheraton Gateway)
- Eastbound 98th St at Airport Bl (near Renaissance, Embassy Suites, Residency Inn, Hyatt Place)
- Eastbound 98th St at Bellanca Av (near Hilton)
- 🚍️ El Camino College
- 3536 Manhattan Beach Bl, Torrance, CA 90506
- 🚍️ Harbor Gateway Transit Center
- 731 W 182nd St, Gardena, CA 90248
- 🚍️ Culver City Transit Center
- 6250 W Slauson Av, Culver City, CA 90230
- 🚍️ Torrence Transit Center
- 465 Crenshaw Bl, Torrance, CA 90503
- 🚍️ Union Station
- 800 N. Alameda St, Los Angeles, 90012.
- 🚍️ Downtown Long Beach
- 300 E 1st St, Long Beach, CA 90802
- 🚍️ Downtown Santa Monica
- 1234 4th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401
- 🚍️ North Hollywood Station
- 5350 N Lankershim Bl, North Hollywood, CA 91601
- 🚍️ Pierce College Station
- 6425 Winnetka Av, Woodland Hills, CA 91367
- 🚍️ ARTIC Anaheim Station
- 2626 E. Katella Av, Anaheim, CA 92806
- 🚍️ Newport Transportation Center
- 1550 Avocado Av, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Parking availability and rates vary by location and date. Some of the stations require a parking reservation on SpotHero. Direct service begins 3 hours, 15 minutes before matches. Find more information and updates here.
Regular transit parking will not be available on match days.
Public transportation tips for out-of-towners
If you’re visiting Los Angeles for the first time, public transportation can seem intimidating, but a few simple tools make getting around much easier.
Debit or Credit cards
You can now tap your debit or credit card to pay for your L.A. Metro fare. A plastic card or a digital contactless card via Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay are all accepted as fare. All major credit cards are accepted, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, and Union Pay. The two hours of transfers and daily/weekly fare capping will remain in place, but be sure to use the same card for all of your trips. You can also now tap for you and four additional riders at the fare box or validator.
TAP cards
The TAP card is the primary fare payment system for Metro buses and rail lines.
Visitors can:
- Purchase a physical TAP card
- Add TAP directly to Apple Wallet
- Add TAP to Google Wallet
- Load stored value and passes digitally
Simply tap your card or phone when boarding Metro services.
Trip planning apps
Visitors can use the following resources to plan their routes:
These tools provide real-time arrival information, service alerts, and route guidance throughout Los Angeles County.
Travel advisories for World Cup visitors
World Cup crowds are expected to create heavier traffic around SoFi Stadium, fan zones, and LAX throughout the tournament.
Visitors should plan to arrive at the stadium 2–3 hours before kickoff, allow extra time for security screening, and expect possible road closures near event areas.
Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft will be available, but longer wait times and surge pricing are likely before and after matches. In many cases, Metro may be the faster option.
If you’re flying through LAX on a match day, be sure to allow extra time for airport transportation and security lines.
Fan zones and watch parties
Fans won’t need a match ticket to experience the excitement of FIFA World Cup 2026. Official fan festivals, watch parties, and cultural events are taking place throughout Los Angeles during the tournament. They will feature live match broadcasts, food vendors, entertainment, sponsor activations, and community events throughout the entire tournament.
With a little preparation, getting around Los Angeles during the world’s biggest sporting event can be much smoother than many visitors expect.
Additional words from Taylor Henderson.
