Guide to World Cup
Cities
Los Angeles
Get ready for 2026 with our Los Angeles World Cup travel guide including info on the stadium, accommodation, attractions, food and transport.
Where to stay
LA is vast and accommodation options vary widely, so choosing the right neighbourhood can shape your entire World Cup experience. The hotels around LAX offer thousands of rooms at competitive prices and sit just 15 minutes from SoFi, making them a convenient base if you want value and easy access over sightseeing.
For those wanting more personality in their stay, LA’s iconic neighbourhoods provide plenty of options. Beach lovers should stay in Venice or Santa Monica, film buffs can base themselves in Hollywood and if you want something a little more local, head to Silver Lake.
Culver City is also a great option for the World Cup, being only 15 minutes from SoFi stadium. There are restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques and even the Sony Pictures Studio Tour within walking distance, so it blends convenience with character. Hotels such as The Shay, The Culver Hotel and the Palihotel Culver City all offer distinctive stays without sacrificing location.
Three unmissable attractions
01
The Hollywood Sign
Los Angeles thrives on spectacle, so between matches you will have no shortage of iconic experiences. The Hollywood Sign draws travellers up into the hills by hiking trail, e-bike tour or horseback ride, offering a new angle on one of the world’s most recognisable landmarks.
02
Studio tours
Universal Studios Hollywood will give you a hit of nostalgia, thrills and film history. Meanwhile, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour will take you behind the scenes, into soundstages, onto backlots and occasionally past active filming.
03
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is the newest heavyweight in LA’s cultural world. Created by the same team behind the Oscars, it houses extraordinary collections and film artefacts rarely seen outside the industry.
Three must-try experiences
01
Venice Beach
To really soak up LA’s laid-back glamour, start with cocktails on a Hollywood rooftop – one of the city’s favourite pastimes. Venice Beach offers another quintessential LA moment: evening surfers riding the last waves of the day while palm trees sway in the background.
02
Immersive match at Cosm
For sports fans, watching a live match at Cosm is a revelation. The wrap-around immersive screen creates the illusion of being on the pitch, minus the travel, jet lag or the opposition fans.
03
LA’s shopping scene
LA’s neighbourhood shopping scene is also worth exploring. Larchmont, the Arts District and Venice are filled with independent boutiques, streetwear labels and design stores. And if you want to test the limits of endurance, book a workout at a celebrity-approved gym where you’ll discover impressive muscles you didn’t know existed… in other people.
Eat like a local
LA’s food landscape is a masterpiece of cultural fusion, creativity and drive-up convenience. The city’s taco trucks are legendary, offering impossibly good food from brightly coloured vans parked everywhere from neighbourhood corners to outside music venues.
Gjelina in Venice brings California flavour through thoughtful, seasonal dishes in a space that feels both refined and buzzy. Pizzeria Mozza, from celebrity chef Nancy Silverton, has earned a loyal following thanks to its pizza dough, toppings and atmosphere that draws both locals and off-duty actors.
And for a post-match fix during your Los Angeles World Cup travel, Pink’s Hot Dogs reigns supreme. Open until 2am on weekends, it has every topping known to humankind and enough LA character to keep fans entertained well after the final whistle.
Fan
Zone
Details of official fan zones will be revealed closer to the tournament, but the city already has a handy guide for watching matches.
Where to watch if you don’t have tickets
Given LA’s love for sports bars, rooftops and giant screens, expect a mix of open-air viewing parties, themed celebrations and neighbourhood gatherings that reflect the city’s diversity.
For anyone planning Los Angeles World Cup travel, these fan zones will be ideal alternatives to experiencing matchday energy outside SoFi Stadium.
The lingo
(the fun bit)
It’s a phrase that sounds vague until you realise almost everyone knows someone who works in the industry.
And if someone casually mentions they “work in the industry,” they’re almost certainly talking about film, TV or music.
Freeways are referred to with “the” in front—The 405, The 10, The 101 rather than the formal “I-405” you may see on maps.
An “Angeleno” is simply someone from Los Angeles – useful when asking where locals eat, drink or escape traffic.
Responsible travel tips
LA encourages sustainable travel during major events, so you should take the special game-day shuttles rather than contributing to vehicle congestion around SoFi Stadium. Packing lightly helps speed up entry and reduces the need for additional security checks.
Standard etiquette applies in most situations: be patient with queues, stay hydrated in the heat and treat service workers with kindness. LA may be massive, but small gestures go a long way.
Conclusion
Los Angeles is ready to deliver a World Cup experience filled with energy, entertainment and an unapologetically Californian twist. Between the beaches, rooftop views, studio tours and legendary food, you will find countless ways to fill your days before and after matches.
For anyone preparing their Los Angeles World Cup travel plans, the city offers world-class infrastructure, endless culture and enough late-night food options to fuel even the longest matchday celebrations.
Discover more of Los Angeles
Guide to World Cup
Cities
