More details released for Downey’s World Cup 2026 fan zone

Top row, from left: Downey Parks and Recreation Director Jason Chacon, Mayor Pro Tem Horacio Ortiz, Assistant City Manager Vaniah De Rojas, Mayor Claudia M. Frometa and City Manager Roger Bradley. Bottom row, from left: Recreation Manager Monica Ortiz and Assistant to the City Manager Juddy Montenegro.

DOWNEY – City officials and World Cup organizers have released new details about Downey’s upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 fan zone, including featured matchups, entertainment plans and optional VIP packages for attendees.

As previously reported by the Patriot, Downey was selected earlier this year as one of 10 official Los Angeles World Cup 2026 fan zone sites that will host public viewing events and tournament celebrations throughout the region.

The Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host Committee on Monday unveiled additional information about each location as preparations ramp up for next summer’s tournament.

Downey’s fan zone is scheduled for June 20 and will feature broadcasts of two group-stage matches, Germany vs. Côte d’Ivoire and Tunisia vs. Japan. Organizers said the event will include an opening ceremony, a large viewing area, entertainment, a soccer exhibition, an art walk, interactive booths, food vendors and a beer garden.

Admission to the event will be free, though registration will be required to secure complimentary tickets because of limited capacity, according to promotional materials released by the city.

The City of Downey also recently announced optional VIP packages.

The packages are divided into three tiers. Package A, priced at $150, will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Package B, also priced at $150, will run from 4 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. An all-day option covering the full event schedule will cost $275.

Downey is one of several communities across Los Angeles County that will host official fan zones during the tournament’s 39-day run.

The Original Farmers Market will host a four-day fan festival June 18-21 featuring group-stage matches, including USA vs. Australia and Mexico vs. Korea Republic. The event will include soccer activity zones, beer gardens and food from the market’s eateries and specialty shops.

Union Station in downtown Los Angeles will host a multi-day fan zone June 25-28 featuring simultaneous match broadcasts, DJ performances, meet-and-greets and interactive activities.

Hansen Dam Lake will host a festival-style outdoor experience July 2-5 centered around Round of 32 and quarterfinal matches. Organizers said the event will feature live DJs, global food vendors, muralists, games and entertainment along a transformed lakefront setting.

Additional fan zones are planned at Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park, Whittier Narrows, Venice Beach, Fairplex, West Harbor and Downtown Burbank. The sites will collectively feature live entertainment, cultural programming, family activities, food vendors and public match screenings throughout the tournament.

Venice Beach and West Harbor will offer waterfront viewing experiences, while Fairplex plans to incorporate educational “science of soccer” exhibits and activities. Downtown Burbank’s event will coincide with the tournament’s final matches and include an adjacent international street fair.

“We are proud to bring the energy of the FIFA World Cup into communities across the Los Angeles region through the Official FIFA Fan Festival and the 10 Los Angeles World Cup 26 Fan Zones,” Kathryn Schloessman, president and CEO of the Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host Committee, said in a statement. “These events will create accessible, vibrant gathering places where fans can come together to celebrate the global game.”

The official FIFA Fan Festival in Los Angeles is scheduled for June 11-14 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum before fan zone events begin appearing throughout the county.

Los Angeles is expected to host eight World Cup matches at SoFi Stadium during the tournament. Organizers say the regional network of fan zones is designed to extend the World Cup atmosphere beyond the stadium and into local communities across Southern California.