Los Angeles unveils soccer fan festival and community events for FIFA World Cup

VIDEO SHOWS: PRESS CONFERENCE HELD BY THE LOS ANGELES WORLD CUP 2026 HOST COMMITTEE, ANNOUNCING COMMUNITY AND FAN EVENTS SHOWS: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 28, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all) 1. VARIOUS OF LOS ANGELES MAYOR KAREN BASS AND INGLEWOOD MAYOR JAMES BUTTS HOLDING SOCCER BALLS WITH MEMBERS OF THE WORLD CUP 2026 HOST COMMITTEE 2. KATHRYN SCHLOESSMAN,  CEO OF LOS ANGELES WORLD CUP 2026 HOST COMMITTEE, WALKING ON TO STAGE 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) KATHRYN SCHLOESSMAN,  CEO OF LOS ANGELES WORLD CUP 2026 HOST COMMITTEE, SAYING:  "We are excited to roll out plans for the FIFA Fan Festival and our official World Cup fan zones that will take place across the region, giving tens of thousands of residents and visitors the opportunity to experience the excitement of World Cup right in their own neighborhoods." 4. SCHLOESSMAN SPEAKING AT PODIUM 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) KATHRYN SCHLOESSMAN,  CEO OF LOS ANGELES WORLD CUP 2026 HOST COMMITTEE, SAYING:  "Attendees will come together to watch matches on the big screens, enjoy live concerts by leading artists, experience interactive entertainment, cultural programming and food that reflects L.A.'s global diversity. For the first five days of the World Cup, the fan festival will be the heart of the World Cup experience for many people in L.A., and we look forward to welcoming fans of all ages for an unforgettable celebration." 6. AUDIENCE WATCHING AS SCHLOESSMAN FINISHES SPEECH AND WALKS OFF STAGE 7. BASS WALKING ON TO STAGE 8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) KAREN BASS, MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES, SAYING:   "We're all coming together to bring together our communities and to celebrate the sport of soccer. It's my goal that when the world comes to Los Angeles, they will see the best of our city. Not just the stadium, but they will see the culture, the history, and the art embedded into the Coliseum and Exposition Park." 9. BASS AT PODIUM 10. ROSS MCCALL, FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS, WALKING ON TO STAGE 11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROSS MCCALL, FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS, SAYING:  "Nearly seven million fans will have the opportunity to attend matches here, but fans will travel from every corner of the globe to share in the thrill of the game and to be a part of something that will unite the world through this sport. Los Angeles will be at the cornerstone of that experience." 12. FORMER SOCCER PLAYERS (L-R) JULIE FOUDY, MIA HAMM AND COBI JONES STANDING ON STAGE 13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MIA HAMM, FORMER PROFESSIONAL SOCCER PLAYER, SAYING:  "Being here in L.A., being part of this World Cup host committee, ambassadorship. You know, I had the honor of not just watching Cobi (Jones, former soccer player), but the thrill of playing a World Cup final in the Rose Bowl in 1999. There is no experience like it. Having played my last game here in L.A. with the women's national team and lived here for over 20 years, I couldn't be more proud to serve as a community ambassador for this year's World Cup." 14. VARIOUS OF SOCCER BALL AND WORLD CUP SIGNS AT NEWS CONFERENCE STORY: The Los Angeles host committee for the upcoming soccer World Cup unveiled a slate of community and fan engagement initiatives on Wednesday (January 28), designed to bring the global tournament’s excitement to neighborhoods across the city.  Organizers said a FIFA Fan Festival will transform the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum into a five-day celebration of soccer, culture, and music from June 11–15. A series of Fan Zones at destinations such as Union Station, Venice Beach, and Magic Johnson Park will offer live match broadcasts as well as food, music, and family-friendly activities, they said.  "We're all coming together to bring together our communities and to celebrate the sport of soccer," Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass told a news conference. "It's my goal that when the world comes to Los Angeles, they will see the best of our city. Not just the stadium, but they will see the culture, the history, and the art embedded into the Coliseum and Exposition Park." Los Angeles will host eight matches during the FIFA World Cup 2026, including the U.S. Men’s National Team’s opening game at SoFi Stadium on June 12. The city previously hosted the 1994 World Cup final at the Rose Bowl. (Production: Sandra Stojanovic, Jane Ross)

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