SF Bay Area Kicks Off FIFA World Cup 26™ “One Year to Go” Countdown with a Week of Celebrations
Mountain View, CA (May 29, 2025) – With just one year to go until the FIFA World Cup 26™ arrives in North America, the San Francisco Bay Area—one of 16 official Host Cities—is kicking off a weeklong celebration to mark the countdown to the world’s biggest sporting event.
From June 7 through June 15, the region will come alive with community events, marquee conversations, and matchday celebrations that honor the Bay Area’s vibrant soccer culture and diverse fanbase. Anchored by three major events and grassroots activations across local clubs, “One Year to Go” week will showcase the region’s readiness to welcome the world in 2026.
Marquee Events
Wed, June 11 – FIFA World Cup 26™ SF Bay Area One Year to Go Kickoff with the City of Santa Clara
The City of Santa Clara in partnership with the BAHC will mark this historic milestone with a special plaque dedication at the Santa Clara Youth Soccer Park. The ceremony will commemorate Santa Clara and Levi’s Stadium as an official host site of FIFA World Cup 26™. Immediately following, the City of Santa Clara will be offering a youth soccer clinic at the Youth Soccer Park.
Wed, June 11 – Sport x Business: The Landscape of Soccer in the Bay Area (Invite Only)
Later that evening, the BAHC in partnership with PNC Bank will bring together prominent leaders like Aly Wagner (Co-founder Bay FC), Brady Stewart (CEO of Bay FC) , Bruce Arena (Head Coach, SJ Earthquakes), Carlos Yustis (Sports Anchor, Telemundo 48), Eddie Lewis (Founder & President TOCA Football), Jared Shawlee (President, SJ Earthquakes), Megan Schoettmer (Regional President, PNC Bank), Paraag Marathe (President, 49ers Enterprises and Chairman, Leeds United Football Club), Zaileen Janmohamed (President, BAHC), and more from the Bay Area soccer landscape for a Speaker Series event. During this invite-only gathering, discussions will focus on insights and plans to help grow the sport of soccer in the Bay Area—from grassroots development to global impact.
Sat, June 14 – FIFA World Cup 26™ SF Bay Area Community Countdown
In collaboration with Creekside Social and Soul Focus Sports, the BAHC invites all Bay Area residents and soccer fans to a community celebration being held in downtown San Jose at The Lot at Creekside from 11am to 4pm. This free, family-friendly event will bring together opportunities to meet local legends, live entertainment, food, games, street soccer demos, and more. Register here.
Soccer Across the Bay
The Bay is already a hub for soccer with a growing number of professional, semi-professional teams and more than 200+ youth soccer clubs. The BAHC is proud to champion soccer across the region, furthering its mission to unite the Bay through sport.
Adding to the excitement of the One Year to Go countdown, the BAHC team will be on the ground at local matches throughout the week, including the following key matches:
June 7 – Oakland Roots & Oakland Soul Doubleheader, Oakland Arena
June 13 – Bay FC vs Orlando Pride, PayPal Park
June 14 – SF Glens Doubleheader, Treasure Island
June 15 – CONCACAF Gold Cup – USMNT vs Trinidad & Tobago, PayPal Park
Making Our Region Unique
SF Bay Area has been building excitement with a series of recent FIFA World Cup 26™ milestone announcements that are unique to the host city:
🎧 Sonic ID Debut – In collaboration with Bay Area music legend Dan the Automator, the Host Committee released an official Sonic ID that captures the energy and creativity of our region. Listen here →
🎨 Official Host City Poster – Local artist LeRoid David was selected to design the Bay Area’s official Host City poster, showcasing the area’s diverse identity through bold, layered visuals. Purchase the poster →
These events reflect the Bay Area’s deep soccer roots and growing momentum as we countdown the final 12 months to welcome the world in 2026. Fans, families, and future stars are all invited to join the celebration.
About the Bay Area Host Committee
The Bay Area Host Committee (BAHC) is the region’s first long-term sports entity, dedicated to uniting the Bay Area through sport by building pride, connecting communities, and reenergizing the region. As a nonprofit, BAHC partners with local teams, civic leaders, and businesses to bring world-class sporting events to the Bay Area—driving lasting economic, cultural, and social impact.
BAHC is proud to have Boston Consulting Group (BCG), EA SPORTS, Kaiser Permanente and other visionary organizations as founding partners, supporting its mission to bring communities together and create lasting legacies through world-class events and sports.
For more information, visit www.bayareahostcommittee.com or email us at contact info@bayareahostcommittee.com.