San Diego isn't a 2026 FIFA World Cup host city, but local soccer fans can still get in on the action next month with international matches and massive watch parties.

The big picture: San Diego will host two international friendlies at Snapdragon Stadium ahead of the tournament — Switzerland vs. Australia on June 6 and Colombia vs. Jordan on June 7.

• Tickets start at $85 in seats with prime goal-scoring views.
• Two national teams are preparing for the tournament in San Diego and will be based here for their group stage games. Switzerland is training at San Diego Jewish Academy and New Zealand chose the University of San Diego.

These World Cup tie-ins come as San Diego continues to build its reputation as a soccer destination by embracing the cultural moment and tapping into the world's largest and most watched sporting event.

• The World Cup runs June 11–July 19 in 16 cities across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

🎉 Meanwhile, San Diego FC is fueling the fun by turning Fit Social at Belmont Park in Mission Beach into a soccer fan zone with live viewings of all 104 World Cup matches.

• The free and family-friendly party will have big screens, live music, food and drinks, giveaways, SDFC player appearances and special merch.
• The fun kicks off Thursday, June 11.

⚽ The SDFC celebration extends to Chula Vista and Little Italy with watch parties for Team USA and Mexico games.

• June 12: Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center and Little Italy's Piazza della Famiglia
• June 18: Third Avenue and Memorial Park in downtown Chula Vista

🍻 Local sports bars go all in for World Cup games. Check out these soccer fan hubs:

• Shakespeare Pub in Mission Hills
• Fairplay and Bluefoot in North Park
• Tom's Watch Bar in Gaslamp
• Princess Pub in Little Italy
• Novo Brazil Brewing in Mission Valley
• PRK 101 in Carlsbad Village

🏟️ Frontwave Arena in Oceanside is also planning World Cup watch party events.

What we're watching: The success of these events and LA28 Olympic soccer matches at Snapdragon could boost San Diego's bid to host the 2031 Women's World Cup.

Share this story

As expected, no San Diego FC players made the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team World Cup roster announced yesterday.

Yes, but: Two local stars will be competing for other countries on the global stage when the tournament kicks off.

🇵🇦 Zoom in: SDFC midfielder Aníbal Godoy is leading Panama's squad as captain in his and the team's second World Cup appearance. Panama has proved in recent performances it's one of the top teams in North and Central America and the Caribbean.

• 🇨🇻 SDFC goalkeeper CJ dos Santos made the roster for Cape Verde, which is one of four countries making their World Cup debut. He's represented the U.S. at the youth-level, but switched to Cape Verde's team this spring.

Other SDFC players like Anders Dreyer (Denmark) and Onni Valakari (Finland) play for their national teams, but those countries didn't qualify for the tournament.

• Chucky Lozano was left off Mexico's provisional World Cup roster, and 17-year-old forward Anisse Saidi didn't make the final cut for Tunisia.

When they play

🚭 Chula Vista is looking into tightening rules on tobacco retailers by limiting where and how many shops can sell nicotine products. (inewsource)

🏡 San Diego home values are rising slower than inflation, which means new homeowners aren't seeing big equity gains while limited supply is still pushing prices up. (Union-Tribune)

🤝 The San Diego Food Bank is providing 5,000 emergency food boxes per week to Orange County residents forced to evacuate during the recent chemical tank emergency. (City News Service)

🦜 Lemon Grove residents will vote on banning the sale of commercially bred birds, extending the city's rescue-only rule that already restricts pet sales of dogs, cats and rabbits. (UT)

Americans are spending more time at home, yet many have become strangers to their neighbors — especially young Americans, who are increasingly unlikely to socialize with those living feet away.

Why it matters: Without casual conversations with neighbors — who are often from other races, or have different religions and political ideologies — people risk becoming more isolated and more dependent on superficial, algorithm-driven digital communities.

By the numbers: In 2012, 51% of young Americans regularly engaged with neighbors, according to a new AEI report. Today, that number has plummeted to 25%.

• By contrast, 56% of seniors socialize with neighbors, a seven-point drop since 2012.
• More broadly, 59% of Americans chatted with neighbors a few times per week in 2012. In 2025, that number is 41%.

💭 Our thought bubble: Connecting with neighbors and making new friends in San Diego can be a struggle, and social run clubs aren't for everyone.

• Claire's family went old school on Monday and brought their new neighbors a plate of cookies. It was terrifying, but they got through it.

📬 Tell us: How do you get to know your neighbors in San Diego? Hit reply and give us your best advice for bridging the divide.

Blame technology