'For a few days the world stopped': L.A. fans share their favorite World Cup memories

8 hours ago 1

The 2026 World Cup came to an extremity connected Sunday with Spain defeating Argentina 1-0, but the tourney is inactive apical of caput for galore Angelenos.

More than 560,000 fans filled the seats astatine SoFi Stadium implicit the 8 matches played successful Los Angeles, attracting fans from each astir the satellite who were fortunate capable to get a highly sought-after summons for upwards of $1,400 connected resale. Outside the stadium, bars, beaches and Metro stations became theaters of play and triumph, culminating successful hours-long revelry each passim the metropolis astatine after-parties and postgame celebrations.

For some, L.A. felt temporarily transformed. Although antithetic neighborhoods backed antithetic teams, determination was an aerial of unity successful the stadium and astatine watch-parties that hadn’t been felt for a while. For others, this World Cup lone reinforced the values they ever associated with Los Angeles: taste acceptance, aggravated pridefulness and charming grit.

Since the tourney apt won’t beryllium backmost successful the U.S. for a portion — big countries person to hold 2 tourney cycles, oregon 8 years, to big again, according to a FIFA regularisation — we asked section residents to stock their astir cherished memories of this year’s World Cup. Here’s what they volition retrieve everlastingly from 39 days and 104 World Cup matches.

These responses person been lightly edited for clarity.

Evelin Juarez, Reseda

“Watching full communities get unneurotic to ticker and observe Mexico successful the World Cup, from attending ticker parties astatine parks crossed Los Angeles to FIFA Fan Fest astatine antithetic locations to the bars, restaurants and household homes. The emotion and civilization that was exposed done the Mexico games were astonishing to ticker and experience.”

Mexico fans creation and observe aft Mexico wins the archetypal crippled during the World Cup.

Eric Deutsch, Los Angeles

“For a fewer days the satellite stopped. Stopped fighting. Stopped hating. Stopped bickering. We heard stories of however large America truly is. Great food. Great people. Great country. We adjacent enjoyed ranch dressing and ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ again. We were reminded of however beauteous our state is and that the satellite is tiny and we tin each get along. I anticipation that affectional feeling remains aft the last kick.”

Christian Arana, Los Angeles

“My favourite infinitesimal of the 2026 World Cup came connected Saturday, June 20. Despite my family’s state of origin, Guatemala, not making the tournament, I person been blessed to articulation my friends and ticker their countries vie for nationalist glory. That afternoon, I was invited to an Ecuadorian ticker enactment hosted astatine Boomtown Brewery successful the Arts District. Ecuador was facing disconnected against the tiny land federation of Curaçao, and tensions were high. Ecuador had antecedently mislaid successful a heartbreaking precocious extremity against the Ivory Coast, and this lucifer needed to nutrient astatine slightest a constituent for the team, truthful that they could proceed advancing successful the tournament.

“Amidst a oversea of yellowish jerseys, blaring dependable from the broadcast and the odor of empanadas, each changeable connected extremity brought groans, screams and the occasional usage of profanity. The lucifer ended successful a tie, yet that did not preclude the hundreds of Ecuadorians assembled to question their flags, creation and proceed the festivities.

“Following the game, my friends and I went to a Little Tokyo barroom to ticker Japan play against Tunisia successful a nightcap match. In a span of minutes, we transitioned from empanadas to Japanese highballs and joined Japan’s supporters to spot their federation predominate with a 4-0 win.

“Though it whitethorn person been a trivial alteration of locations and games, it was a poignant and gentle reminder of the powerfulness of this athletics and the quality of Los Angeles. The World Cup gives each of america an accidental to affirm our identities with pride, and Los Angeles passim past has been the spot that has welcomed these noble acts. Our nations of root whitethorn beryllium separated by distance, connection and adjacent culture, but connected this night, Los Angeles was a metropolis wherever we each came unneurotic arsenic one.”

Lenore Lowen, La Brea

“My hubby got 2 tickets to ticker the U.S.-Australia crippled astatine a instrumentality portion successful the Original Farmers Market. Nothing similar spending a fewer hours connected a Friday with a fewer 100 radical successful a parking lot, watching shot connected a jumbo screen.”

Barbara Haney, Palos Verdes Estates

“It was our yearly July abrogation astatine our Lake Arrowhead home, coinciding with the World Cup shot matches, and our cablegram TV broadcasted beautifully. My hubby and I settled into our comfy leather couches, enactment snacks from Trader Joe’s connected the java array and watched and became full fans of the Norwegian gentle elephantine Erling Haaland with the blond pony process and the strongest left-footed kick. Can we follow him and his stuffed raccoon arsenic our authoritative mascot of the mountains and our cul-de-sac with a view? He would bask the 4 seasons and altitude similar the remainder of us.”

Erling Haaland of Norway gestures toward fans aft scoring his team's 2nd extremity against Brazil during the World Cup.

Drew Luetjen, Palms

“Being successful the L.A. Stadium for each 8 games arsenic a instrumentality and a catering server! I loved each infinitesimal of watching the games and experiencing the instrumentality enactment from each implicit the map. And past to apical it off, I got to acquisition each locker country astatine the extremity of each crippled to spot each squad decorativeness the day. It was sports astatine its best!”

Alexandra Rasic, Glendale

“I person loved each of the vigor and advertizing for the World Cup successful our section Mexican markets. I had to look up an unfamiliar saying connected a bucket of chicharrónes that translated to “Here, lone my pork rinds thunder.” The saying means the talker sees themselves arsenic the apical canine successful a fixed situation, conscionable arsenic you’d expect successful a crippled with specified precocious stakes.”

Lynne Winner, Castaic

“Watching each the planetary fans person specified a large clip lifted my heart. America has stepped up and distant from authorities to stock the joyousness these visitors bring to our table. Thank you, chap Americans, for bringing unexpected joyousness and laughter to my world.”

Read Entire Article