ABOUT
Few cities match San Francisco for sheer beauty and intellectual energy. Perched on rolling hills above a stunning bay, it offers world-famous landmarks, extraordinary food, and a progressive, freethinking culture. The surrounding Bay Area is a hub of innovation, while Napa Valley and the Pacific coastline are on your doorstep.
San Francisco sits in the heart of the Bay Area, one of North America's most passionate football markets. Home to MLS founding club San Jose Earthquakes, the region blends Silicon Valley energy with a deep-rooted love of the game – all set against one of the world's most iconic city backdrops.
The Bay Area is a genuine football hotbed, and San Jose Earthquakes are one of MLS's most storied clubs, having won the league title in 2001 and 2003 under legendary coach Frank Yallop. Playing at PayPal Park in San Jose – a compact, purpose-built 18,000-seat stadium opened in 2008 – the Quakes deliver an authentic matchday atmosphere that big-stadium MLS sides often struggle to match.
San Francisco itself, just 45 miles north of the stadium, offers one of the world's great city experiences. From the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz to the Mission District's taquerias and Hayes Valley's cocktail bars, the city rewards exploration at every turn. The Bay Area's mild climate makes it a year-round destination, and the Caltrain connection between the city and the stadium makes match trips entirely manageable without a car.
San Francisco
Getting FIFA World Cup 2026 Tickets
Tickets and ticket prices have been much of the talk for the World Cup, so far. Because of the high prices for the World Cup, it means there are still tickets available for most games.
This is the biggest World Cup ever, with 48 teams and 104 matches through the tournament, running from 11th June to 19th July. Here's everything you need to know.
Official channels first.
The Last-Minute Sales Phase launched on 1st April and runs through until the end of the tournament. Unlike earlier lottery phases, tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis with instant confirmation. Your FIFA ID needs to be active and payment details saved in advance, as inventory for high-profile matches in cities like New York and Los Angeles sells out within minutes of being released. All purchases go through FIFA.com/tickets.
The official resale route.
The FIFA Resale/Exchange Marketplace reopened on April 2 and remains open until one hour before each match's kick-off. Availability can be very limited, with tickets appearing sporadically, so best advice is to check frequently and act quickly. All transactions and ticket transfers are handled by FIFA, keeping the tickets digital throughout. There is no limit on the mark-up on tickets, so prices can vary. However, with dynamic pricing, there's always a chance some tickets get cheaper nearer to the game.
Third-party resale — proceed with caution.
Platforms like StubHub, Viagogo, and SeatGeek operate legally in many markets but are not recognised by FIFA as valid resale channels. FIFA has made clear that tickets bought outside the official system may be invalid or cancelled. FIFA has placed no restrictions on resale pricing, which has caused significant controversy — particularly for the final, where prices are expected to be extremely high.
Levi's Stadium offers public and private tours of the home of the San Francisco 49ers, showcasing the team's locker room, field access, the 49ers Museum, and exclusive club spaces. Tours last approximately 90 minutes, typically operate on weekends, and offer behind-the-scenes views of the Santa Clara venue.
Details and tickets for all the tours can be found at: https://levisstadium.com/
Address: Levi's Stadium, 4900 Marie P DeBartolo Way, Santa Clara, CA 95054
Take the VTA light rail from Diridon Station (San Jose) or a direct rideshare from San Francisco.
Capacity: 68,500. WC matches: 6 group-stage fixtures, including Mexico's group stage.
FAN ZONE: Bay Area Fan Zones — San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland and beyond
The Bay Area is using a distributed model rather than one giant central FIFA Fan Festival. Free fan zones and watch parties are planned across the region, including San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, the Peninsula, East Bay, North Bay and Santa Cruz. This should work well for a spread-out host region where Levi’s Stadium is in Santa Clara, while many visiting fans will stay in San Francisco or San Jose.
Cost: The Bay Area Host Committee says the watch parties / fan zones are free and open to the public. Individual bars, venues or premium events may have their own costs.
Sitting right on the Embarcadero, Hotel Zephyr is an ideal San Francisco base. The playful nautical design makes it memorable. Walking distance from the Ferry Building and Pier 39.
A beautifully restored 1910 building on the corner of Geary and Taylor, The Marker puts guests within reach of Union Square, the cable car network, and Tenderloin and Hayes Valley.
Located in San Jose's upscale Santana Row shopping district, Hotel Valencia is a 15-min drive from the Levi's Stadium, and a 15-min walk to San Jose Earthquakes' home PayPal Park.
One of the city's best-value hostels, the Hi Downtown property is well-located near Market Street and offers private rooms alongside dorms, communal areas and regular free events.
MISSION BURRITOS, SOUGHDOUGH AND BAY AREA BRILLIANCE
San Francisco is one of America's great food cities, shaped by its Gold Rush immigrant history, its proximity to California's extraordinary produce and its progressive, innovation-driven food culture. The city essentially invented the California cuisine movement – fresh, local, seasonal ingredients treated simply – through pioneers like Alice Waters at Chez Panisse across the bay in Berkeley.
The Mission District is ground zero for San Francisco's Mexican food scene, which is widely considered among the best outside Mexico itself. The Mission-style burrito – a supersized flour tortilla wrapped around rice, beans, salsa and protein – was invented here and remains the neighbourhood's defining dish. Nearby Bernal Heights, the Castro and Hayes Valley add layers of modern restaurant culture.
Chinatown, the oldest in North America, offers excellent dim sum and Cantonese cooking at very reasonable prices. The Embarcadero's Ferry Building Marketplace hosts a renowned farmers' market every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, showcasing Bay Area producers at their finest. Sourdough bread, Dungeness crab and Ghirardelli chocolate are the city's three most iconic edible souvenirs.
One of San Francisco's most celebrated institutions. This tiny counter-service spot on Polk Street serves fresh and delicious seafood. Arrive before opening to beat the queue.
Widely regarded as serving the finest burrito in San Francisco, La Taqueria on Mission Street has been doing it the same way since 1973. Don't miss this gem. Takeaway is available.
Nopa is a San Francisco institution known for its wood-fired dishes, excellent cocktails and buzzy atmosphere. Book ahead or arrive early for bar seats.
Known for its grilled cheese, burgers, mac & cheese & fries, The Melt is a great option for anyone staying in Santa Clara or visiting the area before heading to the stadium.
HOME OF THE PISCO PUNCH
San Francisco's bar culture is as distinctive and diverse as the city itself. Cocktail bars in particular have reached extraordinary heights – the city has a long tradition of cocktail innovation, from the Pisco Punch of the Gold Rush era to the sophisticated craft programmes of modern Mission and Hayes Valley bars. Many San Francisco bartenders have become nationally recognised names in the cocktail world.
The craft beer scene is similarly strong, anchored by breweries like Anchor Brewing (whose Anchor Steam, a California common ale, has been brewed in the city since 1896), Magnolia, Cellarmaker and Fort Point. Bay Area IPAs – in particular, the hazy, fruit-forward West Coast IPA – have become a globally recognised style.
Wine from Napa and Sonoma is naturally ubiquitous and available at sensible prices throughout the city. Most wine bars and restaurants by the glass offer far better California wine than visitors expect at accessible price points. The city's cocktail culture tends toward seasonality and local ingredients, with vermouth, amaro and California spirits featuring prominently on menus across the Mission and lower Haight.
An authentic and fun Irish pub experience in the heart of North Beach that opens early every weekend for PL football. It features one of the best bar stages in San Fran.
This wonderfully atmospheric bar spread across two floors has been a landmark in North Beach since 1948. This is a San Francisco essential.
Located in the Mission, this bar attracts a mixed crowd of locals and in-the-know visitors. One of San Francisco's best-known bars, they reinvent their menu every six months.
Located in downtown San Jose's Historic District, on the iconic corner of South 1st St. and San Fernando, Rookies has over 35 TVs and classic sports bar bites to eat.
San Francisco is one of the world's most immediately recognisable cities – a hilly, fog-wrapped peninsula jutting into the Pacific, framed by the Golden Gate Bridge and the shimmer of the Bay. Despite being compact in size (just 7 miles by 7 miles), it packs in an extraordinary density of culture, cuisine, architecture and energy. The city's history of immigration, counterculture and technology has created a uniquely progressive, curious character that's immediately apparent to any visitor.
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The former federal prison on an island in the bay is one of America's most popular visitor attractions. The audio tour, narrated by former inmates and guards, brings it to life.
Walking or cycling the Golden Gate Bridge is one of the great free experiences in world travel. The views of the bay, Alcatraz, Marin Headlands, and the city should not be missed.
The heart of the city's Latino community is also its most visually dynamic neighbourhood. Clarion Alley and Balmy Alley are packed floor-to-ceiling with murals.
The Ferry Building on the Embarcadero hosts San Francisco's finest food market every Saturday, with Bay Area farmers, artisan cheesemakers, bakers and specialty coffee producers.