By Ricky Richardson | Contributing Writer
Los Angeles — It’s a wrap, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. The first weekend of the FIFA World Cup 2026 is one for the records/history books. Hundreds of thousands of soccer fans, foodies, and cultural connoisseurs descended on the iconic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at Exposition Park for the FIFA World Cup Fan Festival, June 11-14, 2026.
It was a sight to see as the inside of the historic Coliseum was transformed into the largest FIFA World Cup Celebration in Los Angeles—bringing together fans from across the region and around the world to experience live match broadcasts, musical performances, immersive fan activations, international food offerings, and the unmatched energy of the FIFA World Cup atmosphere.
Soccer fans lined up several hours before the gates opened. The lively group was dressed in jerseys of Mexico, t-shirts, jewelry, the Mexican flag, other accessories, and memorabilia. All 40,000 tickets for the FIFA Fan Festival 2026 were sold in advance.
The Plaza of the Coliseum housed the LAFC, Bank of America, and Kaiser Activation stations. Fans were able to participate in soccer theme activation or received soccer theme keepsake swag.
The energy level on the field was palpable. The activation stations on the field engaged a steady flow of visitors to their respective booths. The activations on the field were Metro, LA Galaxy, Telemundo, Archer, Amgen, Fanatics, DoorDash, KIA, Hyundai, and Coca-Cola. Discover Los Angeles had several beautiful artwork stations on the plaza for selfies.
The previously mentioned 40,000 fans were spread out on the field, in the seating area, as well as people gathered on the Plaza. Everyone was onsite for the same thing: to enjoy some great music, soccer-centric, family-friendly activities, and international flavors served up by a smorgasbord of food vendors.
On the Main Stage, DJ Mando Fresko was on the ones, and twos was tasked with firing up the crowd with an eclectic soundtrack of global tracks.
Next up were Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles. The group took the crowd and me on a musical journey through several regions of Mexico during their time in the spotlight.
The stage was set for East LA icons Los Lobos for their hour-long set. “It’s an honor and a privilege to be playing as part of the FIFA World Cup festivities in Los Angeles,” said Steve Berlin, of Los Lobos, in a statement. “We’re happy to join with all of Los Angeles to present the best of what this city has to offer to all our guests, and we look forward to enjoying the games with everyone.”
Los Lobos delved into their catalog of classic hits to entertain the captivated crowd. Their set consisted of “Come On, Let’s Go” (the title of this song would be a great FIFA World Cup Anthem). The band continued with Mas Y Mas,” “Chuchos Cumbia,” and “Volver Volver.” This selection by Vicente Fernandez resonated with the crowd and the fans. Other selections performed were “Will the Wolf Survive,” “Evangeline,” “Flattop Joint” (by The Blazers), and the popular track “La Bamba/Good Lovin.’
All eyes shifted to the big screens for the start of the match, Mexico vs. South Africa, broadcast live from Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, in front of 80,000 fans.
It didn’t take long before Mexico got on the scoreboard. Julian Quiñones scored the first goal for Mexico with ten minutes of the match. The goal sent a surge of energy throughout the Coliseum. Mexico extended its aggressive strategy in the second half. Raùl Jiménez sealed the deal for the first opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
DJ Deorro performed at the official FIFA Fan Festival, after the match, in what could be viewed as a victory party for the gathering of fans. The Coliseum grounds were electrifying as Deorro riled up the crowd with a mix of electronic music fused with World Cup spirit throughout the festivities. Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand’s surprise appearance on stage with Deorro received a thunderous welcome.
The FIFA Fan Festival 2026 concluded with a set by DJ Madds, who built on the massive World Cup energy fans were experiencing throughout the Coliseum.
The four-day FIFA Fan Festival 2026 continued each day with large crowds of soccer fans to watch FIFA World Cup matches and to party hearty with DJ sets and live cultural performances for lifelong memorable experiences.
World Cup fever continues until July 19th. I’m sure that you are ready to get caught up in the various watch parties or viewings around town to feel the excitement of the moment. You are guaranteed to feel the adrenaline-fueled atmosphere amongst other fans at FIFA World Cup Fan Zones (community watch parties and fan events) as the incredible matches of FIFA World Cup 2026 hit the fields for the next thirty days.
The Los Angeles World Cup Host Committee was established to deliver a premier FIFA World Cup experience and drive lasting social, cultural, and economic impact for the region. The Los Angeles World Cup Host Committee serves as the liaison between FIFA and the Los Angeles region to harness opportunities surrounding the tournament to elevate our community. The Host Committee is co-chaired by LAFC Co-President Larry Freeman and former U.S. Men’s National Team Player Chris Klein and is led by the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission (LASEC). It also includes the Los Angeles Rams, SoFi Stadium, Hollywood Park, Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), and LA Galaxy. For more information, visit https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__losangelesfwc26.com&d=DwIF-g&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=H87LzY2vqthYlOFokKtR2g&m=P0g8uxOyPXSAlfy3q62S1inCoFvueeSEGQD02aM2bHF40wph4WRSS7s05PuFHprE&s=sENL7tOiiPfdd-vII7GQZdj2TXEH4I1PkDbwDm-tvxU&e=.