World Cup knockout round hits the Bay Area. Here's what to know
The FIFA World Cup knockout round arrives at Levi’s Stadium on July 1, with Team USA facing Bosnia and Herzegovina at 5 p.m. Fans heading to Santa Clara should plan ahead for parking, traffic and transit to avoid game-day headaches.
FULL STORY: FIFA World Cup fever hits Northern CA. Here’s what to know about parking, travel
Here are key takeaways:
- The U.S. takes on Bosnia and Herzegovina at 5 p.m. July 1 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, which is being called the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium for the tournament. The venue is hosting matches during the largest FIFA World Cup in history, running June 11 through July 19 across North America.
- Plan your trip on Google Maps, Apple Maps or another app before you set out to find the least congested or fastest routes. Be aware that there will be more people on the road on game day than normal, and give yourself plenty of time to arrive before the match.
- Official stadium parking is divided into five color-coded categories. Red lots sit closest to the stadium but fill early, blue lots allow tailgating in designated areas, green lots offer good flow via Great America Parkway, yellow lots are VIP and premium, and pink lots at nearby Mission College serve as overflow and tailgating space.
- Arrive two to three hours before kickoff to avoid heavy delays, and buy parking passes early since day-of credit card lots are limited and more expensive. Lots typically open three to four hours before the event, and attendants direct drivers to the next available spot.
- VTA light rail stops directly in front of the stadium at the Great America Station. Dibs Parking called it one of the easiest ways to arrive and avoid the worst of game-day road traffic.
- Uber and Lyft riders will be dropped off at bus stop areas south of Great America Parkway, with pickup in Red Lot 7. Dibs Parking warned that “rideshare can help avoid parking congestion, but surge pricing and wait times after large crowds exit can be significant, especially at night.”
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.
This story was originally published June 29, 2026 at 7:00 AM.