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Los Angeles 2026 World Cup Transport Guide
How to get to LA for the 2026 World Cup, getting to Los Angeles Stadium, and traveling around the LA area during the tournament 🚘
✒️ By the worldcup-travel.com team | 📅 Updated 2 June 2025
Our Los Angeles transport guide will help you figure out how to get to Los Angeles for the 2026 World Cup, plus how to get around the city and its surrounding areas.
Note: All of the information below is current. However, specific transportation guidance will be announced between now and the 2026 World Cup. Sign up to our email list so you get the latest information and deals directly to your inbox 📩 .
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Los Angeles will hold its 2026 World Cup games at Los Angeles Stadium (a.k.a. SoFi Stadium), located in Inglewood, about four miles east of the airport and about a 15-minute drive, without traffic, from LAX.
Los Angeles has always been known for less-than efficient public transportation and massive urban sprawl - two things that make getting around the city difficult. Cars are king in LA, and you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn’t own one. Whenever we are in LA, we rent a car and suffer the costs. Even then, we end up occasionally using Uber and Lyft, especially when hitting up LA’s iconic nightlife.
Los Angeles, as a whole, is not walkable, but individual neighborhoods - of which there are more than 500 - can easily be explored on foot. Beware: Parking can be expensive and street parking can be a conundrum. You have to read the parking signs - All of them. Top to bottom - to make sure you won’t get a parking ticket, or worse, be towed. Rest assured that every neighborhood has parking restrictions. Look to see if there are any parking garages around, because at least that way you will know your car will be safe. Even then, read the signs for the parking garage to make sure you understand how much you will be paying upon exiting (and whether they will expect cash.)
While there will be lots more information coming out about the 2026 World Cup, the city of Los Angeles has already pushed forward with plans to unveil the train connection that connects the airport to the city’s brand new LAX metro stop. Believe us, it has been a long time coming.
Flying to Los Angeles for the 2026 World Cup
There are two main airports for traveling to the 2026 World Cup in Los Angeles, but the closest one to the stadium is LAX. It is the world’s seventh busiest airport for takeoffs and landings, so get ready for a rush. We have had to wait more than 45 minutes at the baggage carousel, and the fun doesn’t even begin until you make your way outside.
The other main airport is Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR), which is located about an hour away from Los Angeles Stadium (which, to be fair, is a fairly standard driving time in Los Angeles). BUR only serves domestic flights, but could be a great option for 2026 World Cup travelers catching a non-stop flight to/from other host cities, like New York New Jersey, Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, Dallas, and Houston.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – the primary option for flying to Los Angeles for the 2026 World Cup
✅ Close to the stadium
✅ Serves all major international airlines
✅ Should easily connect to public transport once LAX/Metro updates are completed
You can search for World Cup flights to Los Angeles from the box below, courtesy of Kiwi.com. Their tech finds flight itineraries that combine multiple airlines. They call it “Virtual Interlining,” and it includes options that aren’t often available through other travel sites. This can help streamline the booking process and increase savings.
Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR) – a secondary option for flying to Los Angeles for the 2026 World Cup
✅ Domestic flights only (including Canada)
✅ Smaller and easier to handle than LAX
✅ Non-stop flights to many other 2026 World Cup host cities
2026 World Cup car rental in Los Angeles
Will fans need a car in Los Angeles for the World Cup?
Short answer: Yes. We highly recommend renting a car for the 2026 World Cup in Los Angeles. The city is spread out and notoriously difficult to get around via public transportation. We wish it was different, and maybe those much-needed repairs to the Metro system will improve bus and light rail service. For now, though, we recommend reserving your car ASAP. Choose a flexible cancellation policy so that, when the time comes, you can make whatever changes need to be made without the risk of penalty (more tips on that below). This will also help you avoid 2026 World Cup price surges.
Also, if you plan on road tripping to other USA host cities like San Francisco, you’ll definitely need a car.
Los Angeles car rental companies & peer-to-peer rental options
LAX offers most of the major car rental companies including National, Budget, Dollar, Fox, Enterprise, Hertz, and Avis. They’ve even got ZipCar. Head to the purple “Rental Car Shuttles” signs outside baggage claim on the arrivals level. Once you’re at the pick-up area, a bus will take you to the off-site car rental facility, just a stone’s throw from the airport itself.
You can also look for 2026 World Cup car rental options beyond LAX, but the best deals tend to be at the main airport.
In addition to the big car rental companies, there are also peer-to-peer car rental options like Turo, where you rent a person’s car rather than a car from a company. This option might offer increased inventory for car rentals in and around Los Angeles during the 2026 World Cup.
If you’re looking for a quick and affordable options for shorter journeys, look into ZipCar.
Tip: If you’re looking for car rentals in LA for the 2026 World Cup, we recommend Qeeq.com, where you will always pay the lowest price.
Qeeq’s Price Drop Protector 📉 tracks prices daily, and if the rental price drops after you book, Qeeq rebooks at the lower price and saves you the difference. They offer free cancellation, no credit card fees, and you can even pay with crypto if that’s your vibe.
Alternatively, Trip.com (part of the same group as Skyscanner.com) allows you to search car rental deals (i.e., free cancellation, zero credit card fees, added discounts) from all of the big companies.
Buses to LA for the 2026 World Cup
It is unlikely that you will take a bus to Los Angeles for the 2026 World Cup, since the closest host city, San Francisco Bay Area, is about 350 miles away. That is an 11-hour bus ride. But if you’re looking to save some money and you’ve got some flexibility in your schedule, look into FlixBus or Greyhound, which both offer regular service along the route with tickets starting at $38, one-way.
Trains to Los Angeles for the 2026 World Cup
It’s also unlikely that you will want to take a train to Los Angeles for the 2026 World Cup, since the fare will likely be double that of a bus and it will still take around the same amount of time to reach San Francisco.
However, if you’re set on riding the rails between Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay, there are a few options. You can hop on Amtrak's San Joaquin line, which connects riders from San Francisco Bay to Bakersfield, California. From there, riders can transfer to Amtrak’s Thruway buses, which provide service to several Southern California destinations. Additionally, you can ride the Coast Starlight line, Amtrak’s scenic route from Los Angeles to Seattle, Washington, which takes longer than the San Joaquin line, but the coastal view is fantastic.
Amtrak’s main depot, located at Union Station in Downtown LA, is only 12.5 miles from Los Angeles Stadium by car. If you opt for the Metro bus, you will likely need to make two transfers along the route. Not exactly convenient.
Public transport in LA
Owned and operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACTMA), LA’s Metro system offers several commuting options, like city buses, light rails, and a subway, which all provide access to a handful of tourist hot-spots. Still, believe us when we say, LA’s public transportation is full-day adventure. The subway, for example, only consists of six lines, so riders are limited in their choice of destinations. One local even described the city’s subway system as having a “dark and eerie vibe.”
Buses are a lot more accessible, and it only costs you $1.75 to ride. Due to traffic in the city, they often run behind schedule, and it can be difficult navigating bus transfers across the city. LACTMA has promised it is making efforts to increase usability and connectivity, so keep your fingers crossed. We’ll stay on top of any updates leading up to the 2026 World Cup games so you have all the info you need.
No matter where you’re staying in LA for the 2026 World Cup, you’ll most likely have to use a rideshare service or rent a car to get to Los Angeles Stadium. We’re keeping our ears close to the ground for more news on LA public transportation updates, so sign up for the worldcup-travel.com email list to get the latest travel info and deals sent directly to your inbox.
Using rideshare apps in LA
Uber and Lyft are widely available throughout LA. Waymo, the automated and driverless taxi service, is also available around the city, but not for pick-up or drop-off at LAX.
Waymo also serves fellow host city, San Francisco Bay Area, and the company expects to roll out service in Atlanta and Miami soon, hopefully in time for the tournament. To stay up to date on all World Cup transportation news, make sure to sign up to our email list.
