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San Francisco Bay Area 2026 World Cup Transport Guide
How to get to San Francisco for the 2026 World Cup, getting to San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, and traveling around the Bay Area during the tournament 🛫
✒️ By the worldcup-travel.com team | 📅 Updated 2 June 2025
Our San Francisco Bay Area transport guide will help you figure out how to get to San Francisco for the 2026 World Cup, and how to get around the city and the Bay Area – plus tips on how traveling fans can save money on their World Cup transport.
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 đź“© .
Explore more Bay Area 2026 World Cup travel tips:
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San Francisco Bay Area will hold its 2026 World Cup games at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi’s Stadium), located in Santa Clara, just west of San Jose and about an hour’s drive south of San Francisco.
Although the stadium has several public transportation options near it, including direct access to and from San Francisco, locals will attest to the fact that public transit is not super reliable. So, if you want to explore San Francisco and go to 2026 World Cup matches in Santa Clara, you’ll probably want to rent a car or stick to Uber.
Also, because Super Bowl LX will be hosted at the stadium in early 2026, we’re hoping the city and its surrounding areas will be well-prepped for World Cup 2026 travelers. And will always update you first thing as that information comes out if you’re on our email list.
San Francisco itself is pretty small and walkable – as long as you’re okay with some hills! Since the 2026 World Cup matches will be held in Santa Clara, it’s going to make more sense to stay closer to San Francisco Bay Area Stadium if you don’t want to rent a car. Stay tuned for more information on what the city of Santa Clara and the Bay Area are organizing for 2026 World Cup visitors.
Flying to San Francisco Bay Area for the 2026 World Cup
There are two main airports in San Francisco Bay Area to fly into the World Cup, but the closest airport to the stadium is San Jose International Airport (SJC). It’s only about five miles away from the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, but serves mostly domestic airlines (great for Southwest and Alaska Airlines flyers) and has fewer flights per day than San Francisco International Airport (SFO), the other main airport. Still, it’s a top choice to fly into San Francisco Bay Area for the 2026 World Cup if you’re looking to be there for the games and the games only.
👉🏼 Hot tip: SJC has non-stop flights to and from London Heathrow (a key hub for European fans heading to the tournament), and offers plenty of daily flights directly to 2026 World Cup host cities like Seattle and Los Angeles.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the second main option to fly into the San Francisco Bay Area for the World Cup. It is about 30 miles and approximately an hour’s drive with traffic, but it services hundreds more flights per day with lots of international and domestic options. There are more than 130 non-stop flights from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Oceania, and SFO is a major hub for United Airlines.
You could also fly into Oakland International Airport (OAK). It’s bigger than SJC and will offer a decent amount of international and domestic flights – especially for Southwest Airlines – but it’s still about an hour’s drive (32 miles) to the stadium.
San Jose International Airport (SJC) – a primary option for flying to San Francisco for the 2026 World Cup
âś… Close to the stadium
âś… Great for Southwest and Alaska Airlines domestic flights
âś… Easily connects flyers to host cities Seattle and LA
Tip: You can search for World Cup flights to San Francisco Bay Area from the boxes below, courtesy of Kiwi.com. Their tech finds flight itineraries that combine multiple airlines (they call it “Virtual Interlining”) with options that often aren’t available anywhere else. This can help streamline the booking process and increase savings.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) – a primary option for flying to San Francisco for the World Cup
âś… Major international hub
âś… Close to San Francisco and all The City has to offer
âś… Non-stop flights from European hub London Heathrow
Oakland International Airport (OAK) – a secondary option for flying to San Francisco for the 2026 World Cup
âś… Good for both international and domestic flights
âś… Less busy than SFO
âś… Major Southwest Airlines hub
2026 World Cup car rental in the Bay Area
Will fans need a car in San Francisco for the World Cup?
If you’re going to stay in San Jose or Santa Clara, and plan on mostly just attending the 2026 World Cup matches, then you will not need to rent a car. And even if you want to stay in San Francisco, it’s known for bad traffic, difficult parking, and lots of hilly one-way streets, so maybe renting a car isn’t super convenient there, either. Plus, Uber is readily available and the automated taxi service with Waymo is great.
However, it’s not the worst idea in the world to rent a car for the 2026 World Cup in San Francisco Bay Area, especially if you’re planning a World Cup road trip down to Los Angeles or exploring more of Northern California.
Expect higher prices for car rentals in the Bay Area during the 2026 World Cup
San Francisco and its environs are expensive to begin with, so, like many services tied to travel during the 2026 World Cup, car rental companies are going to up their prices. But you can book now with a reservation that allows for free cancellation and lock yourself into a better rate – some tips on how to do that below 👇🏽.
San Francisco Bay Area car rental companies & peer-to-peer rental options
SFO, OAK, and SJC all offer car rentals from the major rental companies, including National, Budget/Dollar, Enterprise, SIXT, and Avis.
At SFO, take the 24-hour, automated AirTran Blue Line to the car rental facilities.
At SJC, go to Terminal B and the car rental center is directly across Airport Boulevard via the crosswalks from baggage claim; and if arriving at Terminal A and for International Arrival passengers, take the Airport Shuttle Bus to the rental center.
At OAK, hop on the Rental Car Shuttle Bus from the “3rd Curb” at either Terminal 1 at 3A or Terminal 2 at 3D, which will take you to the car rental facilities about two miles away 24/7.
You can look for 2026 World Cup car rental options beyond Bay Area airports, which might be cheaper, but could cost you more for the transport to/from that location.
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 San Francisco Bay Area during the 2026 World Cup. There is also Zipcar, if you’re looking for a quick and affordable option for a shorter journey.
Tip: If you’re looking for car rentals in San Francisco Bay Area 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 is part of the same group as Skyscanner.com, and allows you to search car rental deals from all of the big companies — with free cancellation, no credit card fees, and often with extra discounts as an incentive.
Buses to the Bay Area for the 2026 World Cup
It’s unlikely that you’d be taking a bus to San Francisco Bay Area for the 2026 World Cup since the closest host city, Los Angeles, is about 350 miles away and the journey can sometimes take up to 11 hours. If you’re really looking to save some money, though, and have the time to spare, FlixBus and Greyhound regularly run this route starting at about $38. And hopefully you’ll luck out with the shorter journey time at seven hours!
Trains to the Bay Area for the 2026 World Cup
It’s also unlikely you’d want to take the train to San Francisco Bay Area for the 2026 World Cup since it will cost you at least double what a bus would and will take about 10 hours. Still, if you’re looking to catch a train, the primary connector of San Francisco and Los Angeles is Amtrak’s San Joaquins line. The Coast Starlight line is a more scenic option right along the coast, but takes even longer. A high-speed rail project has been in the works for ages, hoping to make the trip under three hours, but the end-date is still TBD.
Public transport in San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco’s public transportation via bus, light rail, streetcar, and cable cars is called Muni. The subway is the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit). Given SF’s notorious driving and parking challenges, it’s a convenient and fairly reliable way to get around The City. Though it’s pretty annoying that there are no day or week passes and each ride is calculated individually based on distance. You can purchase a Clipper card at any BART station or online with a one-time $3 fee for an adult.
Separate from the BART is the MuniMobile system, which has an unlimited day pass for only $5 (historic streetcars included).
In San Jose, the VTA (Valley Transportation Authority) is easy to use and quite clean compared to many of USA’s public transport options. Though, locals feel it’s slow and not integrated well with other modes of transportation, and it’s one of the least used light rail systems in the country.
Public transit to World Cup matches at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
If you’re staying in SF, you’re likely going to want to take an Uber to San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. However, if you’re staying in San Jose, you can hop on the VTA light rail from various locations around the city. It drops you off at the Great America Station, just a five-minute walk away. VTA buses drop off at Tasman Drive and Calle Del Sol, only a few steps from the stadium. From San Francisco, you can get the Caltrain or BART and then transfer to the VTA for the final leg of the journey, but that’s a long and unwieldy trip.
Read more on the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium website about public transportation options, or sign up to our email list to get the latest 2026 World Cup travel updates and deals directly to your inbox.
Using rideshare apps in San Francisco Bay Area
Uber and Lyft are widely available throughout SF, San Jose, and Santa Clara, especially on game days. But for a truly Silicon Valley-esque experience, take a driverless trip with Waymo. For about a four-mile trip, expect to pay around $20, but during peak times like on a Friday or Saturday night, the trip will be upwards of $35. Waymo also serves 2026 World Cup host city Los Angeles, and is expected to roll out in Atlanta and Miami, too – hopefully in time for the tournament! You know what to do to stay up to date on all 2026 World Cup transportation news: sign up to our email list!
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