World Cup 2026 fever meets California cool on Venice Beach boardwalk

There is also a skate park and plenty of basketball courts, where people mill around in animated discussion, like you would expect. Most of the tennis courts have been turned into pickleball venues, reflecting a push towards the latter sport across the United States, but there are still some enclosed tennis practice venues. There’s palm trees, large swathes of white sand and the lifeguard towers made famous by Baywatch, which was filmed further up the coast.

There is also a collection of weird and wonderful shops, as well as plenty of tourist outlets, in what is regarded as one of the biggest visitor attractions in southern California.

And there is no shortage of food options, including the “chimney dog” and voodoo donuts. It’s a place to see and be seen, as one local put it: “People aren’t here to be shy; they are here to show off”.

But we stopped by to get a gauge on the World Cup – what did the locals - and tourists - think of the tournament?

It was mixed. Most were happy the tournament was on, some were indifferent and others lamented the crowds around their neighbourhood.

But the best reaction came from a Mexican chef in the Amigos Birria Tacos restaurant, when asked how he felt about the United States, Canada and Mexico co- hosting the tournament.

“It’s great, three nations coming together to celebrate soccer, the greatest sport in the world,” he said. “But being here in Los Angeles doesn’t compare to Mexico though. Everybody’s partying in Mexico.”

Michael Burgess has been a sports journalist for the New Zealand Herald since 2005, covering the Olympics, Fifa World Cups, and America’s Cup campaigns. He is a co-host of the Big League podcast.

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