Trung Nghia
Departing from Ho Chi Minh City, my first destination on my journey to the US for the 2026 World Cup was San Francisco, California – one of the leading cultural, financial, and technological centers on the West Coast of the United States. From there, fans can travel to Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, where the San Francisco Bay Area will host six matches of the tournament, including five group stage matches (Qatar – Switzerland, Austria – Jordan, Turkey – Paraguay, Jordan – Algeria, Paraguay – Australia) and one Round of 32 match.
Before kick-off at San Francisco Bay
Founded in 1776, San Francisco covers an area of 121 square kilometers, has a population of nearly 900,000, and a significant Vietnamese community. Each year, it welcomes over 23 million visitors. The local tourism industry hopes this summer's tournament will provide a positive boost after a difficult period.
The city is built on a unique hilly terrain, often shrouded in ethereal mist, easily captivating romantic travelers. I'm also eagerly awaiting the opportunity to see the Golden Gate Bridge again – one of the world's most famous tourist attractions. Only by seeing it in person can one understand why this orange-red bridge is an architectural icon and the number one destination for tourists visiting this coastal city.
You can take a cable car tour around the city center. The cable car system dates back to the 19th century and still operates today. The city also boasts peaceful, picturesque parks and many residential areas with diverse architecture. While waiting to watch the games, don't forget to visit San Francisco City Hall, inaugurated in 1915, Twin Peaks – a viewpoint offering panoramic city views, or Lombard Street, famous for its unique winding slope. When your stomach rumbles, you can visit the food court on Hayes Street, the seafood restaurants in Fisherman's Wharf, Little Italy, or the many Vietnamese pho restaurants in the city center if you're craving the taste of home.
A football festival in North America.
Summer is typically peak season for tourists visiting North America. With the 2026 World Cup taking place from June 11th to July 19th in 16 cities across three countries – the United States, Canada, and Mexico – fans will be immersed in a vibrant football atmosphere for over a month.
I'm eagerly anticipating returning to the cities I've visited and which are now part of this summer's football journey, such as Vancouver (Canada), San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and Philadelphia (USA). I'm also excited about the opportunity to visit Mexico City (Mexico) – the venue for the opening match between host nation Mexico and South Africa at the historic Mexico City Stadium, also known as the Azteca Stadium – which has witnessed the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals. I love the spirit of "Desire" – the song used at FIFA events, including the 2026 World Cup. Its melody and lyrics evoke a sense of aspiration, connection, and belief, very close to the emotions of football-related travel: overcoming geographical distances to experience the atmosphere of the sporting event. The dream of tourists visiting North America this summer is to witness the clashes of top teams, from the group stage to the dramatic knockout matches.
If the tournament brackets unfold favorably, the quarter-finals could present exciting scenarios such as France vs. Netherlands, Brazil vs. England, or especially Argentina vs. Portugal. The prospect of a clash between Argentina and Portugal is still enough to ignite the emotions of the biggest football event on the planet, as it could be one of the rare occasions where fans get to witness two superstars, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, together in this top-tier competition.
The 2026 World Cup is the largest in history and the first to feature 48 national teams, expected to attract record-breaking attendance. According to Opta's prediction model, Spain is the most likely winner with a 17% probability, followed by France (14.1%), England (11.8%), reigning world champions Argentina (8.7%), Germany (7.1%), Portugal (6.6%), Brazil (5.6%), and the Netherlands (5.2%). The evenly matched teams and the relatively small differences between the strongest contenders promise to create an exciting tournament.
As a true football fan, don't forget that the World Cup always has unexpected results and unpredictable shocks that ignite the emotions of fans. The "dark horse" contenders that could spring surprises in North America include Norway, Uruguay, Colombia, and Japan… This gives Vietnamese football fans even more reason to visit North America this summer, combining travel and exploration with top-tier football. With direct flights to San Francisco, Vietnam Airlines makes the journey even more convenient, especially for travelers looking to save time on a trip promising many exciting experiences. 
Trung Nghia is one of the most experienced Vietnamese journalists covering the FIFA World Cup, having covered seven consecutive tournaments from 2002 to 2026. He also covered the Women's World Cup in 2015 and 2023, and the 2024 Paris Olympics. He is the author of the book "The Road to the World Cup Sanctuary " (Youth Publishing House), recounting his journey covering the world's biggest sporting event.
Source: https://heritagevietnamairlines.com/bay-thang-den-san-francisco-xem-world-cup/
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