San Jose recorded 1 million total downtown visits during the six-week FIFA World Cup, officials announced Friday — a final count over 2 ½ times initial projections — driven by energetic watch parties and strong fan culture in the city.
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The Bay Area’s soccer capital drew 14,000 fans to San Pedro Square for the July 19 final matchup. The narrow pedestrian strip of restaurants and cafes served as the hub for the city’s six-week fan activities, hosted in partnership with Major League Soccer’s San Jose Earthquakes.
“A million fans, families, and visitors have now experienced our vision for a downtown – and a broader sports and entertainment district – that serves as a destination for the entire region,” said Mayor Matt Mahan. “Over six weeks, San Pedro Square showed what is possible when we bring people together around world-class events: packed sidewalks, thriving small businesses and an energy that could be felt across our city.”
While downtown has struggled to recover from the pandemic, seeing high vacancies and thinned office crowds, Mahan said the fanfare created an opportunity for the city “to build on it” and that the momentum is “just beginning.” Business owners agreed, and told this news organization recently the games brought consistent foot traffic and sales they hadn’t seen since before the pandemic.
According to city attendance data, the highest-attended matches included Mexico-Ecuador on June 30, which drew an estimated 37,200 fans; USA-Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1, which drew 20,000; and Mexico-England on July 5, which brought nearly 40,000 people downtown.
However, the crowds also created public safety challenges outside official viewing zones.
At least two people were stabbed nearby hours after the June 30 match ended. Police twice declared unlawful assemblies, including late July 5 when a crowd began throwing bottles at officers, followed by reports of a shooting early the next morning.
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Mahan previously told this news organization he attributed the disorder to the sheer scale and frequency of hosting events across 39 days, while maintaining that downtown remained safe overall.
“Unfortunately, there’s a very, very small fraction of a percent of people who choose to make bad choices … but I think that happens in every city,” Mahan said, noting that many of the incidents occurred away from official fan zones after matches had ended.
The record crowds forced leaders to adapt quickly.
Organizers doubled the number of jumbo screens along San Pedro Square from two to four, and the sheer volume during Mexico’s matches eventually prompted the city to move high-demand screenings to the SAP Center and Discovery Meadow on July 5.
John Poch, director of the San Jose Sports Authority, said the watch parties “showcased San Jose to the world as a premier destination for sports, culture and community. The legacy of what we accomplished together will benefit our city for years to come.”
Upcoming events on the city’s calendar include the 20th annual CrossFit Games, July 22–26, and Slam José! on Sept. 26–27 — a free, two-day community basketball festival at downtown’s Plaza at Park Center — alongside a slate of upcoming arts, music, tech, and cultural festivals
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