Following a series of violent incidents at celebrations for Mexico’s victory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, California officials are cracking down on public viewing parties and enhancing security measures. Police have had to respond to various disturbances, including shootings, stabbings, and confrontations with law enforcement.
Universal Studios Hollywood has already decided to cancel its public viewing events. They made an announcement via Facebook stating, “Universal Studios Hollywood has canceled World Cup viewing parties at CityWalk during the tournament.”
In San Francisco, the venue SPARK Social SF has also terminated all its remaining World Cup viewing parties after a mass shooting occurred near Mission Bay. This incident took place around 9 p.m., where two individuals were found injured by gunfire. Luckily, both are expected to survive, but the shooter has not been apprehended, according to local reports.
Meanwhile, in San Jose, plans for a downtown watch party have been called off due to the aftermath of Mexico’s 2-0 victory over Ecuador. Official viewing events for upcoming matches, including Brazil versus Norway and Mexico versus England, will now take place at larger venues—Discovery Meadow and SAP Center—after two stabbings were reported and one person tragically lost their life at a downtown celebration.
The chaotic celebrations on Tuesday night led to injuries due to separate altercations, prompting police to declare an unlawful assembly and disperse the crowd.
Authorities reported that the stabbing victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries, but several arrests were made. While the San Jose police noted that most fans acted responsibly, a few individuals disrupted the celebrations with fights, illegal fireworks, and even climbing onto an ambulance while hurling bottles at officers.
This crackdown follows increasing incidents of unruly behavior among Mexican fans throughout the tournament. In Los Angeles, post-match festivities turned into street blockades, firework displays, and violent exchanges with police, leading to injuries among officials.
In light of the San Francisco shooting, the stabbings in San Jose, and the aggressive actions against lawmakers in Los Angeles, many California cities are opting to cancel public viewing parties or switch to ticketed, more controlled events in an effort to maintain order during tournament celebrations.
