While the host city is San Francisco, World Cup matches are played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara—approximately 40 miles south in the heart of Silicon Valley. Don't let the distance put you off; the region is well-connected by rail, though you’ll need to allow plenty of time for the journey.
Travel to the Bay Area Stadium
The most popular route from San Francisco is the Caltrain. Take the train from 4th & King Street downtown to the Mountain View station. From there, you’ll transfer to the VTA Light Rail (Orange Line), which drops you off at Great America Station, right outside the stadium.
The trip from downtown San Francisco takes approximately 90 minutes to two hours on game days, so leave early.
If you’re staying in San Jose, the VTA Light Rail runs directly to the stadium in about 30 minutes.
Tickets & fares
As of 2026, both Caltrain and VTA support contactless payments using your credit card or phone wallet (Apple/Google Pay) with a "tap to pay" system. You can also use a digital Clipper card on your phone. For ease, download the Clipper app to manage your fares across the Bay Area.
Travel from the airport to downtown SF
From San Francisco International (SFO), the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) will get you into the city in about 30 minutes. This is the simplest way to reach downtown hotels.
If you’re heading straight to the stadium area, it’s actually better to fly into San Jose (SJC), which is only a 15-minute ride or a quick VTA bus trip to the stadium.
