The FIFA World Cup has long established itself as the planet’s biggest sporting event, even outclassing the Olympic Games. Both high-profile events occur every four years.
While the Olympic Games are certainly prestigious, the World Cup offers fans a chance to turn up the volume and turn their national pride into party time.
Venues throughout San Diego County participated with watch parties and gathering spots for this year’s expanded 48-team event. With more teams than ever, there’s been more reasons to cheer.
Tens of thousands of soccer aficionados have already taken part — and taken to the streets. Excited fans honked horns and waved flags amid spontaneous fireworks displays.
Everyday life seems to come to a halt during the World Cup. There’s no competing against it for attention.
Thus, with North America (United States, Mexico and Canada) playing host to the 2026 mega tournament, the continent’s two major professional soccer leagues – Major League Soccer and the Women’s National Soccer League — have both taken a well-timed break.
MLS is taking a substantial pause in its 2026 schedule – nearly two months – while the NWSL has elected to postpone league matches until the World Cup’s group stage finishes.
San Diego FC played its last match on May 23 — a 4-2 loss to the MLS Cup runner-up Vancouver Whitecaps. The local kickers return to the pitch on July 22 with a road game in Colorado and host FC Dallas on July 25.
The San Diego Wave FC last played on May 31 – a 2-0 road win in Chicago. They resume their NWSL schedule with a July 4 home game against Gotham FC at Snapdragon Stadium.
PRETTY IN PINK
The Wave enters the second half of the season on top of the league’s 16-team table with a record of eight wins, four losses and three ties for 25 standings points– one point ahead of the Utah Royals FC (7-3-2, 24 points) and Portland Thorns (7- 3-3, 24 points).
The top eight teams qualify for the 2026 NWSL playoffs. While the Wave secured the No. 6 playoff berth last season while sneaking into the postseason by one standings point, the local kickers appear to be dictating the pace this season.
The Wave engineered a five-match winning streak from March 22 to April 25 to make a climb up the standings. Wins came against Utah (2-1), Portland (3-1), Chicago (2-0), Boston (1-0) and Denver (3-2).
There’s still much to prove, however.
Regular season play extends through Nov. 2, followed by playoffs Nov. 7-22.
The Wave will be looking to pick up from where it left off following its shutout victory over the host Chicago Stars. Brazilian forward Dudinha opened scoring with her team-leading fifth goal of the year. Trinity Byars doubled the score in the dying moments of the match with her third career goal as the Wave secured its third clean sheet on the season thanks to three saves by Bosnian international goalkeeper DiDi Haračić.
Haračić, who replaces Canadian international and Wave fan favorite Kailen Sheridan in the net, is a capable veteran with appearances in more than 100 matches with various clubs since her NWSL debut in 2013.
Sheridan has since signed a two-year contract with the North Carolina Courage. She will be tasked with moving her team, currently in seventh place in the standings, into pursuit of the Wave.
MEN IN BLACK
San Diego FC set two MLS expansion team records in its start-up season in 2025: most standings points (63) and most wins (19).
The San Diego side surpassed the 57 points compiled by the Los Angeles Football Club in 2018 and the 17 wins by St. Louis CITY SC in 2023.
The team’s magical first season attracted notice with an attendance average of 28,064 at Snapdragon Stadium, including numerous crowds totaling more than 30,000 and more than half a million spectators drawn for the season. The team’s home opener attracted a 34,056 sellout.
The team ranked fourth in attendance in the 30-team league, ranking behind only teams with established NFL stadiums.
The season ended in the Western Conference Final as the No.-1 seeded San Diego side fell to second-seeded Vancouver, 3-1, in front of a sellout crowd of 32,502 fans at Snapdragon Stadium.
By all accounts, it was an incredible run.
