Inglewood and Metro LA set June 12 street festival for World Cup opener

By AI, Created 5:14 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – The City of Inglewood and Metro Los Angeles will host The Wood Cup on Friday, June 12, a vehicle-free festival on Market Street that blends sports, culture and local business ahead of the FIFA World Cup opener. The event ends with a USA vs. Paraguay watch party and is part of a broader push to showcase Inglewood as a global sports destination.

Why it matters: - The Wood Cup is designed to turn Downtown Inglewood into a high-visibility fan and community space as the FIFA World Cup begins. - The festival also promotes local businesses, sustainable transportation and Inglewood’s role as a host city for major global events. - The event connects the World Cup moment to future marquee events in Inglewood, including Super Bowl LXI and the 2028 Summer Olympics.

What happened: - The City of Inglewood, with Metro Los Angeles, announced The Wood Cup for Friday, June 12, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. - The street festival will run along nearly a mile of the Market Street corridor in Downtown Inglewood. - The event is vehicle-free and powered by the Metro Open Streets Grant. - The festival is being positioned as a cultural and sports celebration tied to the start of the FIFA World Cup.

The details: - The Wood Cup will be divided into six zones with family-friendly activities. - Planned features include local artist showcases, a beer and wine garden and live performances from Emi Secrest, Blanco y Negro, South Side Symphony and more. - Inglewood-based small businesses will be invited to participate as vendors at no cost. - The festival is located less than a mile from Hollywood Park. - Metro K Line access will take attendees directly to Market Street, including visitors arriving through LAX. - The Soccer Turf Zone will include interactive futsal activations and an inflatable soccer pitch. - Appearances are expected from Paul Caligiuri, Martín Zúñiga, Mauricio Cienfuegos and Kyle Martino. - The corner of Market Street and Hillcrest will feature a Hoopbus experience and a custom-built roller rink from the Sunshine Skate Foundation. - The festival will end with a watch party for USA vs. Paraguay, the World Cup opening match. - Kingsrowe, in conjunction with Adidas, will host the viewing experience beginning at 6 p.m.

Between the lines: - The event blends sports programming with local commerce, a sign that Inglewood is using the World Cup to spotlight its neighborhood economy as well as its stadium district. - The Metro partnership and open-streets format point to a transportation and placemaking strategy, not just a one-day celebration. - The mix of soccer, hoops and skating broadens the audience beyond traditional soccer fans.

What’s next: - Mayor James T. Butts, Jr. and the Inglewood City Council will hold an official press conference on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at Inglewood City Hall. - The city says the conference will outline how Inglewood plans to present itself on a global stage for the World Cup, Super Bowl LXI and the 2028 Olympics. - Media check-in for the press conference begins at 10 a.m., with the event starting at 11 a.m. at One W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90303. - Press attendees are asked to contact Thomas Bunn at Tbunn@cityofinglewood.org. - Additional updates are available on The Wood Cup Instagram and the City of Inglewood Instagram.