Santa Clara looks ahead to 2026 Super Bowl LX and World Cup matches

Thursday, September 25, 2025

Santa Clara looks ahead to 2026 Super Bowl LX, World Cup

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (KGO) -- The year 2026 will be huge for sports in the Bay Area, and Santa Clara will be the first city to host a Super Bowl and the World Cup in the same year.

Two of the world's largest events in 2026 will shine a spotlight directly on Santa Clara.

On Wednesday, residents, business owners and city officials gathered for Mayor Lisa Gillmor's State of the City Address. "Where the mission meets the moment," Gillmor said.

The city unveiled its new slogan for next year's campaign to host Super Bowl LX and six FIFA World Cup matches.

Lifelong Santa Claran Daniel Huynh said it's an honor. "As a resident, I'm extremely proud," Huynh said.

Mayor Gillmor was joined on stage by city council members. On Tuesday, the council signed off on an estimated $6.4 million deal to ensure the city gets reimbursed for the Super Bowl. Gillmor had voted against it but was outnumbered.

The Bay Area Host Committee will cover the city's costs.

"I wanted certain security, like a letter of credit or something so I didn't feel that we had enough security in the documents to support that. I hope I'm wrong, I hope it works out right I hope we get paid back because I'm so excited about the event," Gillmor said.

Elected officials from Santa Clara County and neighboring cities also attended.

We spoke with Campbell's Mayor Sergio Lopez, who also serves as the Chair of the Valley Transportation Authority.

"Many international visitors who are used to taking public transit to get everywhere they need to, so we're making sure that we're staffed up, that we have the technology in place, that we're putting in additional services. We're even bringing in additional buses and vehicles from neighboring counties so it's all hands on deck we're doing everything we can to get ready," Lopez said.

Discover Santa Clara is showing what game day energy is like around Levi's Stadium with tailgates, watch parties, and hotels.

And any day now, we could hear who the halftime performer will be.

"I want to see if I have my Taylor Swift bracelet on my friendship bracelet. I don't have it on right now, but yeah I'm voting for Taylor," Gillmor said.