Despite the efforts of the city up the bay to keep us from getting a baseball team, the valley’s can-do culture has managed to overcome that little obstacle. The Sharks more than make up for a slow-moving run around the bases and have much better merch. The Bay Area’s sole remaining NFL team plays in Santa Clara County, as do both soccer teams—and having women’s soccer here is pretty darned cool.
Five World Cup games will be here this summer, and tickets are still available, so on the summer sports scale, we’re at the upper end of the global food chain this year.
And for a low-key, family-style good ole fashioned baseball game, there’s always the minor league San Jose Giants. Fourteen fireworks shows and lucha libre matches add an extra dash of excitement to the season.
May
Bay FC vs. Chicago Stars FC
NWSL soccer at PayPal Park. | Sun, May 24, 2pm | PayPal Park, 1123 Coleman Ave., San Jose
Bay FC hosts rival, Chicago Stars FC, after last summer’s tied 1-1 game keeping the tension strong at the club’s home field, while also celebrating Pride Night at PayPal Park.
San Jose Giants vs. Fresno
May 26–31 | Excite Ballpark
588 E. Alma Ave, San Jose
milb.com/san-jose
June
San Jose Giants vs. Inland Empire
June 2–8 | Excite Ballpark
588 E. Alma Ave, San Jose
milb.com/san-jose
FIFA World Cup: Qatar vs. Switzerland
Group-stage World Cup match. | Sat, June 13 | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
Group B teams Qatar and Switzerland will face off on the third day of the World Cup at Levi’s Stadium. Switzerland is favored to win.
FIFA World Cup: Austria vs. Jordan
Group-stage World Cup match. | Tue, June 16 | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
Austria returns to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, while Jordan makes history with their World Cup debut.
San Jose Giants vs. Lake Elsinore
Tue–Sun, June 16–21 | Excite Ballpark
588 E. Alma Ave, San Jose
milb.com/san-jose
FIFA World Cup: Turkey vs. Paraguay
Group-stage World Cup match. | Fri, June 19 | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
Seasoned World Cup teams face off in the group round.
FIFA World Cup: Jordan vs. Algeria
Group-stage World Cup match. | Mon, June 22 | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
Jordan’s underdog team will face-off against five-time World Cup participant Algeria.
FIFA World Cup: Paraguay vs. Australia
Group-stage World Cup match. | Thu, June 25 | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
This match will be the first time Paraguay and Australia go head-to-head on the World Cup stage.
July
FIFA World Cup: Round of 32
Knockout-round World Cup match. | Wed, July 1, 5pm | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
The sudden death knockout-round teams will be announced June 27.
San Jose Giants vs. Rancho Cucamonga
July 1–6 | Excite Ballpark
588 E. Alma Ave, San Jose
milb.com/san-jose
San Jose Giants vs. Visalia
Tue–Sun, July 14–20 | Excite Ballpark
588 E. Alma Ave, San Jose
milb.com/san-jose
Bay FC vs. North Carolina Courage
NWSL soccer at PayPal Park. | Sat, July 18, 1pm | PayPal Park, San Jose
Bay FC will play Courage for the final time in the 2026 season.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Orlando City SC
MLS regular-season match. | Wed, July 22, 7:30pm | PayPal Park, San Jose
The Earthquakes have a chance to take back a win after their 2024 home game loss against Orlando City.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. LA Galaxy / California Clásico
The annual rivalry match shifts from PayPal Park to Stanford Stadium. | Sat, July 25, 7:30pm | Stanford Stadium, Stanford
The historic Northern versus Southern California rivalry match will have a NorCal home field advantage.
San Jose Giants vs. Rancho Cucamonga
Tue–Sun, July 28–30 | Municipal Stadium
milb.com/san-jose
Bay FC vs. Gotham FC
NWSL soccer at PayPal Park. | Wed, July 29, 7pm | PayPal Park, San Jose
Bay FC will play the 2025 NWSL Championship winners.
August
Bay FC vs. Seattle Reign FC
NWSL soccer at PayPal Park. | Sat, Aug. 1, 5:45pm | PayPal Park, San Jose
The women’s Bay FC has never lost a match against the Seattle team.
San Jose Giants vs. Stockton
Sat–Mon, Aug 1–3 | Excite Ballpark
588 E. Alma Ave, San Jose
milb.com/san-jose
Tennessee Titans vs. San Francisco 49ers
NFL preseason football. | Thu, Aug. 13 | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
The 49ers are heavily favored to win their first preseason game.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. St. Louis CITY SC
MLS regular-season match. | Sat, Aug. 15, 7:30pm | PayPal Park, San Jose
In their latest match up, the Earthquakes won in a 3-2 comeback score.
San Jose Giants vs. Visalia
Tue–Sun, Aug 18–23 | Excite Ballpark
588 E. Alma Ave, San Jose
milb.com/san-jose
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Minnesota United FC
MLS regular-season match. | Sat, Aug. 22, 7:30pm | PayPal Park, San Jose
The Earthquakes are predicted to win against Minnesota FC.
Bay FC vs. Houston Dash
NWSL soccer at PayPal Park. | Sun, Aug. 23, 3pm | PayPal Park, San Jose
Houston Dash holds a rivalry spot as the Bay’s FC first-ever opponent in the team’s 2024 inaugural game.SOCCER SUMMER
With World Cup matches at Levi’s, and both Earthquakes and Bay FC in season, local soccer fans have many options to enjoy the world’s greatest sport.
Trophy Life
This lovely World Cup keepsake complements any decor, but is worthless for serving beverages.
Sports
Despite the efforts of the city up the bay to keep us from getting a baseball team, the valley’s can-do culture has managed to overcome that little obstacle. The Sharks more than make up for a slow-moving run around the bases and have much better merch. The Bay Area’s sole remaining NFL team plays in Santa Clara County, as do both soccer teams—and having women’s soccer here is pretty darned cool.
Five World Cup games will be here this summer, and tickets are still available, so on the summer sports scale, we’re at the upper end of the global food chain this year.
And for a low-key, family-style good ole fashioned baseball game, there’s always the minor league San Jose Giants. Fourteen fireworks shows and lucha libre matches add an extra dash of excitement to the season.
May
Bay FC vs. Chicago Stars FC
NWSL soccer at PayPal Park. | Sun, May 24, 2pm | PayPal Park, 1123 Coleman Ave., San Jose
Bay FC hosts rival, Chicago Stars FC, after last summer’s tied 1-1 game keeping the tension strong at the club’s home field, while also celebrating Pride Night at PayPal Park.
San Jose Giants vs. Fresno
May 26–31 | Excite Ballpark
588 E. Alma Ave, San Jose
milb.com/san-jose
June
San Jose Giants vs. Inland Empire
June 2–8 | Excite Ballpark
588 E. Alma Ave, San Jose
milb.com/san-jose
FIFA World Cup: Qatar vs. Switzerland
Group-stage World Cup match. | Sat, June 13 | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
Group B teams Qatar and Switzerland will face off on the third day of the World Cup at Levi’s Stadium. Switzerland is favored to win.
FIFA World Cup: Austria vs. Jordan
Group-stage World Cup match. | Tue, June 16 | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
Austria returns to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, while Jordan makes history with their World Cup debut.
San Jose Giants vs. Lake Elsinore
Tue–Sun, June 16–21 | Excite Ballpark
588 E. Alma Ave, San Jose
milb.com/san-jose
FIFA World Cup: Turkey vs. Paraguay
Group-stage World Cup match. | Fri, June 19 | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
Seasoned World Cup teams face off in the group round.
FIFA World Cup: Jordan vs. Algeria
Group-stage World Cup match. | Mon, June 22 | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
Jordan’s underdog team will face-off against five-time World Cup participant Algeria.
FIFA World Cup: Paraguay vs. Australia
Group-stage World Cup match. | Thu, June 25 | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
This match will be the first time Paraguay and Australia go head-to-head on the World Cup stage.
July
FIFA World Cup: Round of 32
Knockout-round World Cup match. | Wed, July 1, 5pm | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
The sudden death knockout-round teams will be announced June 27.
San Jose Giants vs. Rancho Cucamonga
July 1–6 | Excite Ballpark
588 E. Alma Ave, San Jose
milb.com/san-jose
San Jose Giants vs. Visalia
Tue–Sun, July 14–20 | Excite Ballpark
588 E. Alma Ave, San Jose
milb.com/san-jose
Bay FC vs. North Carolina Courage
NWSL soccer at PayPal Park. | Sat, July 18, 1pm | PayPal Park, San Jose
Bay FC will play Courage for the final time in the 2026 season.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Orlando City SC
MLS regular-season match. | Wed, July 22, 7:30pm | PayPal Park, San Jose
The Earthquakes have a chance to take back a win after their 2024 home game loss against Orlando City.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. LA Galaxy / California Clásico
The annual rivalry match shifts from PayPal Park to Stanford Stadium. | Sat, July 25, 7:30pm | Stanford Stadium, Stanford
The historic Northern versus Southern California rivalry match will have a NorCal home field advantage.
San Jose Giants vs. Rancho Cucamonga
Tue–Sun, July 28–30 | Municipal Stadium
milb.com/san-jose
Bay FC vs. Gotham FC
NWSL soccer at PayPal Park. | Wed, July 29, 7pm | PayPal Park, San Jose
Bay FC will play the 2025 NWSL Championship winners.
August
Bay FC vs. Seattle Reign FC
NWSL soccer at PayPal Park. | Sat, Aug. 1, 5:45pm | PayPal Park, San Jose
The women’s Bay FC has never lost a match against the Seattle team.
San Jose Giants vs. Stockton
Sat–Mon, Aug 1–3 | Excite Ballpark
588 E. Alma Ave, San Jose
milb.com/san-jose
Tennessee Titans vs. San Francisco 49ers
NFL preseason football. | Thu, Aug. 13 | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
The 49ers are heavily favored to win their first preseason game.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. St. Louis CITY SC
MLS regular-season match. | Sat, Aug. 15, 7:30pm | PayPal Park, San Jose
In their latest match up, the Earthquakes won in a 3-2 comeback score.
San Jose Giants vs. Visalia
Tue–Sun, Aug 18–23 | Excite Ballpark
588 E. Alma Ave, San Jose
milb.com/san-jose
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Minnesota United FC
MLS regular-season match. | Sat, Aug. 22, 7:30pm | PayPal Park, San Jose
The Earthquakes are predicted to win against Minnesota FC.
Bay FC vs. Houston Dash
NWSL soccer at PayPal Park. | Sun, Aug. 23, 3pm | PayPal Park, San Jose
Houston Dash holds a rivalry spot as the Bay’s FC first-ever opponent in the team’s 2024 inaugural game.
