The city of Los Angeles gathers its strength for the arrival of the world. Men and women from every kingdom on Earth will soon descend upon the concrete and the sand. I saw the workers laying new asphalt on the 405 freeway yesterday. They worked under the glare of the noon sun with shovels and heavy machines. This bustle serves as a reminder that your own life deserves a grand stage.
Every visitor carries a story and a pocket full of currency. You should open your doors and your mind to the noise.
SoFi Stadium stands like a fortress of glass and silver. Athletes will spill blood and sweat on the turf for the World Cup and the Olympic Games. The grass grows green under the lights. I find that a person can learn much from a striker or a sprinter.
They do not worry about the past or the future. They focus on the ball and the finish line. You must treat your goals with the same hunger.
Hotels rise toward the clouds to house the masses. The kitchens prepare for a feast of tacos and burgers and expensive salads. The smell of frying onions fills the air near the street corners.
Expect the roads to clog with buses and cars and bicycles. Do not grumble at the delays. Use the time in the seat of your vehicle to meditate on your path. A calm soul moves faster than a racing engine.
The Pacific Ocean crashes against the shore while the city plans its defense against boredom. The light of the sun turns the waves into gold.
I noticed a girl skating along the boardwalk with a smile on her face. She did not care about the crowds or the heat. Her joy came from the wind in her hair. You can find that same peace even when the world is shouting.
Preparation requires bricks and mortar. It requires a heart that welcomes the unknown.
The games will bring glory to the winners and lessons to the losers. The fans will scream until their throats are raw. Join the chorus and feel the life in your lungs. A spirit that celebrates the success of others grows fat and happy.
Gold medals will shine around the necks of the brave. The stadiums will echo with the roar of the mob.
I guess that many people fear the change that comes with such a crowd. Forget the fear and embrace the party. Life is a game of chance and skill. You might as well play to win.
The 2026 World Cup begins in June. Workers at the stadium in Inglewood remove the strands of nylon to plant fescue for the soccer matches.
I was thinking that the scent of dampness from the earth inside a dome of glass feels like a forest in the middle of a desert. This change allows the ball to roll with a different friction. You can watch the green stalks grow under the roof and realize that your own plans can take root in unlikely places.
The 2028 Olympics will occupy the Coliseum and the Rose Bowl. Competitors from every country will live in the dormitories at the university.
I guess that the sight of a medal of gold around a neck is just the result of waking up at dawn and eating a bowl of oats. You can start your own streak of wins by putting on your shoes before the sun hits the sidewalk.
The train at the airport connects the terminals to the lot for car rentals. Suitcases roll over the linoleum with a sound like a rumble of thunder.
Travelers from London and Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro step into the air of California. It seems clear to me that the world is coming to your front porch to share a meal. You should probably put some extra furniture at the table.
The traffic on the highway moves with the speed of a turtle in the mud. You can choose to stare at the bumper of the vehicle in front of you or you can listen to a podcast about the stars.
At least I figure that a moment of stillness in a cage of steel is a gift in a world of motion. The clock on the dashboard keeps ticking regardless of your mood.
Isn’t this unexpected
The 2026World Cup features a schedule that spans three different nations. This layout requires teams to fly thousands of miles between their matches and the rounds of elimination.
I figure that the exhaustion of the flight becomes as much of an opponent as the strikers on the field. You can learn to manage your own fatigue by watching how these pros handle a change in time zones.
Stadiums in the United States must install grass on top of their floors of concrete. The engineers use a system of trays and pipes to keep the roots alive in a room with temperature sensors.
It seems clear to me that if a person can grow a meadow on a floor of stone then you can find a way to succeed in a moment of hardship. The sight of a mower inside a structure of steel is an anomaly.
The demand for public transit will likely peak at midnight. Most people expect the trains to sleep after dark but the schedule will shift to keep the party moving.
You might find yourself sharing a bench with a fan from a country you cannot find on a map. This interaction is the prize of the summer.
| Event | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|
| World Cup Opening Match | Estadio Azteca | June 11, 2026 |
| World Cup Final | MetLife Stadium | July 19, 2026 |
| Olympic Opening Ceremony | LA Memorial Coliseum | July 14, 2028 |
FIFA World Cup Updates
Los Angeles 2028 Olympics Official Site




