On Sunday, June 29, shots rang out in San Jose, California at San Pedro Square — one of the main fan zones of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the San Francisco Bay Area. One person was killed at the scene, another was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. The suspect fled before police arrived.
What is known about the incident
At the time of the shooting, no matches were being broadcast at the venue — the only game of the day had ended around 2:00 p.m. local time. According to Reuters, a journalist from the agency who was at the scene documented a significant police presence, several patrol cars, and a person on a stretcher covered with a white sheet.
"One victim was pronounced dead at the scene. A second victim was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. This incident is being investigated as a homicide. Several adjacent streets have been closed off."
— San Jose Police, X post
San Pedro Square as a symbol of the tournament
The San Francisco Bay Area has already hosted five matches at the 2026 World Cup. San Pedro Square served throughout the tournament as a gathering place for fans — thousands of people came there to watch matches on large screens. The last major match here — a playoff round between Bosnia and the USA — took place on Wednesday, the day before the incident.
Police are currently investigating the motive and circumstances of the shooting. The suspect remains at large.
A pattern, not an exception
This is not the first similar incident involving fan zones at the 2026 World Cup in California. On June 18, in the Korean diaspora district of Los Angeles, 19-year-old Andy Rodriguez opened fire near a fan zone after a quarrel with a group of people — police arrested him that same evening. A man who tried to stop the shooter was injured. According to NBC Bay Area, both California incidents occurred when matches were not being broadcast — this contradicts the widespread narrative about violence among crowds of fans.
- San Jose, June 29: 1 killed, 1 wounded — suspect at large, investigation as homicide
- Los Angeles, June 18: 1 wounded — suspect arrested the same day
Tournament organizers and San Jose city officials have not yet commented on whether the incident will affect the operation of the fan zone for the remainder of the championship.
If the investigation determines that the shooting is unrelated to the football context — this would be a matter of public space security in general, rather than the safety of the specific tournament. However, if police find a connection between the conflict and fan activity, FIFA and the organizing committee will face pressure to review security protocols at the remaining venues.
