Two more FIFA World Cup matches remain at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, and South Bay residents can expect continued traffic congestion and heavy visitor crowds through mid-July. Manhattan Beach sits fewer than 10 miles from the venue, according to Alert South Bay manager Soraya Sutherlin, placing the city and its neighbors squarely in the impact zone.
A Round of 32 game is set for Thursday, July 2, and a quarterfinal follows on Friday, July 10.
The tournament, which kicked off June 11 and runs through July 19, has already brought documented gridlock. LA City Council member Bob Blumenfield told Politico that residents experienced "three to five hours of congestion just for people to go to SoFi to pay $200 for parking." Metro ridership on buses serving the stadium jumped 41 percent between the first and second matches.
How to get emergency alerts
Sutherlin, CEO of Emergency Management Safety Partners and manager of Alert South Bay, said the regional notification system serves 15 South Bay cities and remains the primary tool for real-time public safety updates during the tournament.
Two ways to sign up:
- General alerts: Text your ZIP code to 888-777 to enroll in Alert South Bay notifications for your community.
- World Cup-specific channel: Text FIFALA26 to 888-777 for match-day public safety announcements and preparedness updates. The channel was active as of July 1, according to the Alert South Bay website.
International visitors without local cellular service can download the Public Safety by Everbridge app, which delivers alerts in multiple languages, Sutherlin said in an interview with the Manhattan Beach News.
Wireless Emergency Alerts, the same system used for Amber Alerts, will still reach all cell phones in an affected area during imminent threats regardless of whether someone has signed up for local notifications.
What residents should know
Sutherlin, who is also a South Bay resident, emphasized verifying information before sharing it on social media. "Always do a quick check and ask, 'Is this a verified source?'" she said. "If it's not and you're sharing it, that's how misinformation and disinformation spread."
She also urged residents to report anything suspicious to local police rather than posting about it online.
Getting to the stadium
South Bay fans heading to SoFi can avoid the parking crunch by using $1.75 shuttles from El Camino College, Torrance Transit Center, or Harbor Gateway, with rides of 25 minutes or less, according to the Los Angeles Times. Official stadium parking ranges from $100 to $300.
Local contacts
Manhattan Beach Police Department:
- Non-Emergency Dispatch: (310) 545-4566
- Main Line: (310) 802-5140
- Anonymous Crime Tips: (310) 802-5171
Residents who see something suspicious should call their local police department's non-emergency line or dial 911 for emergencies.
