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Jun 24, 2026

World Cup fever taking over Venice Beach with stars like Ronaldinho, Mbappe and Chicharito fueling soccer’s revolution

World Cup fever hits Venice Beach, where Ronaldinho, Chicharito and Kylian Mbappe helped build a global soccer hotspot Email New York Post Read the Latest on Page Six

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World Cup fever taking over Venice Beach with stars like Ronaldinho, Mbappe and Chicharito fueling soccer’s revolution

By Michael Duarte Published June 19, 2026, 4:13 a.m. ET

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On any given Sunday afternoon, the soundtrack of Venice Beach isn’t the crash of waves or the rattle of skateboard wheels.

It’s the thud of a soccer ball against concrete.

At 4 p.m. every Sunday, some of the best street soccer players in Los Angeles gather on the famed Venice Beach courts, turning a patch of asphalt steps from the Pacific Ocean into one of the most vibrant soccer scenes in America.

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe plays street soccer in Venice Beach, CA ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 3
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe plays street soccer in Venice Beach, Calif. ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. VBFC/Gio Garcia

The growing attention is the focus of Barrios del Mundial (“World Cup Neighborhoods”), a new three-part English-language documentary series from content creator Gio Garcia that debuted June 10 on Instagram and TikTok.

And now, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup bringing eight matches to Los Angeles this summer, the spotlight on Venice Beach has never been brighter.

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