For the FIFA World Cup 2026, Silicon Valley Front Row was on the ground at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara for the opening match between Switzerland and Qatar. It ended in a 1-1 tie, keeping both teams' hopes alive for the next round.
Host Steve Ispas talks to passionate fans from Switzerland, Qatar, Colombia, and Romania, getting their takes on the match, their World Cup travel plans across LA, Vancouver, and beyond, and their bold predictions for who will lift the trophy. France, Spain, Argentina, and Brazil all came up as favorites, but every fan had their own take.
From a quick lesson in Swiss German to fans living their World Cup dream by hopping between host cities, we see the electric and festive energy of the World Cup's first stop at the San Franciso Bay Area Stadium.
💬 Who do you think is going to win the World Cup? Let us know your predictions in the comments!
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Welcome to Silicon Valley Front Row.
We're right in front of Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara
at the end of the Switzerland-Qatar game which ended up being a tie, 1-1.
It's a pretty festive atmosphere here, a lot of people are excited.
There's someone from Switzerland that's celebrating.
1-1 means both teams still have a chance to advance.
You guys are from Switzerland?
Yeah, Geneva.
Travelling?
Yeah, travelling.
What's your name?
Michael.
What do you think about the game?
How do you feel about the chances for going to the next round?
I think we played well.
I think we need to win these type of games.
That's exactly what we're expecting.
When you play a weaker team, you always have the risk to lose more than them.
That's what we did today.
It's one point.
Every team in the group has the same number of points.
Now we need to make sure we win the next round.
We're here for the party anyway.
We're going to have fun anyway.
Where are you going next?
Are you going to other games?
We're going to L.A. and then Vancouver.
So you're going to all the games?
Yeah, exactly.
The group stage ones.
Then we go back to Switzerland and watch it on the screen.
You need to go to Geneva next.
I will.
Good luck to you.
Nice to meet you.
Thank you so much.
Take care. Bye-bye.
Where are you from?
Qatar.
So you come visit?
World Cup.
So this is it, right?
How do you feel about the result?
Do you think it's good?
Sorry, I don't speak English.
Very good.
No problem.
Good luck.
What team are you representing?
Colombia.
Can I ask you a few questions?
How do you like the game?
Do you speak English a little bit?
A little bit.
I speak Spanish, but it's not enough.
I understand you.
How do you like the match?
What do you think of the match?
It was a boring match.
I think Switzerland were pretty good in the first half.
Second half, I think they slept a little bit, so that's why Qatar arrived.
But I think it was an entertaining match.
I think so.
No, it was not.
So you come here from Colombia?
Yes.
Traveling, right?
Yes.
So where do you go to see Colombia?
We are not because all the entrances were full already.
So you just go to different games?
To live the experience of the workout.
Big question.
Who do you think is going to win?
Who has the best chance?
As a Colombian, we have to say Colombia, right?
But being realistic, I think Spain and France are the biggest.
Maybe Argentina also.
Argentina also and Brazil.
That would be like top four for me.
France, Spain, Argentina and Brazil.
So Brazil is playing today, just in a few hours, in New York.
They are playing against Morocco.
What do you think?
They are not going to play, so maybe Morocco has a chance.
I don't know.
Morocco has Hakimi, Raindias, Masraoui.
They have a good team.
I'm not sure if they are going to go against Brazil, but maybe.
Good luck to Colombia.
So right behind me is people waiting for the bus or the light rail to go home or to go to their parking area.
This is like a big long line and this is only a partial part of the group, obviously, that's going home.
So we're lucky we're biking.
So the light rail just came and there's a lot of people boarding.
I really wonder how long it's going to take for this whole crowd to go home.
Because there's only a few trains and let's see how many people can get on this train.
There's actually an army person.
There's an army person directing traffic.
Do you see that?
That's not army.
What is it?
Sheriff.
Or sheriff.
Where are you from?
St. Gallen.
Istanbul.
We were there.
Let me go here.
Let me come too high.
We were there last year.
That's great.
Wonderful city.
So you just come here for the game?
For the whole first two weeks we go to all Switzerland games.
Now we go to L.A. then and afterwards to Ankara.
Oh, that's awesome.
We enjoy the time here.
Yes.
So how...
Already filming?
Yes, he's filming.
He's filming, yes.
So I shall tell some words in Swiss German.
Please, go ahead.
Schön haben wir euch gesehen.
Schön kennst du St. Gallen.
Ist ja wunderbar.
Und Schwyz wird jetzt Zwischenweltmeister.
That's what I said.
And have a good time.
Say again in English the same.
It was nice to meet you here.
I like that you know St. Gallen.
Yes.
And we will get the World Championship also when today it was not so good.
Tell us about what do you think your chances are for Switzerland to go to the next round.
How do you feel?
Next round must be...
Quarter-final would be great.
And if it comes so, it's even better.
Of course.
And one last question.
Who do you think is going to win the whole thing?
What's your forecast?
I think France.
France maybe.
They have the best team.
But in the end when there is a final or semi-final you know.
Even the best team can have a bad day.
And so it will be a surprise.
But I think France has the best chances.
All right.
Thank you.
You too.
Thank you.
Thank you for watching another episode of Silicon Valley Front Row.
Right at the Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara.
At the end of Switzerland-Qatar game which ended up in a tie 1-1.
It's the first game of the World Cup here at Levi's Stadium.
This time.