Santa Monica police are upping patrols during 2026 FIFA World Cup

Santa Monica police announced Thursday they will increase patrols during the 2026 FIFA World Cup (running through July 19), which Los Angeles is hosting with eight matches. Though Santa Monica itself hosts no matches, the department expects soccer fans to gather for local activations and community events, and plans to boost foot, bike, and vehicle patrols near popular destinations including the pier, downtown, and Third Street Promenade, with coordination among security teams and city departments. The reporting is straightforward and sourced directly from SMPD Chief Darrick Jacob's statement; the article includes specific patrol strategies and a non-emergency contact number, reflecting solid local news standards. Independent search results from ABC7, LAmag, Timeout, and Daily News corroborate that Santa Monica and surrounding Los Angeles venues are hosting numerous World Cup watch parties and fan events, providing context that explains the police department's proactive announcement—though the NBC article itself doesn't detail what specific events SMPD is preparing for. Watch for any updates on crowd sizes during matches and whether the increased patrols are maintained throughout the tournament's duration.