Thousands of soccer fans are expected to gather at Los Angeles’s MacArthur Park this weekend for FIFA World Cup watch parties, but public health concerns, including documented bed bug infestations, have surfaced.
Newly released city records show that bed bugs were among the pest issues at MacArthur Park, with at least 36 documented removals over the past year. The park, which is hosting a free two-day "Park to Park 2026" event in partnership with Metro as part of the city’s “Reconnecting MacArthur Park” initiative, has also seen extensive sanitation efforts addressing other problems.
According to the records, city sanitation crews cleaned up 769 incidents involving blood, mold, body fluids, and rodents. Rodent droppings were removed at least 1,035 times, highlighting ongoing public health challenges within the park. Residents and homeless individuals have previously described recurring bed bug infestations and other unsanitary conditions.
MacArthur Park has become a prominent symbol of Los Angeles's homelessness and drug crisis, with past documentation by The California Post revealing encampments, open drug use, discarded needles, prostitution, and violent crime. City leaders have invested millions in cleanup, outreach, and enforcement efforts aimed at revitalizing the park, particularly in anticipation of the 2028 Olympics and the World Cup.
Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, whose district includes the park, has promoted the upcoming event as a celebration of the park’s revival. The free event features watch parties for matches including Norway vs. England and Argentina vs. Switzerland, alongside live music, food vendors, youth soccer clinics, and family activities.
These sanitation issues at the park come as Los Angeles was recently ranked as the second-worst city in America for bed bugs by Orkin's 2026 Bed Bug Cities List, with Chicago ranking higher.
Health experts state that while bed bugs do not spread disease, their bites can cause itching and allergic reactions. The insects are known to travel easily on clothing and luggage, posing a risk for attendees of the large public gatherings.