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The San Jose Earthquakes are the region's Major League Soccer club and their home, PayPal Park, is about 15 miles from downtown Palo Alto beside San Jose Mineta International Airport. The Quakes also have a long tie to Palo Alto itself. For years they have brought one big summer match to Stanford Stadium, drawing crowds of more than 40,000 to the bowl off El Camino Real.
This guide covers the club: the 2026 playoff run, the short 2027 Sprint Season, transit, tickets, families and history. For the stadium itself, see our page on PayPal Park. The same stadium is home to the NWSL's Bay FC, whose 2026 season ended on November 1.
Where the 2026 season stands
This has been the Quakes' best year in a long time. Under head coach and sporting director Bruce Arena, who has won five MLS Cups in his career, San Jose won nine of its first 10 games. MLS said no team had done that since 2000. German forward Timo Werner arrived from RB Leipzig in the winter. Forward Preston Judd and homegrown midfielder Niko Tsakiris have had career seasons.
The club clinched a playoff berth in mid-October, its first since 2023, as MLSsoccer.com reported. On Halloween afternoon the Quakes beat Real Salt Lake 2 to 1 at PayPal Park in their final regular season home game, which lifted them to third in the Western Conference with 52 points, their highest total since 2013, per the club's recap.
One regular season match is left: at Minnesota United on Saturday, November 7, at 4 p.m. Pacific. A top-four finish in the West brings home-field advantage in the best-of-three Round One series. Playoffs start on November 18 with Wild Card matches. MLS Cup is on December 18. Watch the club's site for playoff ticket sales, which open at short notice.
The 2027 Sprint Season
MLS is moving from a spring-to-fall calendar to a summer-to-spring one, closer to European leagues. To bridge the gap it will play a one-time Sprint Season in early 2027. Each team plays 14 matches, one against every conference opponent, seven at home and seven away. The top eight in each conference go to single-elimination playoffs in May. The Quakes published their Sprint Season schedule, with every home match at PayPal Park:
| Date | Home opponent | Kickoff |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, Feb 27, 2027 | Houston Dynamo FC | 5 p.m. |
| Sat, Mar 13 | Real Salt Lake | 7 p.m. |
| Wed, Mar 17 | Minnesota United FC | 7 p.m. |
| Sat, Apr 3 | Colorado Rapids | 7 p.m. |
| Sat, Apr 17 | San Diego FC | 7 p.m. |
| Sat, Apr 24 | LAFC | 7 p.m. |
| Sat, May 8 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 5 p.m., Decision Day |
The Sprint Season opens on the road at Portland on February 20 and includes a California Clasico at the LA Galaxy on March 6. Before that, the club has said it will take part in the 2027 Coachella Valley Invitational preseason event in Indio.
Getting there from Palo Alto
By Caltrain and VTA
The nearest Caltrain stop is Santa Clara, one station before San Jose Diridon. Caltrain's events page describes a walk of about 22 minutes: head toward Brokaw Road, turn right on Brokaw, right on Wondo Way, then left on Earthquakes Way. Our Caltrain guide covers fares. VTA bus 60 leaves from beside the platform and reaches the Coleman and Earthquakes stop in two stops. Bay FC's match day page also lists a free shuttle between the Berryessa/North San Jose BART station and the stadium. Confirm whether it runs for Quakes matches before you count on it.
By car
The drive is about 15 miles down US 101 to the Coleman Avenue area. Most Quakes matches are on Saturday evenings, which spares you the weekday commute. Stadium lots fill on big nights, so buy parking ahead if the club offers it. Our Palo Alto to San Jose guide covers the main routes.
Tickets and cheaper seats
The Quakes sell tickets only through Tixr, which the club calls its official ticket platform. Season ticket holders get playoff access and priority. Single match prices vary by opponent. LAFC, the Galaxy and the Stanford Stadium match are the big draws. Midweek matches are often cheaper. Hedge any price you see, since the club runs short promotions. Before the October 17 match against Nashville, for example, it offered tickets at $17 each for a few days.
- Students can look at the Quakes College Pass, listed on the club's site.
- Supporters' groups stand and sing behind one goal. The noise is part of the fun, but families with small kids may prefer a sideline seat.
- Big venue dates such as the Stanford match can have more seats at lower prices because the stadium is so much larger.
If friends are flying in for a playoff match, you can compare hotels near San Jose airport, since PayPal Park sits just across Coleman Avenue from the airport.
Tips for families
Soccer is a good first live sport for kids. Matches run about two hours with one break and the action never stops for long. PayPal Park is compact, so every seat is close to the field. A few tips:
- Theme nights are common. This season's Halloween match was billed as a Monster Match takeover.
- Sunscreen matters for afternoon kickoffs in spring and late summer.
- Bring a layer for 7:30 p.m. matches in spring. San Jose evenings cool off fast.
Our youth sports guide lists local soccer clubs for young players who come home inspired.
Where to watch in and near Palo Alto
MLS matches stream on Apple TV. The Quakes also air replays on KTVU Plus. To watch with a crowd, three nearby bars say on their own websites that they show sports. St. Stephen's Green, an Irish pub at 223 Castro Street in Mountain View, calls itself an all-sports bar and is a natural home for soccer. In Palo Alto, The Pro at 541 Ramona Street posts a TV schedule and The Patio at 412 Emerson Street has 21 screens. Ask ahead for a playoff match, since a streaming-only game needs the right setup.
A short club history
San Jose's first Earthquakes played in the old North American Soccer League from 1974. The current club began in 1996 as the San Jose Clash, one of the original MLS teams. It took back the Earthquakes name for the 2000 season. With Landon Donovan and coach Frank Yallop, the Quakes won MLS Cup in 2001 and 2003.
After the 2005 season the team's players and coach moved to Houston. San Jose then went two years without MLS. The Earthquakes returned as an expansion club in 2008, played at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara and won the Supporters' Shield in 2012 with Chris Wondolowski scoring goals at a record pace. Wondolowski retired as MLS's career scoring leader. Wondo Way outside the stadium is named for him.
The club's own stadium opened in 2015 as Avaya Stadium and became PayPal Park in 2021. The Stanford Stadium match, usually the California Clasico against the LA Galaxy, has drawn some of the club's biggest crowds. The 2025 meeting drew 42,881 fans, according to the club.
Frequently asked questions
Are the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2026 playoffs?
Yes. MLS reported that the Earthquakes clinched a spot in the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs in October. After a 2 to 1 home win over Real Salt Lake on October 31 they had 52 points and sat third in the Western Conference, with one regular season match left at Minnesota on November 7.
When do the MLS playoffs start in 2026?
MLS says the playoffs begin on November 18 with Wild Card matches, followed by best-of-three Round One series for seeds one to seven. MLS Cup is on December 18. The top four teams in each conference get home-field advantage in Round One.
What is the 2027 MLS Sprint Season?
It is a one-time 14-game season from February to May 2027 that starts MLS's move to a summer-to-spring calendar. Each team plays every conference opponent once, seven at home and seven away. The Quakes open at Portland on February 20 and host Houston on February 27 at PayPal Park.
How do I get to PayPal Park from Palo Alto?
Take Caltrain to the Santa Clara station. Caltrain lists a walk of about 22 minutes via Brokaw Road, Wondo Way and Earthquakes Way, or VTA bus 60 from beside the platform to the Coleman and Earthquakes stop. Bay FC also lists a free shuttle from the Berryessa BART station on its match days.
Do the Earthquakes play at Stanford Stadium?
Often. In 2026 the Quakes played the LA Galaxy at Stanford Stadium on July 25 for the California Clasico, a regular summer date. The club also hosted LAFC at Levi's Stadium on September 19. The 2027 Sprint Season lists all seven home games at PayPal Park.