Road to the Trophy to spotlight Northern California families, athletes and communities ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup
SAN JOSE, Calif. — May 7, 2026 — NBC Bay Area / KNTV will premiere Road to the Trophy, a half-hour World Cup special spotlighting Bay Area stories that connect local communities to the global stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Road to the Trophy, anchored by Raj Mathai and Janelle Wang, will debut Sunday, May 10, at 8 p.m., with an encore airing Tuesday, May 12, at 9 p.m.
As the home of major international sports coverage, NBC Bay Area continues to build excitement around the FIFA World Cup through original storytelling that highlights the people, passion and communities connected to the game across Northern California.
“Road to the Trophy captures how soccer continues to inspire and unite communities across the Bay Area,” said Stacy Owen, President and General Manager of NBC Bay Area and Telemundo 48. “These stories reflect the families, athletes and local communities whose love for the game connects them to one of the world’s biggest sporting events.”
The special features exclusive interviews, compelling profiles and multigenerational stories that showcase the region’s deep connection to soccer.
Featured segments include:
Chris Wondolowski: A Bay Area Soccer Legend
The San Jose Earthquakes icon and Hall of Famer reflects on the growth of soccer in Northern California and the excitement surrounding the World Cup’s arrival in the Bay Area.
Naomi Girma: From San Jose to the World Stage
The San Jose native and international soccer star shares her journey from local fields to becoming one of the top players in women’s soccer.
Golden Boot Academy: Building Dreams in the East Bay
An Oakland-based program founded by an Ethiopian immigrant helping young athletes pursue their dreams of playing professional soccer.
The Diego Luna Family: A Journey of Support and Success
From Sunnyvale to Major League Soccer, Luna’s rise is fueled by family support and a commitment to giving back to the next generation of players.
From Cleaners to Fans: A Family’s Soccer Transformation
A local family’s connection to the game begins while working behind the scenes at an Oakland Roots stadium and grows into a lasting passion for soccer.
About NBC Bay Area / KNTV
Owned by NBCUniversal, NBC Bay Area / KNTV is the Bay Area’s investigative station located in the heart of Silicon Valley. NBC Bay Area is committed to reflecting the communities it serves and supporting viewers through solution-based journalism that moves the community forward. The station addresses the Bay Area’s most pressing issues across all platforms, featuring the Investigative Unit and NBC Bay Area Responds. NBC Bay Area can be seen locally on Comcast 3 and 703 and over-the-air on 11, as well as on streaming platforms including NBCBayArea.com, Peacock, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, YouTube, Samsung TV Plus and Xumo Play.
# # #
MEDIA CONTACT
Liza Catalan
408-234-9540
liza.catalan@nbcuni.com
