The most expensive stadium ever built, a roughly 5.5 billion dollar indoor-outdoor showpiece in Inglewood. For 2026 it hosts eight matches, including the United States opener against Paraguay and a quarterfinal, on natural grass laid over its usual turf. FIFA calls it Los Angeles Stadium during the tournament.
Updated 6 June 2026 · WorldCuply.com editorial · Independent, not affiliated with FIFA
8
Matches hosted
~70,000
World Cup capacity
2020
Opened
QF
Deepest stage
The Venue
The most expensive stadium ever built
SoFi Stadium, in Inglewood in the Los Angeles area, opened in September 2020 at a cost of about 5.5 billion dollars, making it the most expensive stadium ever built. Designed by the architecture firm HKS, it is the home of the NFL's Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers and the centrepiece of the Hollywood Park development.
It is an indoor-outdoor stadium: a fixed translucent ETFE canopy roof keeps the sun and weather off while the sides stay open to the Southern California air. Suspended above the field is the Infinity Screen, a vast dual-sided 4K video board that is one of the most striking features in world sport. SoFi hosted Super Bowl LVI in 2022 and will stage events at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, so the World Cup slots into a remarkable run of global events.
Under FIFA's clean-venue sponsorship policy the stadium is called Los Angeles Stadium during the tournament, because the commercial SoFi name belongs to a non-FIFA sponsor. For how it sits among all 16 venues, see our stadiums and host cities hub.
Editor's Spotlight
Match 4: United States vs Paraguay, the home opener
Group D · Match 4
United States vs Paraguay
Date
Fri 12 Jun 2026
Kickoff
6:00 PM local
Venue
SoFi · LA
Stage
Group D
SoFi gets one of the headline fixtures of the opening weekend: co-hosts the United States begin their home World Cup against Paraguay in front of a packed Inglewood crowd. It is the first of two USA group games at the venue, with a Friday-evening kickoff under the LA lights.
For more on the USA's group and route, see our USA team guide and the Group D guide. The United States return to SoFi to face Turkey on 25 June.
SoFi Schedule
All eight 2026 World Cup matches at SoFi Stadium
SoFi hosts five group-stage matches, two Round of 32 ties and one quarterfinal, eight in total. Times below are local Pacific Time, which is on daylight saving in June and July.
Match #
Date / Kickoff (local)
Fixture
Stage
4
Fri 12 Jun · 6:00 PM
United States vs Paraguay
Group D · US opener
15
Mon 15 Jun · 6:00 PM
Iran vs New Zealand
Group G
26
Thu 18 Jun · 12:00 noon
Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group B
39
Sun 21 Jun · 12:00 noon
Belgium vs Iran
Group G
59
Thu 25 Jun · 7:00 PM
Turkey vs United States
Group D
73
Sun 28 Jun · 12:00 noon
Round of 32 (TBC)
Round of 32
84
Thu 2 Jul · 12:00 noon
Round of 32 (TBC)
Round of 32
98
Fri 10 Jul · 12:00 noon
Quarterfinal (TBC)
Quarterfinal
The quarterfinal on 10 July is the deepest stage SoFi reaches in 2026. For the full grid in your own local time, use our schedule and calendar.
Design & Pitch
The roof, the screen and the grass
SoFi is one of the most advanced stadiums in the world, but hosting the World Cup meant solving one specific problem: the surface.
The stadium normally plays on artificial turf for the NFL, but FIFA requires natural grass for every World Cup match. For 2026 a real pitch, a Kentucky bluegrass and ryegrass mix reinforced with synthetic fibres, is grown and laid over the usual surface, with the canopy roof helping control light and temperature for the grass. The same indoor-outdoor design that makes SoFi comfortable for fans also helps protect the pitch.
Capacity
~70,000
About 70,240 seats in standard configuration, the World Cup setup. Expandable beyond 100,000 for events such as the Super Bowl.
Opened
2020
Opened September 2020 at about 5.5 billion dollars, the most expensive stadium ever built, designed by HKS.
Surface
Grass
Natural grass laid over the usual artificial turf to meet FIFA's real-pitch requirement for World Cup matches.
Getting There
How to reach SoFi Stadium
SoFi sits within the Hollywood Park development in Inglewood, close to Los Angeles International Airport in the heart of a famously car-dependent city.
Car and rideshare: the most common way in, with on-site and nearby parking. Expect heavy traffic and surge pricing around kickoff, especially for the USA games.
LA Metro: the Metro K Line serves the Inglewood area, with connections toward downtown and the wider rail network, plus event-day shuttle options.
Airport: LAX is only a few miles away, handy for fans flying in for a match and heading straight to the stadium district.
Plan ahead: matinee noon kickoffs mean midday LA heat and traffic, so allow extra time and bring sun protection for the open-sided bowl.
Fan Experience
Los Angeles in a World Cup summer
Los Angeles will be one of the great host cities of 2026: a global entertainment capital with beaches, nightlife and a deep football culture across its diverse communities. SoFi anchors the Hollywood Park district, with bars, restaurants and the adjacent YouTube Theater, and the city beyond offers everything from Hollywood to Santa Monica for visiting fans between matches.
For how the bracket builds from the group stage to the Final, see our format explainer, and for the wider venue map the all-16-venues hub. The Final itself is at MetLife Stadium on 19 July, while LA's tournament ends with the 10 July quarterfinal.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How many 2026 World Cup matches does SoFi Stadium host?
Eight: five group-stage matches, two Round of 32 knockout matches, and one quarterfinal on 10 July. The quarterfinal is the deepest stage the Los Angeles venue reaches in 2026.
What is SoFi Stadium called during the World Cup?
Los Angeles Stadium. Under FIFA's clean-venue sponsorship policy, the commercial SoFi name is not used in FIFA materials during the tournament, so the venue is referred to as Los Angeles Stadium.
Does the United States play at SoFi Stadium?
Yes. The United States open their home World Cup at SoFi against Paraguay on 12 June at 6:00 PM local, and return to face Turkey on 25 June at 7:00 PM local. Both are Group D matches at the LA venue.
What is the capacity of SoFi Stadium for the World Cup?
SoFi seats about 70,240 in its standard configuration, which is roughly the World Cup capacity of around 70,000. The venue can expand beyond 100,000 for special events such as the Super Bowl, but the football configuration runs at the lower figure.
Does SoFi Stadium have grass or turf for the World Cup?
Natural grass. SoFi normally uses an artificial surface, but FIFA requires real grass for all World Cup matches, so a natural pitch, a Kentucky bluegrass and ryegrass mix with reinforced fibres, is grown and laid over the usual turf for the tournament.
Where is SoFi Stadium and when did it open?
SoFi Stadium is in Inglewood, in the Los Angeles area of Southern California. It opened in September 2020 as the most expensive stadium ever built, at a cost of about 5.5 billion dollars, designed by the architecture firm HKS.
What makes SoFi Stadium special?
It is an indoor-outdoor stadium with a fixed translucent ETFE canopy roof and open sides, home to the NFL's Rams and Chargers. Its signature feature is the Infinity Screen, a vast dual-sided 4K video board suspended above the field. It hosted Super Bowl LVI in 2022 and will stage events at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
How do I get to SoFi Stadium on a matchday?
SoFi sits within the Hollywood Park development in Inglewood, near Los Angeles International Airport. Most fans arrive by car or rideshare, with on-site and nearby parking, while the LA Metro K Line serves the area and shuttle options run on event days. Allow extra time, as LA traffic around the venue is heavy on big match days.
Will SoFi Stadium host a semi-final or the Final?
No. Los Angeles reaches the quarterfinal stage on 10 July. The semi-finals are in Dallas and Atlanta, the third-place playoff is in Miami, and the Final is at MetLife Stadium in the New York and New Jersey area on 19 July.
What time do the SoFi Stadium matches kick off?
Local Pacific Time kickoffs are: USA vs Paraguay 6:00 PM on 12 June, Iran vs New Zealand 6:00 PM on 15 June, Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina 12:00 noon on 18 June, Belgium vs Iran 12:00 noon on 21 June, Turkey vs USA 7:00 PM on 25 June, the two Round of 32 matches at 12:00 noon on 28 June and 2 July, and the quarterfinal at 12:00 noon on 10 July.
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