With the 2026 FIFA World Cup less than two months away, Southern California’s SoFi Stadium kicked things into high gear Wednesday as it continues to prepare the pitch for the world’s biggest soccer tournament.
The stadium in Inglewood — dubbed “Los Angeles Stadium” for the World Cup — will host eight FIFA World Cup matches this June and July.
The 3.1 million-square-foot venue typically serves as the home of the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers and also hosts major concert tours and other large-scale events.
Now, major modifications are underway to add a world-class pitch to the stadium required to meet FIFA standards so that global soccer can take centerstage.
On Wednesday, crews removed the stadium’s final demountable seating section to make way for the start of construction on the pitch.
The stadium’s biggest change will be to its field.
Normally, it boasts artificial turf but for the World Cup, that turf will sit under natural grass that will be brought in for the tournament, making the field sit much higher.
Last summer, the field was transformed for a National League tournament. It was widened for that event, but for the World Cup, it will be widened even more.
For an NFL game, the width of the field is about 54 yards but FIFA’s standards for an international soccer game is a field width of 68 meters, which is about 74 yards.
The temporary removal of hundreds of seats will allow crews to make the venue’s field wider.
SoFi Stadium
SoFi Stadium
Branding and signage will also look different at SoFi Stadium during the World Cup.
The venue’s normal sponsor signs will be temporarily removed, and the stadium will be known as the Los Angeles Stadium during the tournament.
The result of the transformation — from the field and seating to the signs — will be a new look and new feel for the stadium.
By the way, this isn’t the versatile venue’s first transformation.
The site hosted horse racing as the Hollywood Park Racetrack for 75 years, from 1938 to 2013, until the track was demolished for the SoFi Stadium development.
In 2022, SoFi Stadium hosted Super Bowl LVI. In 2023, it hosted “Wrestlemania.” Just last week, it hosted a Monster Jam show. In 2027, the site will host Super LXI.
In 2028, it will host the Opening Ceremony for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and will be converted into the largest Olympic swimming venue in history for the Games.
With excitement for the FIFA World Cup swirling ahead of the global event, NBCLA and Telemundo 52 hosted a play day for children in partnership with youth organization Woodcraft Rangers. This video was broadcast on the NBC4 News at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
2026 FIFA World Cup matches in Los Angeles
The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on June 11 in Mexico with the opener in Mexico City. Co-hosts USA and Canada will host their openers in Los Angeles and Toronto on June 12.
Eight of the World Cup matches will be played at SoFi Stadium, aka Los Angeles Stadium, including five group stage matches.
The matchups were finalized a couple of weeks ago.
Here’s the Los Angeles schedule:
- June 12: USA vs. Paraguay
- June 15: Iran vs. New Zealand
- June 18: Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
- June 21: Belgium vs. Iran
- June 25: USA vs. Turkey
- June 28: Round of 32 match
- July 2: Round of 32 match
- July 10: Quarterfinal
In all, 104 matches will be played throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup; the championship match is at MetLife Stadium in Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19.
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