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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Cameron DaSilva

SoFi Stadium to host 2026 World Cup opener for U.S. Men’s National Team

When Stan Kroenke brought the Rams back to Los Angeles and built SoFi Stadium, he had visions of it becoming one of the top venues in the world. It’s already hosted a Super Bowl and a college football national championship, and in 2026, it’ll play host to multiple World Cup matches.

FIFA announced that while SoFi Stadium wasn’t awarded the World Cup Final, it will host the United States’ opening match on June 12. It’ll be the venue for two of the U.S. team’s three group stage matches, with the third being played up in Seattle.

In total, eight matches will be played at SoFi Stadium, including two round-of-32 matches and a quarterfinal. SoFi Stadium’s eight matches are second only to AT&T Stadium, which will have nine played there.

The World Cup Final will be played at MetLife Stadium, which is home to the Jets and Giants.

SoFi Stadium will undergo some renovations in preparation for the World Cup two years from now. Retractable bleacher risers will replace concrete seats in the corners of the lower bowl so that they can be moved during soccer matches where the field is wider. Additionally, a temporary grass field will be installed for the World Cup, replacing the turf.

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