Host City Guide · World Cup 2026
Los Angeles World Cup 2026: SoFi Stadium, Fan Zones, and Matchday Guide
This world cup 2026 los angeles guide is built for fans planning around the USMNT opener and the seven other SoFi Stadium fixtures that follow. It covers the matches, transit from LAX and across the city, the LA Memorial Coliseum Fan Festival, where to base yourself, and the matchday logistics that only make sense once you have stood in an Inglewood rideshare line.
City quick facts
Quick answer
Los Angeles matchday planning at a glance.
Los Angeles hosts 8 World Cup 2026 matches at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, including the USMNT opener vs Paraguay on June 12 and a Quarterfinal on July 10. The official FIFA Fan Festival runs at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum starting June 11. From LAX, the practical route is the Metro K Line to Downtown Inglewood plus the free SoFi shuttle; most visitors base themselves in Inglewood, on the Westside, or downtown depending on whether stadium access or evenings matter more.
Overview
Why Los Angeles matters at World Cup 2026.
Los Angeles is the busiest West Coast host city of the tournament. SoFi Stadium hosts eight matches across both the group and knockout stages, with the USMNT opener vs Paraguay on June 12 and a Quarterfinal on July 10. For US fans who want to follow the team in-person, the LA window — June 12, June 25, and the deeper rounds — is a real anchor.
The LA opener is the day after the tournament’s opening match in Mexico City. Fans planning a North America road trip across the first weekend can pair the two — see our Mexico City guide for the June 11 side of that itinerary.
LA is a host city of contrasts. SoFi is one of the newest and most expensive stadiums in the world. Inglewood is surrounded by the city it was built into rather than a purpose-built sports district. LAX is five miles away by map and a different planet by traffic. The Fan Festival lives at the historic 1932 / 1984 Olympic Coliseum.
The other West Coast host is Seattle — a lighter group-stage schedule with Link light rail straight from SEA to Lumen Field — and the tournament closes at MetLife on July 19, covered in our New York / NJ guide.
This guide focuses on the practical decisions — how to actually get from your hotel to the stadium, where the LA experience is concentrated, and the small details (sun, bag policy, rideshare staging) that catch first-time visitors out. Not ticket sales, not speculation, not promo copy.
Matches
The eight SoFi Stadium fixtures.
Match dates are confirmed. Kickoff times are still to be confirmed by FIFA — the USA vs Paraguay opener is the exception, with a confirmed 6:00 PM Pacific kickoff.
Match 4
Fri, June 12, 2026 · 6:00 PM PT
USA vs Paraguay
Group D · USMNT opener
Match 15
Mon, June 15, 2026
Iran vs New Zealand
Group stage
Match 26
Thu, June 18, 2026
Switzerland vs TBD
Group stage
Match 39
Sun, June 21, 2026
Belgium vs Iran
Group stage
Match 59
Thu, June 25, 2026
Türkiye/TBD vs USA
Group D · USMNT third match
Match 73
Sun, June 28, 2026
Round of 32 (TBD)
Knockout stage
Match 84
Thu, July 2, 2026
Round of 32 (TBD)
Knockout stage
Match 98
Fri, July 10, 2026
Quarter-Final (TBD)
Knockout stage
Stadium
SoFi Stadium World Cup 2026 guide.
The home venue is SoFi Stadium, located in Inglewood about five miles east of LAX. FIFA tournament rules ban commercial sponsor names on host venues, so during the World Cup the building is referred to in official materials as Los Angeles Stadium. On maps, rideshare apps, signage, and the conversation you’ll have with any local — it is still SoFi Stadium. That is the name you want for navigation.
Built for the LA Rams and LA Chargers and opened in 2020, SoFi is one of the newest large-capacity venues in North America: an indoor-outdoor design under a translucent ETFE roof, with a high-definition Infinity Screen running down the center of the field. Soccer configuration accommodates the wider FIFA-standard pitch by removing corner seats, so the World Cup 2026 capacity sits at 69,650 — down from the typical NFL footprint of around 70,000.
At a glance
- FIFA capacity
- 69,650 (soccer configuration)
- Location
- Inglewood, ~5 mi east of LAX
- Closest station
- Downtown Inglewood (Metro K Line) + free SoFi shuttle
- Opened
- 2020; ETFE roof, indoor-outdoor design, Infinity Screen above the pitch
From LAX
How to get to SoFi Stadium from the airport.
The Metro K Line and the free SoFi shuttle together solve the airport-to-stadium problem cheaply and reliably. Rideshare and driving work, but cost more and stall in matchday traffic.
Metro K Line + free shuttle
The newest LAX-area transit hub — the LAX/Metro Transit Center — is served by both the C Line and the K Line. Board the K Line northbound to Downtown Inglewood Station, then board the free SoFi Stadium Shuttle. Shuttles start running about three hours before kickoff and come every 3 to 5 minutes. Total door-to-stadium time from the LAX terminals is typically 45 to 60 minutes.
Regular Metro fare is $1.75 one-way, $3.50 round-trip. The shuttle itself is free. Buy a TAP card at any rail station machine before your first ride.
Rideshare and driving
Map distance is short — typically 15 to 20 minutes from LAX off-peak. Matchday is a different story: approach traffic on Century Boulevard and Prairie Avenue can push the same trip to 45 to 60 minutes, and rideshare drivers queue at controlled drop-off zones around the venue.
Walk-up parking at SoFi is not available without a pre-purchased pass. If you drive, buy parking in advance, and budget at least 45 minutes to clear the lots after final whistle. The free K Line shuttle is usually faster on the way out than driving yourself.
From the city
Routes from Downtown LA, Hollywood, and Santa Monica.
LA is large enough that your starting neighborhood is the biggest factor in matchday timing. The Metro K Line shuttle is the universal last mile — the question is which line gets you to a southbound K Line transfer.
Downtown LA
Metro
Metro A or E Line to 7th Street/Metro Center, transfer to the C Line at LAX/Metro Transit Center, then board the K Line south to Downtown Inglewood Station for the SoFi shuttle.
Rideshare / drive
Rideshare ~30 minutes off-peak, 60–75 on a matchday afternoon.
Hollywood & Mid-Wilshire
Metro
Metro B Line south to 7th Street/Metro Center, then the same C → K transfer toward Downtown Inglewood. Plan 50–70 minutes door-to-shuttle.
Rideshare / drive
Rideshare ~30–45 minutes off-peak; surface streets via La Brea or La Cienega are faster than the 405.
Santa Monica & the Westside
Metro
Metro E Line east, transfer south to the C Line, then the K Line to Downtown Inglewood. Direct rideshare often beats transit by 20 minutes off-peak.
Rideshare / drive
Rideshare ~30 minutes off-peak, 60+ on matchday with stadium-bound traffic on the 405 and the 90.
Note: the Inglewood Transit Connector light rail extension is still under construction and will not be in service for World Cup 2026. The free Metro shuttle from Downtown Inglewood Station is the official last-mile until then.
Fan Festival
LA’s flagship fan zone is at the Coliseum.
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum — the 1932 and 1984 Olympic stadium — anchors the official FIFA Fan Festival, with additional district fan zones across LA County during the tournament.
The flagship los angeles fan zone world cup 2026 venue is the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at 3911 South Figueroa Street in Exposition Park, just south of Downtown LA. The Coliseum hosts the FIFA Fan Festival opening run from June 11–14, 2026, with continuing programming and additional fan zones across LA County through the tournament window.
Programming includes live music, cultural performances, food from the LA region, and live broadcasts of tournament matches on the field. The space is built for crowds — the Coliseum opened in 1923 and has hosted two Olympics, an NFL Super Bowl, and a Pope.
What to expect
- Tickets
- $10 general admission via Ticketmaster; kids under 12 free.
- Transit
- Metro E Line to Expo Park / USC Station; walk south to the Coliseum.
- Opening run
- June 11–14, 2026 (additional dates and locations to be confirmed).
- Additional venues
- Further LA County district fan zones are still to be confirmed.
We track fan zone updates on our Fan Zones page as new locations are announced.
Where to stay
Three bases that work for World Cup trips.
LA is enormous and traffic-shaped. Where you sleep changes every matchday and every off-day. These three areas balance stadium access, Fan Festival access, and the kind of evenings you’ll actually want after a 9 PM final whistle.
Closest stadium access
Inglewood & LAX corridor
Best for fans who want the shortest matchday loop. Walk, rideshare, or use the free Metro shuttle from Downtown Inglewood Station. Trade-off: evenings are quieter and dining options are spread out, so plan to drive or rideshare for non-match nights.
Balanced base
Westside · Santa Monica & Culver City
A practical middle option: beach mornings, walkable evenings, and roughly 30–45 minutes to SoFi via Metro or rideshare. Culver City in particular lines up well with the C/K Line stadium route while keeping a real neighborhood feel after the match.
Best transit hub
Downtown LA & Koreatown
The strongest base if you want public-transit-only matchdays plus easy reach to the FIFA Fan Festival at the LA Memorial Coliseum (a short ride south to Expo Park / USC on the E Line). Strongest food scene of the three options, and the Metro 7th Street/Metro Center hub means almost every line connects from here.
Matchday tips
Sun, security, and the bits people forget.
- June and July in LA are warm, dry, and bright. Sun exposure — not heat — is the real matchday issue. Pack a brimmed hat, high-SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, and a refillable water bottle.
- Mornings near the coast can be cool and overcast (the "marine layer") even when inland LA is sunny. A light layer in your bag is worth packing if you are starting from Santa Monica or Venice.
- Arrive at SoFi at least 90 minutes before kickoff. The free Inglewood shuttle queue, gate security, and SoFi’s clear-bag policy all benefit from a buffer. Bag policy details for FIFA matches are still to be confirmed.
- Refillable water bottles have historically been allowed at SoFi, with refill stations inside. Outside food and full drinks are not permitted. Eat a real meal before you leave for the venue.
- Walk-up parking at SoFi requires a pre-purchased pass. If you are driving, buy in advance — and expect to spend an hour clearing the lots after final whistle. The free K Line shuttle is faster on the way out.
- Rideshare staging zones around the venue shift on matchday. Confirm the official pickup zone before requesting a return ride; do not improvise outside the gates.
Beyond the match
One non-match day in LA.
Off-days reward a single anchor decision. Pick one: a beach morning in Venice or Santa Monica with the Pacific in the background; Griffith Observatory at sunset for the skyline and the Hollywood sign; or museum row on the Westside (LACMA, Academy Museum) plus The Broad downtown. Hollywood Boulevard is worth one walk-through and not much more. LA is a car-shaped city — even a rest day usually benefits from a rideshare budget rather than trying to puzzle every leg out of Metro.
FAQ
Common fan questions.
When does the USMNT play at SoFi Stadium?
USA vs Paraguay kicks off Group D for the U.S. men’s national team on Friday, June 12, 2026 at 6:00 PM Pacific Time at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. It is one day after the tournament opening match in Mexico City. The USMNT’s third group match is also at SoFi on Thursday, June 25, 2026, opponent to be confirmed.
How many matches does Los Angeles host?
Eight matches in total at SoFi Stadium: five group-stage games (June 12, 15, 18, 21, and 25), two Round of 32 fixtures (June 28 and July 2), and one Quarterfinal on July 10. LA is the busiest West Coast host city of the tournament.
Why does FIFA call it "Los Angeles Stadium" instead of SoFi Stadium?
FIFA tournament rules ban commercial sponsor names on host venues during a World Cup. Official broadcast graphics, ticketing pages, and signage during the tournament use the neutral name Los Angeles Stadium. The building is still SoFi Stadium for maps, rideshare apps, and everyday use — that is the name to type into Google Maps.
How do I get to SoFi Stadium from LAX without a car?
Take Metro from the LAX/Metro Transit Center on either the C Line or the K Line, ride to Downtown Inglewood Station, and board the free SoFi Stadium Shuttle. The shuttle starts running about three hours before kickoff and runs every 3–5 minutes. Total time from LAX is typically 45 to 60 minutes.
Where is the FIFA Fan Festival in Los Angeles?
The flagship FIFA Fan Festival venue in LA is the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at 3911 South Figueroa Street in Exposition Park. General admission is $10 (kids under 12 free) via Ticketmaster, with the opening-weekend run from June 11 through June 14, 2026. Additional fan zones across LA County will be announced through the tournament window.
Is CupCities an official World Cup website?
No. CupCities is an independent fan information website and is not affiliated with FIFA or any official tournament organizer.
CupCities is an independent fan information website and is not affiliated with FIFA or any official tournament organizer.