Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California, will host eight matches during the WC 2026, including the United States' opening match and a quarter-final. Known as "Los Angeles Stadium" during the tournament, the venue is the most expensive stadium ever built (over $5 billion) and will also host the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the LA 2028 Olympics. With a unique semi-open canopy roof and a capacity of 70,000, Los Angeles Stadium offers a distinctive blend of outdoor California air and covered spectator seating.
| Commercial name | SoFi Stadium |
| Tournament name | Los Angeles Stadium |
| City | Inglewood, California |
| Country | USA |
| WC 2026 capacity | 70,240 |
| Year opened | 2020 |
| Roof | Fixed |
| Surface | Grass (Laid For Wc) |
| Altitude | 40 m |
| Regional cluster | West |
| WC 2026 matches | 8 (5 group stage, 2 Round of 32, 1 quarter-final) |
| Highest stage | Quarter-final |
| Timezone | PDT (UTC-7) |
| CEST difference | -9 hours (BE, PL, RS) |
| EEST difference | -10 hours (RO, GR) |
| BRT difference | -4 hours (BR) |
| Home teams | Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers (NFL) |
About Los Angeles Stadium in Los Angeles
Los Angeles Stadium opened in 2020 as the home of the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers (NFL). Located in Inglewood, California, just south of downtown Los Angeles, the stadium cost over $5 billion to build, making it the most expensive sports venue ever constructed.
Los Angeles Stadium features a unique translucent ETFE canopy roof that covers the entire stadium and surrounding grounds, but the playing field itself is open to the air. This means the stadium offers shade and weather protection for spectators while the pitch remains exposed to natural airflow. The design takes full advantage of Southern California's mild, dry climate. The venue also houses the Hollywood Park entertainment complex around it.
The stadium will play a prominent role in the LA 2028 Olympics, hosting the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and track and field events. For the tournament, a temporary natural grass surface will replace the usual artificial turf.
Los Angeles Stadium will host eight WC 2026 matches, including the United States' opening match against Paraguay on June 12 and a quarter-final on July 10.
Eight WC 2026 matches at Los Angeles Stadium
Los Angeles hosts eight matches between June 12 and July 10. The programme includes five group stage fixtures (featuring the USA opening match and matches involving Belgium, Switzerland and IR Iran), two Round of 32 matches and a quarter-final.
Group stage matches at Los Angeles Stadium
| Match | Group | Fixture | Date | ET | CEST BE/PL/RS |
EEST RO/GR |
BRT BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #4 | D | United States vs. Paraguay | Fri, June 12 | 9:00 PM | 03:00 (+1) | 04:00 (+1) | 22:00 |
| #15 | G | IR Iran vs. New Zealand | Sun, June 15 | 9:00 PM | 03:00 (+1) | 04:00 (+1) | 22:00 |
| #26 | B | Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina | Thu, June 18 | 3:00 PM | 21:00 | 22:00 | 16:00 |
| #39 | G | Belgium vs. IR Iran | Sat, June 21 | 3:00 PM | 21:00 | 22:00 | 16:00 |
| #59 | D | Turkiye vs. United States | Wed, June 25 | 10:00 PM | 04:00 (+1) | 05:00 (+1) | 23:00 |
Match 4 - United States vs. Paraguay (USA Opening Match): The host nation's first the tournament match on home soil since 1994. The United States open their Group D campaign in Los Angeles against Paraguay. Expect an electric atmosphere for the biggest US football match in over three decades.
Match 15 - IR Iran vs. New Zealand: A Group G clash between two teams with contrasting styles. New Zealand return to the tournament after their 2010 and 2022 appearances.
Match 26 - Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina: Switzerland, consistent quarter-finalists, face Bosnia and Herzegovina, who qualified through the European play-offs by eliminating Italy.
Match 39 - Belgium vs. IR Iran: Belgium face IR Iran in a crucial Group G fixture. The the Belgians will look to bounce back after their 2022 group-stage exit.
Match 59 - Turkiye vs. United States: The USA's final group match against Turkiye, who qualified through the European play-offs. This could be a decisive fixture for Group D qualification.
All group stage odds for matches at Los Angeles Stadium are available on the WC 2026 betting page. Please note: displayed odds may have changed since publication and are subject to updates.
Knockout stage matches at Los Angeles Stadium
| Stage | Fixture | Date | ET | CEST BE/PL/RS |
EEST RO/GR |
BRT BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round of 32 | 2A vs. 2B | Sat, June 28 | 3:00 PM | 21:00 | 22:00 | 16:00 |
| Round of 32 | 1H vs. 2J | Thu, July 2 | 3:00 PM | 21:00 | 22:00 | 16:00 |
| Quarter-final | W93 vs. W94 | Fri, July 10 | 3:00 PM | 21:00 | 22:00 | 16:00 |
All three knockout matches at Los Angeles Stadium kick off at 3:00 PM ET, translating to 21:00 CEST (22:00 EEST), making them prime-time evening fixtures for European viewers. The quarter-final on July 10 is the biggest match at the venue.
See the full WC 2026 schedule and tournament bracket for the complete knockout stage overview.
Betting on matches at Los Angeles Stadium: conditions and tips
Pitch, climate and conditions
Los Angeles Stadium offers a unique environment: the spectator areas are covered by a translucent canopy, but the pitch itself is open to the air. This means natural sunlight and California breezes reach the playing surface, while fans are shielded from sun and occasional marine fog.
Southern California's climate during June and July is sunny and mild, averaging 22-27C with low humidity. Rain is extremely rare. These are among the most comfortable playing conditions at any the tournament venue, with no altitude effect, minimal weather risk and pleasant temperatures. The temporary natural grass surface will play in predictable, fast conditions.
These stable conditions make Los Angeles Stadium a neutral, form-based venue where the better team on the day tends to prevail. Odds on the WC 2026 betting page update in real time.
Recommended markets for matches at Los Angeles Stadium
The mild, predictable conditions at Los Angeles Stadium make this a venue where pre-match analysis and team form carry the most weight. Key markets:
- Match Result: With no weather or altitude disruption, form guides and head-to-head records are more reliable here than at extreme venues. The favourite tends to deliver.
- Correct Score: Predictable conditions make score-line forecasting slightly more reliable. Worth considering for the knockout matches.
- Player Props (Anytime Goalscorer): The comfortable conditions suit star attackers who thrive without physical strain. Player-specific markets on key forwards are worth watching.
- Half-Time Result: With no second-half fatigue from heat or altitude, teams that lead at half-time tend to maintain their advantage in mild conditions.
The BetBuilder lets you combine match result, goalscorer and corner predictions into a single selection tailored to these comfortable conditions.
Please note: displayed odds may have changed since publication and are subject to updates.
Los Angeles Stadium: history and football heritage
Los Angeles Stadium opened in 2020 and is the most expensive sports venue ever built, with construction costs exceeding $5 billion. Despite being one of the newest stadiums in the tournament, it has already established itself as a premier destination for global sporting events.
Los Angeles Stadium will host the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the LA 2028 Olympics, making it one of the few venues in the world to play a central role in both a the tournament and an Olympic Games within a two-year span.
Major events already hosted at Los Angeles Stadium:
- Super Bowl LVI (2022) - LA Rams vs. Cincinnati Bengals
- College Football Playoff National Championship (2023)
- WrestleMania 39 (2023)
- Copa America 2024 matches
- International football friendlies
- Concerts: Taylor Swift, Beyonce, The Rolling Stones
The venue will also be the USA's opening match location for the tournament, hosting the first home the tournament match for the United States since 1994.
Time zones and kick-off times for Europe and Brazil
Los Angeles Stadium operates on Pacific Daylight Time (PDT / UTC-7) during the summer. This is the westernmost time zone among all the tournament venues (shared with San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver). For viewers across Napoleon Sports and Napoleon markets:
- Belgium, Poland, Serbia (CEST): -9 hours
- Romania, Greece (EEST): -10 hours
- Brazil (BRT): -4 hours
| Match | ET | CEST BE/PL/RS |
EEST RO/GR |
BRT BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA vs. Paraguay | 9:00 PM | 03:00 (+1) | 04:00 (+1) | 22:00 |
| IR Iran vs. New Zealand | 9:00 PM | 03:00 (+1) | 04:00 (+1) | 22:00 |
| Switzerland vs. Bosnia | 3:00 PM | 21:00 | 22:00 | 16:00 |
| Belgium vs. IR Iran | 3:00 PM | 21:00 | 22:00 | 16:00 |
| Turkiye vs. USA | 10:00 PM | 04:00 (+1) | 05:00 (+1) | 23:00 |
| Round of 32 (1) | 3:00 PM | 21:00 | 22:00 | 16:00 |
| Round of 32 (2) | 3:00 PM | 21:00 | 22:00 | 16:00 |
| Quarter-final | 3:00 PM | 21:00 | 22:00 | 16:00 |
Good news for European fans: five of the eight matches at Los Angeles Stadium kick off at 21:00 CEST (22:00 EEST), including all three knockout fixtures and the Belgium vs. IR Iran group match. These are excellent prime-time evening slots.
Three group stage matches fall after midnight for European viewers (03:00-04:00 CEST). For these late fixtures, consider placing your selections in advance. The BetBuilder lets you build your combination pre-match. Features like 1UP early payout settle your bet early if your team takes a lead.
For Brazilian fans, all matches fall between 16:00 and 23:00 BRT, with the knockout matches at 16:00 BRT, ideal afternoon viewing.
For the prime-time matches, follow the action in real time via the live centre.
See all WC 2026 kick-off times converted to your time zone.
Fan guide: Visiting Los Angeles for the tournament
Getting to Los Angeles Stadium
Los Angeles Stadium is located in Inglewood, California, approximately 5 km from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
- By air: LAX is one of the closest airports to any the tournament venue, just a short ride from the stadium.
- By metro: The LA Metro K Line (Crenshaw/LAX) has a stop near the stadium area. The Metro C Line (Green) connects to other parts of LA.
- By car: Parking is available at the Hollywood Park complex, but LA traffic is notorious. Arrive early or use ride-hailing.
Weather in Los Angeles during June and July
LA summers are sunny, warm and dry, with temperatures between 22C and 30C and virtually no rain. Coastal fog ("June Gloom") can roll in during the mornings but typically clears by midday. Los Angeles Stadium's canopy provides shade for spectators, though the pitch is open-air.
Los Angeles highlights beyond the football
Los Angeles needs little introduction:
- Hollywood and the Walk of Fame
- Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach
- Griffith Observatory - panoramic views of the city and the Hollywood sign
- The Getty Center - world-class art museum with free admission
- LA's food scene - from Mexican street food to Michelin-starred restaurants
Public transport: Neem Metro C Line of K Line en stap over op de officiële gratis Metro Express shuttles richting SoFi op matchdays.
Nearest airport: Los Angeles International (LAX), about 6 km from the stadium.
Fan zone: Santa Monica Pier & Grand Park.
FAQ about Los Angeles Stadium at WC 2026
What is the capacity of Los Angeles Stadium for the tournament?
Los Angeles Stadium will hold approximately 70,000 fans for the tournament matches.
How many WC 2026 matches are scheduled at Los Angeles Stadium?
Eight matches: five group stage fixtures (including the USA opening match), two Round of 32 matches and one quarter-final. See the full schedule for dates.
Is Los Angeles Stadium hosting the USA opening match?
Yes. The United States open their the tournament campaign against Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12 at 9:00 PM ET (03:00 CEST / 04:00 EEST / 22:00 BRT). It is the first US home the tournament match since 1994.
Does Los Angeles Stadium have a roof?
Partially. The stadium has a fixed translucent ETFE canopy that covers the spectator seating, but the pitch is open to the air. This provides shade and weather protection for fans while the playing surface benefits from natural airflow.
What time zone is Los Angeles Stadium in?
Los Angeles Stadium is in the Pacific time zone (PDT / UTC-7 during summer). CEST (Belgium, Poland, Serbia): -9 hours. EEST (Romania, Greece): -10 hours. BRT (Brazil): -4 hours.
Will Los Angeles Stadium host the Olympics?
Yes. Los Angeles Stadium is set to host the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the LA 2028 Olympics, as well as track and field events. The WC 2026 will be a major test event for the venue ahead of the Games.
Why is Los Angeles Stadium called "Los Angeles Stadium" during the tournament?
Tournament regulations prohibit commercial stadium names during the event. All 16 venues use non-commercial names. In all other contexts, the venue remains Los Angeles Stadium.
What surface does Los Angeles Stadium use for the tournament?
The stadium normally uses artificial turf. For the WC 2026, a temporary natural grass pitch will be installed to meet tournament requirements.
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