SoFi Stadium

SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, rebranded as Los Angeles Stadium for the duration of the 2026 World Cup under FIFA's neutral-naming policy, will host eight World Cup fixtures, including USA vs Paraguay (12 June), Iran vs New Zealand (15 June) and Belgium vs Iran (21 June). The stadium has a capacity of approximately 70,000 and features a translucent ETFE roof allowing natural light while controlling the climate, a significant consideration for summer football in Southern California. Completed in 2020 at a cost of over $5.5 billion, it is the home of the NFL's Los Angeles Rams and Chargers.

Iran's Group G matches at SoFi were central to the diplomatic row over Iran's World Cup participation. Iran sought relocation to Mexico, which FIFA formally rejected on 12 April . The large Iranian-American diaspora in California was a specific concern; Los Angeles is the most diverse city in North America and Iran's Group G fixtures will draw huge diaspora communities whatever the final diplomatic resolution.

UNITE HERE Local 11, representing roughly 2,000 SoFi hospitality workers, wrote to FIFA on 7 April demanding a commitment that federal immigration agents will not participate in tournament operations. As of 19 April, FIFA had not replied; the union expanded its demands to include a prohibition on AI systems displacing union roles and a regional ban on Airbnb, one of FIFA's own tournament sponsors, operating short-term rentals during the tournament .

On 8 May 2026, UNITE HERE Local 11 filed an NLRB unfair labour practice charge naming FIFA, Legends Hospitality, and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment as co-respondents over SoFi working conditions.

In early June 2026 the roughly 2,000 Local 11 workers at SoFi held a formal strike-authorisation vote, escalating beyond the NLRB filing.

No strike materialised at the 12 June opener: the United States beat Paraguay 4-1 at SoFi, Folarin Balogun scoring twice, before a broadcast audience of roughly 19 million, the largest ever recorded for a football match in the United States. SoFi went on to host Switzerland's 4-1 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina (18 June) and Iran's 0-0 draw with Belgium (21 June), before staging the tournament's first round-of-32 tie on 28 June: Canada beat South Africa 1-0, Stephen Eustaquio scoring in the 92nd minute for Canada's first-ever World Cup knockout win.