Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Match Day Guide

SoFi Stadium is a $5.5 billion purpose-built venue in Inglewood with a fixed translucent roof, exceptional sightlines, and around 75,000 capacity for World Cup matches. LA hosts 8 matches — including the USA vs Paraguay opener on June 12 and a Quarterfinal on July 10. The city's Latino football community is enormous: expect proper atmosphere for any match involving the USA, Mexico, or South American nations.

The most important logistical fact about LA: Traffic is genuinely severe around SoFi on match days. The Metro C Line + match-day shuttle is faster and less stressful than any car or rideshare. Use it.

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Los Angeles Match Schedule

SoFi Stadium hosts 8 FIFA World Cup 2026 matches. All times are Pacific Time (PT).

| Date | Kick-off | Match | Stage | |------|----------|-------|-------| | Fri 12 Jun | 18:00 PT | USA vs Paraguay | Group D | | Sun 15 Jun | 18:00 PT | Iran vs New Zealand | Group G | | Thu 18 Jun | 12:00 PT | Switzerland vs TBD | Group B | | Sun 21 Jun | 12:00 PT | Belgium vs Iran | Group G | | Thu 25 Jun | 19:00 PT | TBD vs USA | Group D | | Sun 28 Jun | 12:00 PT | TBD vs TBD | Round of 32 | | Thu 2 Jul | 12:00 PT | TBD vs TBD | Round of 32 | | Fri 10 Jul | 12:00 PT | TBD vs TBD | Quarterfinal |

Source: FIFA.com official match schedule. Knockout stage opponents confirmed as the group stage concludes.

USA vs Paraguay (Jun 12) is one of the most anticipated group-stage matches in the tournament — a USA home opener in the world's entertainment capital, with a city that has one of the largest Latino fan communities in North America. Plan maximum extra time for getting there and back.

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Getting to SoFi Stadium

SoFi Stadium is in Inglewood, approximately 6 miles southeast of LAX and 15 miles southwest of downtown LA.

Option 1 — Metro C Line + Inglewood Transit Connect Shuttle (Recommended)

This is the fastest and most predictable option on match days. LA traffic around Inglewood during a sold-out event is severe.

Step 1 — Metro C Line (Green Line) to Hawthorne/Lennox

• Board anywhere on the C Line (runs east-west, connecting downtown, Crenshaw, and the South Bay)
• Ride to Hawthorne/Lennox station
• Journey time from 7th Street/Metro Center (downtown): ~40 minutes
• Fare: $1.75 per ride with TAP card — load a TAP card at any Metro station or at metro.net

Step 2 — Inglewood Transit Connect Match-Day Shuttle

• From Hawthorne/Lennox, follow signs to the Inglewood Transit Connect shuttle stop
• Free match-day shuttle service runs directly to SoFi Stadium gates
• Journey time: ~10 minutes
• Inglewood Transit Connect schedule and routes at theinglewoodtransit.com

Total journey from downtown LA: ~50 minutes door-to-gate.

Match-day shuttles run on event schedules — confirm service times for your specific match date at the Inglewood Transit Connect site before match day.

Option 2 — From LAX Airport

LAX is approximately 6 miles from SoFi Stadium — one of the closest stadium-to-airport distances in the tournament.

• Metro connection: Take the LAX FlyAway bus or the new LAX/Metro Transit Center connector to reach the C Line. From the Transit Center, take the C Line to Hawthorne/Lennox and shuttle to SoFi. Journey: 35–50 minutes. LAX ground transport at lawa.org
• Rideshare from LAX: $25–45 on normal days. Match days: longer wait times, higher prices.

Option 3 — Rideshare (Uber / Lyft)

Pre-match: From downtown LA, $40–80 depending on surge. From LAX, $25–45. From Santa Monica/West Hollywood, $35–60.

Post-match: Surge pricing after a sold-out SoFi event is severe. Waits of 30–45 minutes at stadium prices are common. Walk 15–20 minutes away from the stadium toward Hawthorne Blvd before opening the app to reduce both the wait and the surge multiplier. Alternatively, take the shuttle back to Hawthorne/Lennox and request from there.

Option 4 — Drive and Park

SoFi Stadium has 12,000+ parking spaces in surrounding lots.

• Pre-purchase required: Parking for World Cup matches must be pre-purchased through the official SoFi app or website — sofistadium.com. Walk-up parking is not guaranteed.
• Cost: Typically $40–$75 per vehicle for major events. World Cup rates will be set by FIFA/SoFi — check the official site.
• Arrive early: Lots open 3–4 hours before kickoff. Arrive 2+ hours before for the USA match — the road network around Inglewood backs up early.
• Exit: Budget 45–75 minutes to clear the immediate area after a full-capacity match.

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Arrival Times by Match

| Match | Arrive by | Notes | |-------|-----------|-------| | USA vs Paraguay (Jun 12) | 2.5 hours early | US home opener, maximum crowd and security | | Belgium vs Iran, Switzerland groups | 90 min early | Standard crowd management | | Iran vs New Zealand, Group G | 90 min early | Manageable but Iran fans travel well | | TBD vs USA (Jun 25) | 2 hours early | Potential group decider | | Rounds of 32 / Quarterfinal | 2 hours early | Knockout intensity, heavier operations |

Gates open: Typically 2.5–3 hours before kickoff — confirm on your ticket or at sofistadium.com.

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Weather at SoFi Stadium

LA in June and July is reliably excellent for football. Expect:

• Temperature: 22–28°C (72–82°F) during afternoon matches. Evening matches are comfortable at 18–22°C.
• Rain: Virtually zero. The rainy season ends in April. You will not need rain gear.
• June Gloom: Morning coastal cloud cover is common in early June, but typically burns off by midday. Evening matches on the coast may carry a light marine layer — bring a light layer for night games.
• UV: High, even on overcast mornings. Sunscreen is important for day matches — the UV index in Southern California is elevated year-round.

SoFi's fixed translucent roof provides shade and keeps the atmosphere inside, without fully enclosing the stadium — there is airflow. Afternoon matches will be cooler inside than the outdoor temperature.

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Bag Policy

SoFi Stadium uses the NFL Clear Bag Policy for all major events. Allowed:

• Clear plastic tote up to 12" × 6" × 12"
• One-gallon clear resealable bag
• Small non-clear clutch up to 4.5" × 6.5"

Standard backpacks, camera bags, and purses are not permitted. See the full stadium bag policy guide for complete rules and what to do if you arrive with the wrong bag.

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Inside SoFi Stadium

The venue: SoFi Stadium opened in 2020 and is considered the most technologically advanced stadium in the NFL. The translucent roof and full HD video board wrap make it one of the best environments for a night match anywhere in the world.

Food: LA's food diversity carries into the stadium. Expect birria tacos, Korean BBQ, pupusas, and elotes alongside standard fare. Budget $16–22 per meal. Card and cash accepted.

Atmosphere note: LA crowds are often characterised as passive — but that changes significantly when the USA plays here, and completely when CONCACAF or South American teams play in front of an Inglewood crowd. The local Mexican, Salvadoran, and Colombian communities pack these stands and bring proper atmosphere.

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Fan Zones

LA's FIFA Fan Festival is confirmed near the Downtown LA area — the LA Live / Crypto.com Arena entertainment complex is the expected hub, with multiple bars, screens, and food options that activate around match schedules. Check official FIFA fan festival locations at fifa.com.

The Grand Park area (adjacent to City Hall, downtown) is also a likely gathering point for screenings and pre-match build-up.

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After the Match

Metro is the fastest exit: The C Line shuttle from the stadium back to Hawthorne/Lennox runs post-match and avoids the road gridlock entirely. From Hawthorne/Lennox you can transfer to any C Line destination.

Post-match areas:

• Inglewood / The Forum area: Bars and restaurants immediately adjacent to SoFi campus. Convenient but limited in variety.
• Downtown LA (15 miles): Metro or rideshare back to LA Live, Staples Center area, or South Broadway for late-night food and nightlife.
• Koreatown (10 miles): For the best post-match Korean BBQ. Late-night, always open, one of the great post-match food experiences in any host city.

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Book Your Hotel in Los Angeles

Best areas to stay for SoFi matches:

| Area | Distance to Stadium | Why choose it | |------|-------------------|---------------| | Inglewood / Hawthorne | 5–10 min walk | Closest. Limited dining and nightlife. | | Downtown LA | 15 miles, ~40 min Metro | Wide hotel range, good Metro connection | | Hollywood / West Hollywood | 20 miles, ~50 min Metro | More character, better for sightseeing | | Long Beach | 15 miles south | $30–60/night cheaper, own airport (LGB) |

LA hotel prices for match dates — especially the USA home games (Jun 12, Jun 25) — will be significantly higher than normal. Book refundable rates early.

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Why insurance matters for LA specifically: US medical costs are among the highest in the world. A single emergency room visit runs $1,500–$5,000 without coverage. Combine that with non-refundable match tickets and flights, and a policy is straightforward value. Compare plans →

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Practical Details

Time zone: Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7). 3 hours behind New York, 2 hours behind Dallas and Mexico City.

Currency: USD. Cards accepted everywhere. Carry $40–60 cash for street tacos, market vendors, and parking tips.

Emergency number: 911.

Nearest hospitals to SoFi Stadium:

• Centinela Hospital Medical Center — 555 E Hardy St, Inglewood (~2 miles from stadium)
• Cedars-Sinai Medical Center — 8700 Beverly Blvd, West Hollywood (~10 miles)

Language: LA is effectively a bilingual city. Spanish is widely spoken and appreciated.

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Sources & Verification

| Source | What it covers | Link | |--------|---------------|------| | FIFA.com | Official match schedule, dates, kick-off times | fifa.com/worldcup | | SoFi Stadium | Parking, gates, bag policy, stadium info | sofistadium.com | | LA Metro | C Line routes, TAP card, fares | metro.net | | Inglewood Transit Connect | Match-day shuttle to SoFi | theinglewoodtransit.com | | LAX Ground Transport | Airport-to-Metro connections | lawa.org | | Centinela Hospital | Nearest hospital to SoFi Stadium | centinelahospital.com |

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