2026 FIFA World Cup Pitch Construction Begins at LA’s SoFi Stadium The SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, is undergoing significant modifications to prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with construction of the tournament’s pitch officially starting on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. The stadium, which will be renamed “Los Angeles Stadium” for the event, is set to host eight matches during the tournament, including five group stage games and three knockout rounds. The transformation involves removing temporary seating sections to create space for a world-class soccer pitch that meets FIFA standards. The stadium, typically home to the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers, has already hosted major events such as Super Bowl LVI, Wrestlemania, and Monster Jam. For the World Cup, its field will be reconfigured to accommodate natural grass, a departure from its usual artificial turf. Over 74,000 square feet of real grass will be laid over a hybrid surface, designed to thrive in the outdoor environment. Construction executive Rick Solomon of Clark Construction Group emphasized the effort to create a sustainable pitch, noting that permeable vacuum ventilation layers and grow lights will be installed to maintain the grass’s health. A key modification involves widening the field to meet FIFA’s international soccer standards. While NFL games use a field width of about 54 yards, FIFA requires a width of 68 meters (approximately 74 yards). To achieve this, crews have removed more than 400 corner seats, reducing the stadium’s fixed seating capacity to 69,000. Otto Benedict, SoFi Stadium’s Vice President of Facility and Campus Operations, highlighted that fans will experience the action up close, with the grass pitch extending near the seating areas.#sofi_stadium #fifa_world_cup #los_angeles_stadium #clark_construction_group #ottobenedict
