LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass joined Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts, Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission President & CEO Kathryn Schloessman, and the Los Angeles Host Committee in celebrating the announcement that FIFA has selected SoFi Stadium in Inglewood to host the U.S. Men’s National Team’s opening match for the FIFA World Cup 26 on June 12, 2026.
In a live broadcast event earlier today, FIFA announced that the Los Angeles region will host a total of eight matches over the historic 39-day-long tournament, including two matches featuring the U.S. Men’s National Team in group-stage play. The L.A. area has hosted some of the world’s most memorable soccer moments, including seven CONCACAF Gold Cup Finals, the 1994 FIFA World Cup Final, the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final, the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final, and now the FIFA World Cup 26 U.S. Opening Match.
“We are honored and excited that FIFA has selected the Los Angeles region to host the U.S Men’s National Team opening match for the FIFA World Cup 26,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “Los Angeles has quite the lineup of world class events coming to our city in the next few years – we are ready to welcome the world to Los Angeles to experience the diverse food, culture, and natural beauty that defines our city. I want to thank the L.A. Sports & Entertainment Commission for their hard work over many years to bring the FIFA World Cup back to L.A. I look forward to working closely with the Host Committee and Mayor Butts, and I am delighted for the world to enjoy all that he has brought to the City of Inglewood and our region.”
“SoFi Stadium is the world’s premier venue for staging major events—from the Super Bowl and College Football Playoff National Championship to record-setting Taylor Swift and Beyoncé concerts,” said City of Inglewood Mayor James Butts. “It’s a natural fit for soccer’s biggest stage…here in the City of Champions. We can’t wait to show the world what makes our City of Inglewood SHINE when hosting FIFA World Cup 26™.”
This announcement adds to the blockbuster lineup of major sports coming to the Los Angeles region in the coming years, including the 2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball West Region Championship, 2026 U.S. Women’s Open Championship, the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, FIFA World Cup 26, Super Bowl LXI in 2027, and the 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games.
Mayor Bass recently returned from a trip to Washington, DC where she met with Mayors from FIFA World Cup 26 host cities throughout the U.S. and White House senior officials about a range of issues including federal support for safety and transportation during the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games as well as continued collaboration to address the homelessness crisis.