SoFi Stadium will begin work Monday on renovations to increase the size of its playing field area in preparation for hosting eight matches during the 2026 World Cup.
Los Angeles Rams chief operating officer Kevin Demoff says the construction involves replacing concrete in the corners of the lower bowl with bleacher risers that can be rolled back during soccer matches.
The changes should end years of reported concerns from various soccer entities about the width of the soccer fields that will fit inside the stadium, which was primarily designed to host two NFL teams on American football’s narrower field.
“It’s really just changing pre-cast concrete in the corners of the stadium to a more retractable system,” Demoff said on Sunday. “We’ll have the exact same seating capacity, exact same format and layout. The only difference will be a few of the rows in the corners will be on retractable seating versus permanent seating.”
It was always a goal of ours to have the opening match for the United States, and so to be able to have that is something we’re proud of,” said Chris Klein, the local host committee’s co-chairman and former U.S.
national team player. “The historic soccer culture in Los Angeles, and all the historic matches that have been here, to continue that with our team at such a pivotal moment for the sport in this country is something we’re really proud of.”
The construction at the multibillion-dollar stadium project is scheduled to be completed by May, in time for Copa America matches in June and a possible Arsenal exhibition match later in the summer.