LA's Full 2026 World Cup Schedule Revealed: Every Match Date and Kickoff Time You Need to Know

When the men's World Cup first arrived in the U.S. in 1994, Pasadena's Rose Bowl served as the host venue under the wider umbrella of LA County.

The vast, concrete inverted-disc of a stadium was the backdrop for the tournament's marquee match, featuring the painfully dull distinction of being the only scoreless final in World Cup history. Thirty years on, expectations are running high for a more entertaining spectacle on the west coast.

This summer's LA showcase takes place at SoFi Stadium—or, as FIFA has officially renamed it, the Los Angeles Stadium (which is technically located in Inglewood). Eight matches will be held at the usual home of the NFL's LA Rams and Chargers, each carrying its own unique storyline.

2026 World Cup Group Stage Games in Los Angeles

The U.S. men's national team will largely call the west coast their base throughout the group stage. Mauricio Pochettino's co-hosts open and close the first round in LA and will be stationed in Irvine, Calif., making use of training facilities normally occupied by Orange County SC, a club competing in the USL Championship, the country's second division.

Selecting a base camp is critical. There was so little to keep the squad occupied in the French countryside that served as their retreat at the 1998 World Cup that tensions quickly boiled over. "After five minutes, everybody was ready to kill themselves," goalkeeper Kasey Keller recalled. "And each other."

Iran will also play two of its three group fixtures at SoFi but—notably—will be traveling from Mexico after reaching an agreement with FIFA. Much of the pre-tournament discussion centered on concerns about the Asian nation's participation given the ongoing tensions with the U.S., yet it appears Iran will face New Zealand and Belgium on American soil.

This could generate a fascinating atmosphere within the city. LA is home to such a substantial Iranian diaspora following the 1979 Islamic Revolution that it has earned the nickname "Tehrangeles." How local Americans respond to this wave of support for a nation dominating headlines beyond the sports pages will be something to watch closely.

2026 World Cup Knockout Games in Los Angeles

The Rose Bowl hosted a semifinal and the final back in 1994, but SoFi's run in the tournament will conclude at the quarterfinal stage. Before that last-eight encounter, two round-of-32 matches will take place immediately following the group stage.

The first of those ties will pit the runners-up from Groups A and B against each other which, according to Opta's supercomputer, is projected to be Mexico and Canada—a showdown between the two other co-host nations. There is also the possibility of South Africa, South Korea, or Czechia (Group A) facing off against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, or Mexico (Group B).

Group H's winners—almost certainly Spain—will also head to the west coast to face the runner-up from Group J. Argentina is widely expected to top that group, leaving one of Algeria, Austria, or Jordan to battle it out at SoFi.

With so many possible combinations by the time the quarterfinals arrive, predicting who will make it that far is largely guesswork. That said, Spain would be strong favorites to progress and—should the European champions win their group—would be on track for another appearance in Inglewood. A scenario exists where the USMNT could face Spain, though Argentina would represent a more probable opponent.