SoFi Stadium to install retractable corner seats this spring, increasing field size for soccer

SoFi Stadium will start work Monday on renovations to improve the size of its taking part in field space in preparation for internet hosting eight matches throughout the 2026 World Cup.

Los Angeles Rams chief working officer Kevin Demoff says the development includes changing concrete within the corners of the decrease bowl with bleacher risers that may be rolled again throughout soccer matches.

The adjustments ought to finish years of reported considerations from varied soccer entities concerning the width of the soccer fields that can match contained in the stadium, which was primarily designed to host two NFL groups on American soccer’s narrower field.

“It’s really just changing pre-cast concrete in the corners of the stadium to a more retractable system,” Demoff mentioned 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.”

SoFi Stadium was not awarded the World Cup final in the schedule announced Sunday by FIFA regardless of a late push by the stadium and the Los Angeles host committee. But the Inglewood stadium could have a distinguished position within the event, notably internet hosting the U.S. males’s nationwide staff’s opener and two of its three group play matches.

The stadium will host 5 preliminary-round video games in all, adopted by two round-of-32 knockout matches earlier than a quarterfinal on July 10, 2026.

“It was at all times a purpose of ours to have the opening match for the United States, and so to have the opportunity to have that’s one thing we’re happy with,” mentioned Chris Klein, the native host committee’s co-chairman and former U.S. nationwide staff participant. “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 development on the multibillion-dollar stadium venture is scheduled to be accomplished by May, in time for Copa América matches in June and a doable Arsenal exhibition match later in the summertime. The renovations, which is able to keep in place after the World Cup for future years of soccer competitors, will likely be paid for by stadium proprietor Stan Kroenke, who additionally owns the Rams, Arsenal and the NBA champion Denver Nuggets.

SoFi additionally could have a brief grass field for the World Cup rather than its standard synthetic turf. The stadium has already hosted soccer competitions on its common turf, together with final yr’s CONCACAF Gold Cup closing received by Mexico.

FIFA did not disclose the reasoning for its resolution on the ultimate, however the narrowness of the pitch had been cited incessantly as a strike towards SoFi. Demoff mentioned these considerations have been overblown, and he decried the wave of unfavorable publicity in recent times concerning the stadium’s size and Kroenke’s supposed unwillingness to make the renovations.

“There was a lot written over the past few years about our venue and what it could or couldn’t do, and none of it was accurate,” Demoff mentioned. “The venue was always designed to host a World Cup. The changes that we will make to the stadium were always contemplated for the World Cup. It’s a pretty easy fix.”

Demoff acknowledged SoFi was at all times designed “to be the best NFL venue possible.” The stadium hosts not less than 20 NFL video games per yr as the house of the Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers, and it already hosted the Rams’ victory in Super Bowl 56 in February 2022. Another Super Bowl will likely be performed there in February 2027, and the venue will play a distinguished position within the 2028 Olympics.

Although the Los Angeles-area World Cup organizers did not get the ultimate, solely AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, will host extra whole matches than SoFi.

“While three months ago, everybody was writing articles that SoFi was out, (we) never gave up,” mentioned Larry Freedman, the co-chair of the LA host committee. ‘What we have ended up with is the chance to function the U.S. males’s nationwide staff. All eyes will likely be on that opening recreation, after which we’ve that third (U.S.) recreation, which can very nicely have all of the chips on the road.”

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Reporting by The Associated Press.