SoFi Stadium Venue Guide: United States vs Paraguay — FIFA World Cup 2026, Group D · Matchday 1
Saturday 13 June 2026 | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
Group D kicks off under the translucent canopy of SoFi Stadium on a Southern California evening, with the United States hosting Paraguay in front of one of the most imposing crowds in domestic football history. For a first match of a group stage — not a final, not a semi, just Matchday 1 — the atmosphere promises to be extraordinary.
The Stadium
SoFi Stadium opened in September 2020 after years of construction transformed a former horse-racing site in Inglewood into the most expensive stadium ever built. The structure’s defining feature is its ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) roof and canopy — a translucent shell that traps crowd noise without fully enclosing the bowl, allowing the Pacific air in while giving the effect of a closed arena. At night, the translucent skin glows like a lantern above the 405 freeway.
The stadium is home to both the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers of the NFL, and its design — a sunken playing field flanked by tiered decks and a 70,000-square-foot double-sided video board suspended from the roof — prioritises sight lines from every seat. There is no truly bad vantage point.
For the 2026 World Cup, SoFi is one of the eleven host venues across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The stadium has previous experience with marquee occasions: it hosted Super Bowl LVI in February 2022, when the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals on their own turf. That history of managing enormous, high-emotion events matters when you are talking about a World Cup Group D opener where the host nation is playing.
FIFA has carried out detailed stadium assessments, and SoFi’s combination of premium infrastructure, dressing-room quality, and media capacity made it a logical choice for multiple matches in the tournament.
Getting There
SoFi Stadium sits in Inglewood, roughly equidistant between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and downtown Los Angeles. Neither journey is effortless on a match day, but public transport options have improved dramatically since the stadium opened.
Metro K Line (Crenshaw Line): The most reliable option for fans coming from central LA. The K Line connects to the Expo/Crenshaw station, which links with the E Line (Expo Line) and gives access to downtown Los Angeles and Santa Monica. The Inglewood/Kettering station is within walking distance of the stadium. Journey time from downtown LA is roughly 40–50 minutes depending on your starting point, with connections at 7th Street/Metro Center.
From LAX: The airport sits only a few miles north of the stadium. A dedicated LAX/Metro Transit Center shuttle connects to the K Line, making this one of the rare American sports venues genuinely accessible from a major airport without a car. Allow at least 40 minutes for the transfer, and considerably more on a match day.
Car and Parking: The stadium has on-site parking lots, but traffic on the 405 and Century Boulevard during a World Cup fixture involving the USA will be severe. Pre-purchased parking passes through the official venue or FIFA-affiliated providers are strongly recommended; arriving without one is not advisable. Rideshare drop-off zones are designated to the south of the main entrance.
Travelling From Each Home Country
From the United States:
For domestic fans, this is the most accessible World Cup fixture imaginable. Los Angeles is served by two major international airports — LAX and Hollywood Burbank (BUR) — plus Long Beach (LGB). Fans flying from the East Coast face a five-to-six-hour flight; from the South or Midwest, closer to three or four. Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner and Coast Starlight services connect San Diego and the Bay Area to Los Angeles Union Station, from where the Metro network provides onward travel.
From Paraguay:
Paraguay has no direct flights to Los Angeles. The most common routing goes via Miami (MIA) or Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), with total journey times — including a connection — typically in the range of 12 to 15 hours. Asunción’s Silvio Pettirossi International Airport (ASU) is the main departure point. Paraguayan fans should book accommodation early; Los Angeles in mid-June during a World Cup is not a buyers’ market.
Tickets
FIFA is the sole official sales authority for 2026 World Cup tickets. Registration and purchase are handled exclusively through FIFA’s official ticketing portal. Demand for a USA home opener is exceptionally high — expect the demand to outstrip supply significantly, particularly for categories with the best sight lines.
Resale is inevitable. FIFA typically offers a peer-to-peer resale platform to provide some buyer protection, and fans are strongly advised to use only that channel rather than third-party secondary market sites, where fraud risk is elevated for major tournaments. Prices on the secondary market for a USA Group D opener in their home country will reflect that scarcity. Budget accordingly and treat any deal that looks too good as a warning sign.
Fans who miss the primary ballot should check FIFA’s ticketing site periodically — returned corporate allocations and last-minute releases do occur before high-profile matches.
Fan Zones and City Guide
Official FIFA Fan Festival:
FIFA typically establishes an official Fan Festival site in each host city. For Los Angeles, the confirmed or expected location should be verified through FIFA’s official 2026 communications as the tournament approaches, but Downtown LA — specifically areas around Grand Park and the LA Live entertainment complex adjacent to Crypto.com Arena — has been central to previous large-scale public events in the city.
Bars and Supporter Areas:
The El Segundo and Inglewood neighbourhoods around the stadium have a growing hospitality scene, though fans should expect capacity to be stretched on match day. In central LA, the bar cluster around the Arts District and the blocks surrounding Staples/Crypto.com Arena will host large groups. The English-speaking contingent of USMNT supporters — the American Outlaws and allied groups — typically announce official supporter bars ahead of major tournaments; check their official channels closer to the date.
If You Arrive a Day Early:
Los Angeles offers obvious distractions, but three that reward a football fan specifically:
1. The Getty Center — the views of the city from the hilltop terrace alone justify the visit, and the galleries are free (parking is charged).
2. Venice Beach and the Boardwalk — genuinely unlike anywhere else, and close enough to Inglewood to fit an afternoon before an evening kick-off.
3. Grand Central Market, Downtown LA — a covered food hall that has operated since 1917, serving a concentrated cross-section of the city’s food culture in a single block. Good for the pre-match meal if you are coming in from the Metro.
Watch the Match Remotely
Not making the trip to Inglewood? The USA vs Paraguay Group D opener will be broadcast across multiple platforms in the US and internationally. Broadcaster details, kick-off times in your time zone, and a full tactical preview of both squads are available here: Full preview and where to watch
FAQ
- Where is United States vs Paraguay being played?
- USA vs Paraguay is being played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Saturday 13 June 2026. It is the Group D Matchday 1 fixture of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
- How many fans does SoFi Stadium hold?
- SoFi Stadium's capacity for NFL games is approximately 70,000, with the ability to expand for major events. FIFA will confirm the official tournament capacity allocation for 2026 World Cup matches, which may differ slightly from the standard NFL configuration.
- How do I get to SoFi Stadium from Los Angeles city centre?
- The most practical public transport option is the Metro K Line (Crenshaw Line), which connects to the broader Metro network at Expo/Crenshaw station. From downtown LA via 7th Street/Metro Center, the journey takes roughly 40–50 minutes. The Inglewood/Kettering station is within walking distance of the stadium. Rideshare services are also available, but traffic on match day will be heavy.
- Can I still buy tickets for United States vs Paraguay at the World Cup?
- Tickets are sold exclusively through FIFA's official ticketing portal. Demand for a USA home opener is very high and primary sales may be oversubscribed. Check the FIFA portal for any re-released allocations, and if buying on the secondary market, use only FIFA's official peer-to-peer resale platform to reduce fraud risk.
- What is there to do in Los Angeles for football fans visiting for the World Cup?
- Beyond the match itself, LA Live and the area around Crypto.com Arena in downtown LA is a natural hub for large sporting gatherings and has multiple bars and restaurants. The Arts District has a strong bar and food scene for pre-match activity. For sightseeing, the Getty Center, Venice Beach, and Grand Central Market in downtown are all accessible and worth a visit if you have a day before the game.