Belgium vs Iran – FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G · Matchday 2
SoFi Stadium, Inglewood | Sunday 21 June 2026
The Stadium
SoFi Stadium is one of the most technically ambitious sports venues built in the twenty-first century. Opened in September 2020 after years of construction on the former Hollywood Park racecourse site in Inglewood, it serves as the shared home of the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers. Its roof — a translucent ethylene tetrafluoroethylene canopy — covers the entire bowl without fully enclosing it, creating a partially open design that manages Southern California’s light and heat without sacrificing the outdoor atmosphere that football crowds demand.
The venue’s centrepiece is a double-sided, oval video board suspended above the field — at the time of its opening, the largest such screen in any stadium in the world. Sight lines from every tier are steep and close to the action, a deliberate architectural choice that makes the building feel more intimate than its scale suggests.
For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, SoFi Stadium is among the eleven venues selected across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Its capacity for World Cup matches has been configured by FIFA to suit football’s pitch dimensions and seating arrangements. The stadium has previously hosted Super Bowl LVI in February 2022, a game that drew a sell-out crowd and marked the venue’s arrival on the global sporting stage. It is worth being clear, however, that SoFi Stadium’s opening in 2020 means it has no connection to the 1994 FIFA World Cup, which took place at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena — a separate and older venue in a different city.
For Belgium and Iran, this Group G Matchday 2 fixture arrives at a point in the tournament when both sides will have played their openers and will be calculating what the result means for their knockout-round ambitions. The occasion carries genuine weight without requiring any embellishment.
Getting There
SoFi Stadium sits in Inglewood, roughly 16 kilometres southwest of downtown Los Angeles and about three kilometres from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). That proximity to the airport is convenient for arriving fans but adds complexity on match days, when roads around both venues converge.
Metro Rail is the recommended option for most visitors. The Metro C Line (Green) runs to the Hawthorne/Lennox station, from which shuttle services operate to the stadium on major event days — confirm the specific match-day shuttle arrangements with LA Metro closer to the date. The Metro K Line (Crenshaw) has a station at Inglewood and connects to the C Line, expanding access from downtown. From downtown LA’s 7th Street/Metro Center, allow 40 to 55 minutes using public transport.
From LAX, the proximity is deceptive by car — airport traffic and event congestion can make even a three-kilometre drive slow. The Metro K Line connects the airport’s terminals to the wider rail network; check LA Metro’s journey planner for up-to-date routing.
Driving and parking: SoFi has extensive on-site parking lots, but they fill quickly for major events and require advance purchase through the official ticketing system. Street parking in surrounding neighbourhoods is limited and subject to local permits. Rideshare drop-off zones are designated away from the main lots — budget extra walking time.
Travelling From Home
For Belgium supporters, the logical departure point is Brussels Airport (BRU), with connections through major European hubs to Los Angeles International (LAX). Direct flights from Brussels to LAX take roughly eleven to twelve hours; one-stop itineraries via Amsterdam, Paris, or London add transit time but often offer more schedule flexibility. Book well in advance — World Cup travel corridors fill months ahead of the tournament.
For Iran supporters, the travel picture is more complicated. Direct commercial air links between Iran and the United States are limited by political and logistical factors. Fans typically route through hubs in the Gulf — Dubai (DXB), Doha (DOH), or Istanbul (IST) — before connecting onward to LAX. Total journey times from Tehran, including transit, commonly run between sixteen and twenty-four hours depending on the routing. Visa requirements for Iranian passport holders travelling to the United States are stringent; check current requirements with the relevant embassy or consulate as early as possible, as processing times can be lengthy.
Tickets
Official tickets for all 2026 FIFA World Cup matches are sold exclusively through FIFA’s ticketing platform at tickets.fifa.com. Demand for Group G fixtures at SoFi Stadium is expected to be high given the venue’s profile and the Los Angeles market’s large diaspora communities from both Belgium and Iran.
If the official allocation is exhausted, secondary market platforms will carry resale inventory, though prices on the secondary market for World Cup fixtures at premium US venues typically run significantly above face value. Approach any seller outside FIFA’s official channels with caution and verify ticket authenticity before purchase. Physical tickets and mobile delivery options will be confirmed by FIFA closer to the tournament; keep your registered FIFA account up to date.
Fan Zones and City Guide
FIFA typically operates official fan zones in host cities during the World Cup, offering big-screen screenings, food vendors, and merchandise. The confirmed locations for Los Angeles’s official fan zone had not been finalised at time of writing — check FIFA’s official channels and the LA28 organisation’s communications for confirmed details as the tournament approaches.
For pre-match atmosphere, Downtown Inglewood around Market Street has grown into a genuine entertainment district since the stadium opened, with bars and restaurants that animate on event days. In downtown Los Angeles, the areas around Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena) — particularly Figueroa Street and the LA Live complex — concentrate sports bars accustomed to big-match crowds. Hollywood and Silver Lake both carry a significant Belgian expat presence and European-friendly pub culture.
If you are arriving a day early, three things are worth planning:
1. The Getty Center — free admission, extraordinary architecture, and views across the city.
2. Venice Beach — a practical afternoon if you are staying near LAX or Inglewood.
3. The Broad museum in downtown LA — walkable from the Metro and a strong rainy-day (or, more likely, sunny-day) option.
Watch the Match Remotely
Not making the trip to Inglewood? The full broadcast guide, streaming options by country, and a tactical preview of what both sides need from this fixture are available here: Full preview and where to watch
FAQ
- Where is Belgium vs Iran being played?
- Belgium vs Iran takes place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Sunday 21 June 2026. The match is FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G Matchday 2.
- How many fans does SoFi Stadium hold?
- SoFi Stadium's standard NFL capacity is in the region of 70,000, though exact World Cup configuration figures are set by FIFA and may differ. FIFA had not published the confirmed match-day capacity for this fixture at the time of writing.
- How do I get to SoFi Stadium from Los Angeles city centre?
- The Metro C Line (Green) and Metro K Line (Crenshaw) provide public transport access to the Inglewood area, with match-day shuttle services running to the stadium from Hawthorne/Lennox station. From downtown LA's 7th Street/Metro Center, allow 40 to 55 minutes. Confirm shuttle schedules with LA Metro closer to the match date.
- Can I still buy tickets for Belgium vs Iran at the 2026 World Cup?
- Official tickets are sold through FIFA's ticketing platform at tickets.fifa.com. If the official allocation is sold out, secondary market resale platforms will have inventory, typically at prices above face value. Always verify ticket authenticity before purchasing from any non-official source.
- What is there to do in Los Angeles for football fans before the match?
- Downtown Inglewood near SoFi Stadium has bars and restaurants that fill on event days. In the city, the LA Live complex around Crypto.com Arena in downtown LA is the main sports-bar hub. For sightseeing, the Getty Center, Venice Beach, and The Broad museum in downtown are all practical options within the city.