Los Angeles brings World Cup 2026 to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood — one of the most modern venues in world sport, with a capacity of 70,000. LA is enormous, car-dependent, and can be overwhelming. This guide cuts through it.
Getting to SoFi Stadium
SoFi Stadium is in Inglewood, about 17 miles from Downtown LA and 3 miles from LAX.
By Metro (recommended): The Metro K Line (Crenshaw Line) has a direct stop at Inglewood. Take the C Line (Green) to Redondo Beach then transfer. On match days, dedicated shuttle services often run between Hollywood/Highland and the stadium — check LA Metro's tournament schedule closer to match day.
From LAX: The stadium is remarkably close to the airport. A rideshare takes 10–15 minutes in low traffic but can balloon to 45+ minutes on match days. Leave a full 2 hours buffer.
By car: Paid parking is available on-site but sells out — book in advance. Rideshare drop-off zones are clearly marked. Expect long post-match queues.
Stadium Area
SoFi is part of Hollywood Park, a large mixed-use development with restaurants, a performance venue, and open plazas. Unlike many US stadiums, there is actually stuff to do nearby before a match. The SoFi district will have an active fan zone during the tournament.
Note: LA in late June/July is hot and sunny. Bring sunscreen, especially for afternoon kickoffs. SoFi has a roof but the sides are open — shade depends on your seat.
Best Fan Bars in LA
LA's football culture is growing but more scattered than NYC or Miami. Concentrate your search in a few areas.
The Greyhound (Los Feliz): One of the city's best football pubs. British-owned, imports its beers, shows every fixture. Get there early for any Group Stage match featuring England or a Latin American side.
Ye Olde King's Head (Santa Monica): Long-standing British expat pub. Reliable atmosphere, screens everywhere, quiz nights on off-days.
Barney's Beanery (West Hollywood): Classic LA dive bar with a huge screen setup. Casual, mixed crowd. Good for when you want to watch football without it feeling like a formal event.
Arsenal (Culver City): Yes it's named after the club. Yes it's a proper football bar. Great screens, good beer selection, close to SoFi relative to the rest of LA.
Where to Stay
Hollywood / Los Feliz / Silver Lake: Best all-around base. Walkable, good nightlife, reasonably priced, good Metro access.
Santa Monica: More expensive but walkable and near the beach. Great if you want to combine football and ocean time. Longer commute to SoFi.
Inglewood: Closest to the stadium but limited in terms of dining and nightlife. Only consider this if your schedule is entirely match-focused.
Downtown LA: Convenient for Metro but not the most atmospheric neighbourhood. Better for business travellers than football fans looking to explore.
Neighbourhoods Worth Your Time
Silver Lake: Independently-minded neighbourhood with great coffee, record shops, and some of the best mid-range restaurants in the city.
Venice Beach: Essential LA experience. The boardwalk is chaotic and fun, Abbot Kinney Boulevard has excellent restaurants and boutiques.
Koreatown: Outstanding food at low prices, 24-hour culture. One of the most underrated areas in the city.
Food Picks
Langer's Deli (Westlake): The best pastrami sandwich in the country. No argument. Go before a match if you're near Downtown.
Guisados (multiple): Exceptional braised meat tacos. Multiple locations. The mole de olla is worth planning a meal around.
Night + Market Song (Silver Lake): Thai food that doesn't pull punches on spice or flavour. Creative, exciting, always busy.
In-N-Out Burger: You have to. Double-Double, animal style, fries well done. It's not the best burger in LA but it's a rite of passage.
Bavel (Arts District): Middle Eastern cooking at a high level. Good for a sit-down dinner the night before a match.
Plan Your Los Angeles Trip in Depth
- Best areas to stay in Los Angeles for World Cup 2026 — neighbourhoods for solo fans, couples, and families, plus price expectations
- Where to meet fans in Los Angeles for World Cup 2026 — fan zones, where supporter culture concentrates, and how to find your crowd
- Things to do in Los Angeles for World Cup 2026 — how to spend your days around match day
- Los Angeles football bar guide for World Cup 2026 — full venue breakdown with booking advice