SoFi Stadium, the most expensive sports venue on the planet, will be referred to as the Los Angeles Stadium during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This temporary renaming is due to FIFA's strict commercial regulations, which enforce a "clean stadium" policy to protect the exclusive rights of official corporate partners.
Why the Name Change?
FIFA prohibits any corporate branding at its global tournaments, meaning venues with naming rights deals must adopt neutral, location-based titles. SoFi Stadium's regular name comes from a multimillion-dollar agreement with Social Finance, Inc., so it will be temporarily called Los Angeles Stadium across all official brackets, broadcasts, and ticket registries.
Temporary Status
The renaming is strictly temporary and applies only to the official tournament ecosystem. Once the final match concludes in July, the Inglewood landmark will immediately revert to its standard commercial branding.
Match Schedule at Los Angeles Stadium
The venue will host eight high-profile matches between June 12 and July 10. The opening match features the United States men's national team against Paraguay on June 12. Gates will open four hours before kick-off for heightened security. In addition, the stadium will host four more group-stage matches involving teams like Belgium, Iran, and Switzerland, two round-of-32 matches, and a quarter-final fixture on July 10.
Other Renamed Venues
This policy affects all American venues with corporate sponsorships. MetLife Stadium becomes New York New Jersey Stadium, AT&T Stadium becomes Dallas Stadium, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium becomes Atlanta Stadium. In Mexico, Estadio Akron is Guadalajara Stadium, and Estadio Azteca is Mexico City Stadium. Levi's Stadium in California is renamed San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.
