LOS ANGELES — Punctuated by a pair of 2026 FIFA World Cup appearances by the U.S. men’s national team, SoFi Stadium will host eight countries in 13 days during group stage play at the Inglewood venue.
FIFA on Saturday revealed the tournament schedule one day after the global soccer body conducted the 48-team draw in Washington D.C.
Joining the U.S. and Paraguay – opponents for the opening match at SoFi on June 12 – are Belgium, Switzerland, Iran and New Zealand.
Two more nations will earn a berth following the UEFA playoffs in March.
The Americans, following a game versus Australia at Seattle’s Lumen Field, close Group D in Inglewood on June 25 against either Turkey, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo.
The winner between Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Wales and Northern Ireland would meet Switzerland on June 18 in a Group B contest.
Iran plays twice in the Southland in Group G play against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21.
The Islamic Republic was one of a dozen countries subject to a travel ban implemented by the Trump administration in June. Athletes, coaches and support staff traveling for the World Cup are exempt, however, and a delegation from the Iranian national team and federation traveled to the U.S. for Friday’s draw.
Though their supporters are restricted from doing the same, the second-largest Iranian population in the world resides in Southern California.
“Everybody who knows anything about this event in the administration knows what the benefit is to the United States in having tourism here and making sure we are a welcome place,” said Kathryn Schloessman, President & CEO of the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission and CEO of the LA World Cup 2026 Host Committee.
“It is a work in progress. There are obviously safety and security things that need to be adhered to, but they know that this is a priority and we need to be able to get people into the country who can go attend the matches.”
Five billion people watched the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and 6 million visitors are expected to come to the U.S. for the 2026 tournament.
As the World Cup schedule was announced Saturday, Scholessman joined the people responsible for overseeing the competition to L.A., in launching an initiative aimed at taking advantage of the momentum for soccer in the area.
Saturday’s event at Los Angeles City College brought out nearly 200 coaches across a variety of levels for the inaugural Grow the Game of Soccer Clinic, marking the first in a series of legacy events from the Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host Committee, in collaboration with the Play Equity Fund, that coincide with the competition’s return to the U.S. for the first time since 1994.
Hosted by the U.S. along with Canada and Mexico – where the largest sport event in the world kicks off June 11 as the Mexican national team plays South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City – the competition concludes June 19 with the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The New York/New Jersey location hosts eight matches, equaling L.A.’s total. Only Dallas has more World Cup contests with nine.
In addition to group stage dates, SoFi Stadium will host Round of 32 contests on June 28 and July 2, and a quarterfinal match July 10.
“We’re no stranger to major events but I’m telling you, in my 30 years of doing this I’ve never seen an event that has this much interest and attention behind it,” Schloessman said. “Now we know who’s coming. We know what dates. We know the match times. We have to execute our plan.”
2026 FIFA World Cup games at SoFi Stadium
June 12: USA vs Paraguay (Group D match), 6 p.m.
June 15: Iran vs. New Zealand (Group G match), 5 p.m.
June 18: Switzerland vs. winner of playoff between Italy/Northern Ireland/Wales/Bosnia-Herzegovina (Group B match), noon
June 21: Belgium vs. Iran (Group G match), noon
June 25: USA vs. winner of playoff between Turkiye/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo (Group D match), 7 p.m.
June 28: Round of 32 match, noon
July 2: Round of 32 match, noon
July 10: Quarterfinal match, noon
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