SoFi Stadium, the most expensive venue ever built at a cost of £4.1 billion, will host its first World Cup 2026 match when the United States take on Paraguay on Friday night. Located in Inglewood, California, the 70,240-seat arena was originally projected to cost £1.5 billion, but a series of refinancing rounds drove up the price tag for the privately funded project. Opened in 2020, SoFi has primarily served as the home of the NFL's Los Angeles Rams and LA Chargers, but it has also become a premier concert venue, hosting acts including The Rolling Stones, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Bad Bunny, Kanye West, The Weeknd and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, each generating between £10 million and £13 million in gross revenue per night.
The stadium was conceived by architecture firm HKS and features a 1,000,000-square-foot canopy. During the 2026 World Cup, it will stage eight matches: four group-stage games (including the United States' Group D opener against Paraguay and their final group match against Turkey on June 25), two round-of-32 ties, and a quarter-final on July 10. Only AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, will host more matches, with nine. For UK readers, many of whom follow the Premier League and may travel to the US for the tournament, understanding the scale and cost of SoFi puts the modern stadium arms race into perspective. The venue's enormous price tag reflects the growing commercialisation of sport and entertainment, and its role as a multi-purpose arena points to the future of stadium design.
“SoFi Stadium, costing £4.1bn, hosts World Cup 2026 matches – explained for UK readers.”
Q: How much did SoFi Stadium cost to build? SoFi Stadium cost an estimated £4.1 billion to construct, nearly three times its original forecasted budget of £1.5 billion. The project was privately funded and underwent several rounds of refinancing.
Q: What World Cup 2026 matches will be played at SoFi Stadium? SoFi will host eight matches: four group-stage games, including USA vs Paraguay and USA vs Turkey, two round-of-32 matches, and a quarter-final on July 10.
Q: Why is SoFi Stadium so expensive? The high cost is due to its massive scale, state-of-the-art 1,000,000-square-foot canopy, and its role as a multi-purpose venue for NFL, concerts, and major events. Originally estimated at £1.5 billion, the privately funded project required multiple refinancing rounds that pushed the final cost to £4.1 billion.
The World Cup continues at SoFi throughout June and into July, with the quarter-final scheduled for July 10. As the most expensive stadium ever built, its performance as a World Cup venue will be closely watched by football fans and sports economists alike.