The manager of Los Angeles' spectacular SoFi Stadium has expressed strong confidence that the venue will play its scheduled role in the 2026 World Cup, despite threats from former US President Donald Trump to relocate games from Democrat-led cities.
Political Storm Over World Cup Hosting
Donald Trump has raised the possibility of stripping Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle of their World Cup fixtures if he considers them unsafe locations. This move is widely viewed as targeting cities with Democratic leadership, with Trump previously describing local officials as "radical left lunatics who don't know what they're doing."
Otto Benedict, who oversees operations at the SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park complex, addressed the political tensions while emphasising FIFA's established plans. "The politics piece is always very interesting, especially when you've got the 11 cities that are here across the United States and our other host countries in Canada and Mexico," Benedict noted.
He added: "My comment to that would be: FIFA has a plan. FIFA knows why they picked these states. These states and these cities have been working very closely with the White House World Cup task force. I think in politics there's a lot of talk but I believe that what the White House task force is doing and what FIFA is doing is going to be able to deliver the games as they've planned."
SoFi Stadium's Premier Role
The £4 billion SoFi Stadium, the world's most expensive sports venue, is scheduled to host eight matches during the 2026 World Cup. Only the AT&T Stadium in Dallas will stage more games. The Los Angeles fixture list includes:
- Five group stage matches, including two featuring the United States team
- Two round of 32 knockout games
- One quarter-final encounter
Owned by Arsenal majority shareholder Stan Kroenke, the 70,000-seater stadium serves as home to NFL franchises LA Rams and Chargers. Despite being overlooked for the World Cup final in favour of New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, Benedict highlighted SoFi's significant advantages.
Weather Protection and Technical Superiority
Benedict pointed to Southern California's climate and the stadium's retractable roof as key benefits compared to East Coast venues. "Out there in New York, that time of the summer, you are susceptible to thunderstorms and things that can delay games," he explained. "Whereas here in California, we have a roof structure over our stadium. We are not impacted by weather."
The state-of-the-art venue features a stunning halo-shaped LED screen suspended from its roof and has already established itself as a premier entertainment destination. Since opening, it has hosted the 2022 Super Bowl, secured the 2027 NFL championship game, and welcomed music superstars including Taylor Swift, The Rolling Stones and Beyoncé.
The stadium has also developed its football credentials, having staged thirteen matches including the 2025 Concacaf Nations League final. The complete lineup of teams playing in Los Angeles will be confirmed at next month's draw in Washington DC.
While the final decision on the 2026 World Cup schedule rests with FIFA, and altering arrangements at this stage would create substantial logistical challenges given ticket sales are underway, Trump maintains a close relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, adding complexity to the situation.
