SoFi Stadium’s grass soccer field ready for its World Cup dress rehearsal

INGLEWOOD SoFi Stadiums continued renovations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup were on display Thursday and will be again during next weeks CONCACAF Nations Leagues games.SoFi Stadium officially unveiled its new grass field, a test for next years biggest stage.

The venue will host eight games in next years World Cup.The grass was grown in Washington, shipped to Los Angeles and rolled out earlier this week.What youre now seeing is phase two (of SoFi Stadiums renovations), Otto Benedict, the Senior Vice President, Facility and Campus Operations at SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park, said on Thursday.

We have installed a FIFA-quality pitch into our building.

This is our test pitch.

It is a 64-meter by 100-meter pitch which will we utilize for the Nations Leagues semifinals and finals and we will also host our womens (USWNT) match on this field (April 5).It is a fully irrigated, fully operational system that meets the requirements of FIFA, on a FIFA-specified grass blend.

In 2026, we will build this again, to the exact dimensions, specifications and requirements.

This is really a great opportunity for us to put together, test and learn and then apply those learnings to next year and really create an incredible experience.The grass will be down until after the USWNT game.

FIFA prohibits artificial turf in its major events.

SoFi Stadiums traditional turf field is still down, but not in use or immediately below the new grass field.We have gone through, weve prepared it and prepped it so that it can sustain being underneath cover and underneath this weight all the way until were ready to take it apart in late July, early August, Benedict said of the football turf field the Rams and Chargers play on.

Then well be ready to go back, do the maintenance and preparation and well go right into the NFL season.

Thats something that were expecting to be able to do here in 25, thats why were testing it, do it 26 of course.

After 26, we go right into the Super Bowl in 27 and after 27, were the swimming venue for the (2028 Summer) Olympics, so well build swimming pools in here where we have now built a world-class soccer pitch.FIFA also required fields be at least 74 yards wide.

In the final phase of renovations, SoFi will eliminate use of field-level suites in the four corners, to widen the playing field.

Benedict said that process will remove 400 seats.SoFi Stadium is also one of the host venues for this summers CONCACAF Gold Cup.Related ArticlesSoccer | Expanded FIFA Club World Cup coming to the Rose Bowl in JuneSoccer | Galaxy roar past Herediano to reach CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinalsSoccer | Angel City FC sets roster ahead of Sundays season openerSoccer | LAFC loses to Crew but advances to CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinalsSoccer | Teenager Harbor Miller remains confident as he moves up Galaxys depth chart.

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