/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.footballgroundguide.com%2Fmain%2F2026%2F05%2Fimago1032627487.jpg)
One of the biggest stadiums at the 2026 World Cup has officially begun its dramatic transformation ahead of hosting this summer's tournament.
SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, which will temporarily be renamed Los Angeles Stadium during the competition, is now racing against time to complete major pitch and infrastructure works before the opening fixture there next month.
Fresh grass pitch now being installed at SoFi Stadium ahead of World Cup opener
The 70,240-capacity venue is set to host eight matches during the 2026 World Cup, including the United States’ opening clash against Paraguay on June 12th.
As of May 13th, the surface at the venue will undergo a two-day installation process after fresh grass was transported more than 1,600 miles from Washington state in refrigerated trucks.
Work on the playing surface initially began back on April 13th, immediately after a Monster Jam event at the stadium, where 12,000-pound trucks competed across the venue floor.
Since then, crews have been carrying out extensive modifications to ensure the stadium meets FIFA requirements, including removing corner seating sections to widen the field dimensions and installing a sophisticated irrigation system.
“This surface is the players’ stage,” said Otto Benedict, SoFi Stadium’s senior vice president of facilities and campus operations.
The transformation extends far beyond the pitch itself. Sponsor branding around the stadium has already started being removed, while transport systems, fan zones and hospitality plans are all now being finalised ahead of the tournament.
Los Angeles Lakers legend and LAFC co-owner Magic Johnson also praised the preparations, describing the tournament’s financial impact on the city as “amazing”.
FGG says: The scale of this World Cup stadium conversion is remarkable
This shows just how massive these stadium conversions really are.
It is pretty remarkable that a 70,000‑plus venue is still effectively a construction site with only a month to go, but it underlines the sheer complexity of turning an NFL stadium into a FIFA‑ready football arena.
The new grass pitch will be one of the biggest talking points, especially after the scrutiny over surface quality at recent FIFA events in the United States.
With the world watching for the USA’s opening match, organisers will be desperate for the turf to settle quickly and perform properly from the very first whistle.