World Cup 2026 final thrown into chaos as SoFi Stadium in LA ‘is told its pitch is too NARROW’
The 2026 World Cup final was thrown into chaos when SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles ‘was told their pitch is too NARROW to host FIFA’s masterpiece,’ and taking out seats won’t fix the problem, with Dallas and New York ready to intervene
While SoFi Stadium is set to host games during the 2026 World Cup, its chances of hosting the final are now in jeopardy according to a new report.
The field at the new LA Rams stadium is currently too narrow per FIFA regulations and will need to be increased to 63 feet during the tournament per The times.
That could be a problem in terms of the final, as the increased width would reduce the stadium’s capacity to less than 70,000, less than FIFA’s minimum capacity of 80,000 for finals.
There was a reported attendance of 88,966 for Argentina’s thrilling win over France in December, while 78,011 turned out to watch France beat Croatia in 2018.
FIFA is not short of options if SoFi is deemed unsuitable for hosting the end game.
SoFi Stadium’s hopes of hosting the 2026 World Cup final in Los Angeles could be fading
It was reported that 88,966 fans watched Lionel Messi lift the World Cup in Qatar at the Lusail Stadium
MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, a short drive or train ride from New York City, already seats 82,500.
MetLife is home to the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets, and also hosted the 2016 Copa América final between Argentina and Chile.
Another option for FIFA could be AT&T Stadium in Dallas.
Home to the Cowboys, AT&T has a capacity of 80,000 and is recognized as one of the most modern stadiums in American sports.
It also has a retractable roof, unlike MetLife, which could give it the edge to win the finals bid in the summer.
The 2026 World Cup will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Miami, Toronto and Mexico City are among the other host cities for the tournament.