2026 World Cup: Inglewood's SoFi Stadium among 10 venues chosen to host games in North America

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (CNS) -- Los Angeles was selected among 16 North American cities to host matches during the 2026 World Cup, FIFA announced today.

Los Angeles will hold its matches at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, which is the most expensive stadium ever built. It hosted the Super Bowl this year after opening in 2020.

L.A. Lakers legend Magic Johnson was thrilled with the announcement.

"We are honored and thrilled that FIFA has selected Los Angeles as the host city," Johnson said. "We look forward to seeing you all here and we are going to show everybody why L.A. is a soccer city."

L.A. hosted matches during the 1994 World Cup and the 1999 Women's World Cup.

"As a world-class soccer city with numerous iconic stadiums as well as three incredible professional soccer teams -- the Los Angeles area celebrates SoFi Stadium being selected to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. We look forward to partnering with FIFA to ensure that the event will deliver tangible, significant and enduring benefits to the Greater Los Angeles community," the Los Angeles World Cup Host Committee said in a statement Thursday afternoon.

"Our organizations have worked diligently to develop and submit a bid for the Los Angeles area to serve as a host for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Our experience when the Rose Bowl hosted the Finals of the 1994 FIFA World Cup and 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, as well as the world-class infrastructure, vibrant communities and our status as one of the nation's richest soccer cultures set the Los Angeles region apart.''

As part of the effort to be selected to host games, the Los Angeles World Cup Host Committee led FIFA officials on tours of the Rose Bowl Stadium, SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park in November.

The host committee's effort was led by the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission, which includes the Los Angeles Rams, SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park, Rose Bowl Stadium, Los Angeles Football Club and L.A. Galaxy.

SoFi Stadium -- which is home to the NFL's Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers -- officially opened on Sept. 13, 2020. It cost an estimated $5.5 billion to build. It was built on the site of the former Hollywood Park racetrack and sits adjacent to the Forum.

Along with Los Angeles, U.S. cities set to host matches during the 2026 World Cup are: Seattle; San Francisco, Kansas City, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia and Miami, as well as New York/New Jersey.

Mexico will host games in Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey. Canada will host games in Toronto and Vancouver.

48 teams will be competing in the World Cup in 2026.