{"id":16265,"date":"2026-06-19T13:02:09","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T13:02:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=16265"},"modified":"2026-06-19T13:02:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T13:02:09","slug":"sofi-stadium-has-new-look-and-name-for-the-2026-fifa-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=16265","title":{"rendered":"SoFi Stadium has new look \u2014 and name \u2014 for the 2026 FIFA World Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"

Now that the 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially arrived in Southern California, soccer fans from across the world have seen what Los Angeles \u2014 er, Inglewood \u2014 has to offer, in terms of its world-class sports venues.<\/p>

Read more World Cup: Jonathan David\u2019s hat trick leads Canada to historic rout of Qatar<\/a><\/p>\n

But many locals were surprised to see the beloved SoFi Stadium stripped of its traditional name and branding when the U.S. men\u2019s national team played its first match of the tournament against Paraguay on June 12, with commentators on the national broadcast simply calling the venue the \u201cLos Angeles Stadium.\u201d<\/p>\n

And not only that \u2014 any mention of SoFi Stadium, outside or in the venue, had been removed. Some viewers may have also noticed that the venue itself looked different: slightly larger, with some ground-level box seats missing, and a grass on the pitch.<\/p>\n

Well, if you noticed any of those changes, you\u2019re not going crazy. And SoFi isn\u2019t alone \u2014 stadiums across America implemented these temporary alterations ahead of the World Cup, in compliance with FIFA\u2019s strict regulatory standards for branding, advertising, pitch requirements and more.<\/p>\n

So what exactly is different at SoFi?<\/p>\n

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Most noticeably, SoFi is no longer being called SoFi. Instead, it\u2019ll just be referred to as Los Angeles Stadium for the duration of the World Cup. After hosting Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday, June 18, the stadium is set to host six more matches, including Belgium vs. Iran on Sunday, June 21, and T\u00fcrkiye vs. the U.S. on Thursday, June 25.<\/p>\n

The stadium will also host two Round of 32 matches \u2014 with the competitors yet to be determined \u2014 on June 28 and July 2, alongside a quarterfinal match on July 10.<\/p>

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Besides the name change on television, FIFA has also required all SoFi branding to be covered up for the remainder of the World Cup. The same is true for stadium sponsors at other World Cup venues, with any non-FIFA-approved brand or sponsor having also been covered up. (The lone exception is Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. That facility, currently referred to as Atlanta Stadium, was allows to keep the Mercedes-Benz logo atop its arena because it\u2019s part of a retractable roof and the cost of removing or altering it would be prohibitive.)<\/p>\n

FIFA is notorious for its strict regulations, especially when it comes to sponsors and branding. Some have dubbed the changes at stadiums across the country as \u201cThe Great Debranding,\u201d with some stadium title sponsors, like Lumen in Seattle, using the social media buzz about the issue as an opportunity to make a viral marketing moment happen for their brands \u2014 despite the FIFA-mandated blackouts, according to the Washington Post.<\/p>\n

Besides name changes, World Cup venues, including SoFi Stadium, have also physically changed to accommodate the tournament.<\/p>

Read more Christian Pulisic trains separately for 4th straight day and could miss next US World Cup game<\/a><\/p>\n