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LOS ANGELES () — In just 30 days, tens of thousands of soccer fans from around the world will converge at SoFi Stadium as the U.S. hosts its first FIFA World Cup game on American soil in 32 years.
FIFA World Cup, SoFi Stadium and city officials gathered on Tuesday to share new details about the preparations being made to welcome fans to Los Angeles. After the event, questions arose about safety and security, and the possibility of ICE agents being deployed at SoFi Stadium. Now, authorities are clarifying that ICE has no part in their security plan.
ICE is not part of security plan at SoFi
During Tuesday’s event, Eyewitness News spoke to Kathryn Schloessman, the president and CEO of the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission and CEO of the Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host Committee.
During the event, Schloessman said, “ICE is going to be here, like they are for regular events, making sure that everybody is safe and secure and that there’s nothing that goes wrong. We haven’t heard anything other than that.”
In a later interview with Eyewitness News, Schloessman clarified that she mispoke, and said that ICE agents are not part of the security plans at SoFi Stadium.
“We are fortunate to have local, state and federal agencies working on planning for the various Los Angeles World Cup events. There will be assets deployed from multiple state and local agencies, and there is no indication that ICE will be deployed at our major events at SoFi Stadium and the L.A. Memorial Coliseum,” Schloessman clarified.
Schloessman says the Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host Committee is working very closely with its safety and security partners to make sure L.A. is hosting a safe and secure event.
SoFi Stadium transformation
Team U.S.A will face Paraguay in the opening match on June 12. Mexico and Canada will also host matches. SoFi Stadium will host eight matches, including one of the quarter-finals.
SoFi Stadium has undergone a two-month renovation to be able to host the best soccer players in the world. It will be renamed the “Los Angeles Stadium” for the tournament.
The grass to cover the pitch for the world’s best soccer players will eventually cover the field at SoFi. The field is currently just dirt in preparation for the specially cultivated natural grass surface, which is being driven in from Washington state.
Officials said the grass is being harvested and transported in stages to minimize travel time and preserve field conditions before installation begins. Security will oversee the area around the clock once the grass is installed to ensure the surface remains protected ahead of the June 12 opener.
“That is the plan. That’s why I don’t sleep at night. It’s something we truly do think about. Even right now, we are making sure people aren’t walking across this surface. The amount of attention to detail — who’s going out there, what we’re doing out there, what machinery is out there — all of those things are being very closely monitored and managed,” said Otto Benedict with SoFi Stadium.
Transportation plan for World Cup in L.A.
Organizers said the World Cup transportation plan will include expanded Metro service, park-and-ride options, rideshare access and parking near venues to help fans travel throughout the region during the tournament.
“From 15 park-and-ride lots across L.A. County, and two of those park-and-ride lots are in Orange County, so it’s throughout Southern California. We are providing 300 dedicated shuttles to each of the matches to ensure that this service does not disrupt our regular service for our regular riders,” said Stephanie Wiggins, the CEO of Metro.
The cost for a ride one way on the Metro park-and-ride shuttle is $1.75.
Fan experiences across the Los Angeles area
Ticket prices to watch the soccer matches are steep, but FIFA has announced a more affordable experience for fans
The World Cup experience in Los Angeles will extend beyond the matches at SoFi Stadium with 39 days of fan programming planned throughout the region.
Events will begin with the Official FIFA Fan Festival Los Angeles from June 11-14 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, featuring live match broadcasts, entertainment and cultural programming, organizers said.
Tickets start at $10, while children 12 and younger will be admitted free.
Following the festival, 10 official Fan Zones will operate across the region during the tournament, giving fans community gathering places to watch matches and participate in World Cup-related events.
Those locations include Venice Beach, Whittier Narrows and the Pomona Fairplex. Some will be free, while others will require tickets. Visit losangelesfwc26.com for more details and tickets.
The full list of 10 Los Angeles-area fan zones includes:
- The Original Farmers Market – June 18-21
- The city of Downey – June 20
- Union Station – June 25-28
- Hansen Dam Lake – July 2-5
- L.A. County’s Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park – July 4-5
- Los Angeles County Whittier Narrows – July 9-11
- Venice Beach – July 10-11
- Fairplex – July 14-15, July 18-19
- West Harbor – July 14-15, July 18-19
- Downtown Burbank – July 18-19
City News Service contributed to this report.
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