Last updated May 2026

Getting to SoFi Stadium for FIFA World Cup 2026 is not like getting to any other event in LA. About 70,000 people are arriving at the same time you are, on the same roads, competing for the same parking. The I-405 near Inglewood is already one of the worst stretches of freeway in the country on a normal day. On match day, with three hours to kick off, it turns into a car park. Fans who planned had a smooth day. Fans who winged it spent most of it in a car. This guide gives you everything you need to be in the first group. 

Why Trust This Guide: This guide draws on official LA Metro World Cup service announcements, Super Bowl LVI match-day traffic data from SoFi Stadium in 2022, and FIFA’s published venue and security guidelines. It is written for fans attending matches, not for clicks.

Best Way to Get to SoFi Stadium for FIFA World Cup 2026

On a budget: Metro Shuttle for $1.75 each way, no reservation needed. 

Flying in: LAX Shuttle to LAX/Metro Transit Center, then free SoFi shuttle. 

Coming from the suburbs: SpotHero park and ride from $59, round-trip included. 

Staying downtown: The Metro direct bus drops you at the stadium door. 

Arriving late or leaving early: Rideshare is fine before the match. Avoid it after. 

First, Know the Venue

All FIFA World Cup 2026 matches in Los Angeles will be played at SoFi Stadium, located at 1001 Stadium Drive, Inglewood, California. The stadium is a part of the Hollywood Park complex, located roughly 3 miles from LAX Airport and 17 miles from Downtown Los Angeles. It is also known as “Los Angeles Stadium” in FIFA publications.

Los Angeles will host 8 matches, including 6 group-stage matches, one Round of 32 match, and one Semi-Final. The matches will take place between June 11, 2026, and July 19, 2026.

LA Match Schedule at a Glance

Getting There: Your Real Options

One thing to know upfront: SoFi Stadium is about a mile and a half from the nearest Metro station, and this is LA. No matter how you get there, you will encounter some traffic or wait at some point in the journey. Plan for it, and you will be fine.

LA Metro Shuttle to SoFi Stadium (Best for World Cup 2026)

The Metro provides direct service to all matches at SoFi Stadium for FIFA 2026 just $1.75 one-way, with no traffic and free parking. You can walk up to any shuttle stop near you without a reservation, or drive to a park-and-ride location and book your spot in advance.

Transportation begins four hours before the game and continues up to two hours after the match ends. This last part is very important to remember.

Metro Shuttle Pickup Locations and Routes

• From Downtown LA: Board the Downtown LA Metro shuttle at the Downtown LA Metro shuttle stop and ride directly to SoFi. No transfers needed. 
• From LAX: Take the LAX Shuttle to LAX/Metro Transit Center, then board the free SoFi shuttle. 
• From Santa Monica: Metro E Line to a connecting shuttle stop. 
• From the San Fernando Valley: Shuttle pickup at Pierce College or North Hollywood station. 
• From South Bay: Board at El Camino College in Torrance or Harbor Gateway Transit Center in Gardena. 
• From the Eastside: Hawthorne/Lennox Station on the C Line or Crenshaw Station in Hawthorne.

Check match-specific boarding times and routes on the LA Metro World Cup page before your match day. 

Coming From Downtown LA or the Valley

Metro will provide a direct bus service from an increasing number of rail and bus hubs throughout Los Angeles County, including two in the San Fernando Valley, namely, Pierce College and North Hollywood, and one in Downtown Los Angeles. If you are staying in the city center, then you have excellent choices.

Metro K Line or C Line to the Stadium

The K line runs from Redondo Beach to Expo/Crenshaw. The C line goes from Norwalk to LAX/Metro Transit Center, where a complimentary shuttle ride to the stadium will be available on game days. The nearest station to the venue is the Downtown Inglewood station on the K Line. It’s important to note that there will be a long, mile-long journey from the station, however.

Coming From LAX

Take the LAX Shuttle to LAX/Metro Transit Center, then board the Metro K Line to Downtown Inglewood and connect to the SoFi Shuttle. Alternatively, take the C or K Line directly to LAX/Transit Center and board the free SoFi Shuttle from there. The shuttle is the fastest and most affordable way to reach the stadium from the airport.

Park and Ride Near SoFi Stadium for FIFA World Cup Matches

Most SpotHero bookings include free round-trip rides for all passengers in your vehicle, with early-bird pricing starting at $59. That is a solid deal compared to the $250 to $300 you would pay for on-site parking.

Wise financial decision: use the Metro service from the Norwalk Station, where parking is free on weekends, pay the $1.75 charge, and save over $135.

Parking Cost Comparison

Which Transport Option Is Right for You?

Metro wins on cost and reliability. Driving loses on both. 

Traveling to LA From Another City for the World Cup?

If you are traveling to LA from San Diego, Las Vegas, San Francisco, or anywhere else in California and the Southwest, intercity buses are your most affordable option. If you are traveling from Las Vegas, you can compare schedules and book your seat on the Las Vegas to Los Angeles bus route directly on Boletoxpress, then connect to the Metro shuttle once you arrive in the city. 

Coming from across California or the Southwest? Whether you need a direct San Francisco to Los Angeles bus ticket or are traveling from San Diego, you can browse all available routes on Boletoxpress and lock in your seat before match week.

For fans heading back across the border after the group stages, securing your return transit on routes like Los Angeles to Hermosillo or Los Angeles to Tijuana early is highly recommended to avoid the post-match rush.

Rideshare (Proceed With Caution)

Rideshare works fine before the match, but right after the final whistle, when 74,000 people all try to leave at once, wait times run 30 minutes to over an hour, and surge pricing hits three to five times the normal rate. Have a backup plan. Standing outside in the LA heat, waiting for an Uber that keeps getting reassigned, is not how you want your match day to end.

Driving Yourself

The I-405 around SoFi is one of the most congested roadways in America on an average day. Based on the Super Bowl LVI traffic information report, football fans experienced complete traffic stops more than two hours before the game’s kickoff. The attendance at the World Cup semifinals far exceeds that.

Arrive extremely early. Purchase parking passes in advance because they won’t admit anyone without them.

Your Match Day Plan Hour by Hour

This is the single thing most fans skip and most regret. Based on how previous major events at SoFi have played out, including Super Bowl LVI in 2022, fans who had a smooth day built in time buffers at every step.

• 4 hours before kickoff: Leave your hotel or home. This sounds excessive until you are sitting on the 405.
• 3 hours before kickoff: Arrive at your Metro shuttle stop or park-and-ride location. Shuttles begin running now.
• 2 hours before kickoff: You should be at or near the stadium. Security lines are already building.
• 90 minutes before kickoff: Clear security and be inside. Get food and drinks now, not at halftime when lines are brutal.
• Kickoff: You are in your seat.
• 45 to 60 minutes after the final whistle: Stay put. Do not rush to the exits with 70,000 other people. Use the FIFA Fan Festival zones inside Hollywood Park. Let the first wave clear. Then leave.
• 2 hours after the final whistle: Road and rideshare congestion peaks and then drops significantly. If you can wait this long, your exit will be dramatically easier.

Where to Stay for World Cup Matches in LA

Your hotel location determines how stressful your match day is. Here is how the main areas actually compare.

1. Inglewood and Westchester are both very close to SoFi Stadium. A rideshare or shuttle can take you there in no time, and you will completely avoid the gridlock on the freeways. If you plan to attend only a few games, this is the way to go. However, you must act fast because availability is slim and prices will be high.
2. If you are planning to stay in Los Angeles for more than one night, staying in Downtown Los Angeles is an ideal choice. Not only do you have all the benefits of being in a city that has the life, nightclubs, and restaurants, but you also have the Metro buses that go straight to the stadium on match day.
3. For individuals who want to enjoy time outside the arena while in Los Angeles, Santa Monica is an ideal choice. Despite being far from the site, Santa Monica is accessible via the E Line bus and shuttle buses operating in the area.
4. If you are renting a car, the North Hollywood and Pierce College areas in the Valley are worth considering. Both are confirmed Metro shuttle pickup locations, so you can drive to the stop and skip stadium parking entirely.

Wherever you decide, the essential thing is to check whether the hotel has direct access to the Metro before booking. Being one mile away from the transport system in Los Angeles traffic is completely different from being directly connected to it.

Fan Zones Across the City

The experience of the World Cup in LA can be felt without buying a match ticket. The FIFA Fan Festival at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum runs for five days, from June 11 to 15, featuring live match broadcasts, concerts, and food celebrating LA’s diversity.

The fan zones will be set up at the following locations: the Original Farmers Market (from June 18th till June 21st); the City of Downey (on June 20th); Union Station (from June 25th till June 28th); Hansen Dam Lake (from July 2nd till July 5th); Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park (on July 4th and 5th); Whittier Narrows (from July 9th till July 11th); Venice Beach (on July 11th); Fairplex (July 14, 15, 18, and 19) and Downtown Burbank (July 18 and 19).

Accessibility at SoFi Stadium

SoFi Stadium received a score of 4.81 on its accessibility, with an emphasis on ease of access. It has dedicated parking spaces that are easy to navigate and have no obstacles at the entrance. The stadium also has dedicated pick-up zones at the Kareem Court and Pincay Drive entry points. Entry to the stadium is on the ground floor, with no doors at the entry point.

There are step-free walkways and tiled floors throughout the concourses. Elevators and escalators are available for every floor of the stadium.

How to Get Out of SoFi Stadium After the Match

No one mentions the exit strategy, and it needs to be mentioned by everyone. At maximum capacity, 70,000 people try to leave simultaneously. If you don’t have a plan in mind, you will end up standing out in the hot sun, trying to hail an Uber that keeps switching locations.

• In case you traveled to the ground via Metro bus, remain at the Hollywood Park complex for 45-60 minutes after the game concludes. The Metro buses leave the complex two hours after the game ends; thus, you will catch the bus without any problems.
• If you drove and parked, don’t go right away to your vehicle. Get something to eat, and wander around campus for a while. You’ll be surprised at how close the speed of your exit from the lot will come to that of walking.
• If you are using rideshare, set your pickup location before the match ends. The stadiums have designated zones where rideshares can be picked up. You should open the app before going outside and request the service once you notice the wait time decreasing.
• If you are on foot heading to the Downtown Inglewood K Line station, follow the stream and pace yourself. The 20-minute trek takes longer after the game in the heat. Pack some water.

What to Bring and What FIFA Will Not Let Through

Practical Tips Worth Knowing

Arrive at least 3 hours before kickoff for World Cup games. Security checks take longer during the World Cup compared to an NFL game.

For high-stakes matches, stay in the FIFA Fan Fest areas at Hollywood Park for an extra 60 minutes after the final whistle. It gives the first wave of 70,000 fans time to clear, making your exit significantly easier.

Download the Metro trip-planning application before game day. Information will be adjusted accordingly for each match at metro.net/riding/world-cup, and shuttle departure times may vary based on kickoff times.

Mistakes That Will Ruin Your Match Day

1. Not booking parking in advance. The stadium will turn you away at the entrance without a pre-purchased pass. There is no buying on arrival.
2. Relying on rideshare for the way home. It works fine getting there. After the match, with 70,000 people requesting at once, you are looking at surge pricing of 3 to 5 times normal and waits of 30 to 60 minutes or more.
3. Arriving two hours before kickoff and thinking that is early. For a World Cup match, that is late. Security at FIFA events runs more slowly than a regular game. Two hours before means you might miss the kickoff.
4. Ignoring the Event Zones ordinance. Streets around the stadium have no-stopping rules on match days. You cannot just pull up near the venue and sort something out. You will be moved on.
5. Bringing a bag that does not meet FIFA size rules. SoFi Stadium enforces a clear bag policy. If your bag does not meet the size requirement, you will be asked to return it to your car or leave it outside. There are no bag storage facilities at the venue.
6. Not downloading the Metro app before match day. Paper tickets and searching for routes at the shuttle stop while 500 people queue behind you is not a fun experience. Get the app, load your route, and know your stop the night before.

Final Thoughts

World Cup 2026 in LA is a once-in-a-generation event, and getting there should not be the part you remember for the wrong reasons. The Metro shuttle is your best friend at $1.75. The I-405 is your enemy if you let it be. Plan your route the night before, leave earlier than feels necessary, and stay in your seat for an hour after the final whistle. If you are traveling to LA from another city whether it’s a quick trip from the Southwest or a longer San Francisco to Los Angeles route search intercity buses on Boletoxpress and lock in your seat before match week prices spike. The football will take care of itself. Make sure your transport does too.

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