INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- It’s strange to get excited about grass. Then again, this was more than grass.
This was the one-of-a-kind, permavoid grass-growing system of SoFi’s 2026 World Cup Test Pitch. And Thursday morning, as media and organizers gathered on the lush, emerald blades, I couldn’t help but feel a buzz. And some curiosity. And even a little reflective.
Last year I wrote an article criticizing my Copa America experience at SoFi Stadium. I don’t regret the article - it was true to my experience. My walk into the stadium was lackluster. The crowd was muted. My view of the corner flag was obstructed. And the ticket prices were expensive.
But most of that, it appears, wasn’t down to SoFi. And at Thursday’s pitch unveiling, organizers gave Angelenos every reason to believe the World Cup is going to be different. Starting with the fan experience.
Kathryn Schloessman - the Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host City Manager - said the foundation of their approach is “very much about the fan experience. Especially for those who can’t go to the games.”
While tailgaiting outside of SoFi will remain elusive for a variety of reasons (from security to city regulations) there are nonetheless both viewing parties and a fan festival in the works (the former, at various locations; the latter, at the Coliseum).
Meanwhile, Sr. VP of Stadium Operations, Otto Benedict, is confident the sightlines within SoFi itself are going to be better than ever. Taking us to the corner of the pitch he explained how the first three rows of seats will be removed to make room for a larger field and allow for better views throughout the stadium. In his words, the new sightlines don’t just check out, “they actually improve.”
While the “Los Angeles Sonic ID” (because what’s a World Cup host city without an official sound?) is unlikely to compensate for FIFA ticket pricing, local organizers - and SoFi in particular - are doing their part to try and ensure the best tournament possible.
That’s no easy feat. This will be the largest World Cup in history and hosting eight games in less than a month is a tall order. To then comply with all of FIFA’s strict requirements while also rectifying the shortcomings of Copa America? Well that’s enough to make any fan skeptical. It certainly was for me.
But with a little over a year left before the 2026 World Cup kicks off, SoFi seems to be proving that skepticism wrong. And as I walked across the test pitch - feeling the one-of-a-kind grass underfoot - I got excited.