06/08/2026
🏟️ World Cup Stadiums Through an Architect's Lens: SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
As the world prepares for the FIFA World Cup, we're taking a closer look at some of the venues that will host soccer's biggest stage. The 2026 tournament will be played across 16 stadiums in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, each presenting its own architectural and engineering challenges.
First up is SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles—a project that demonstrates how architecture, engineering, and technology can come together to solve complex spatial and environmental challenges.
A few features that define this stadium:
• Indoor–Outdoor Canopy System
A translucent ETFE roof spans both the stadium and its surrounding public realm. Floating independently above the seating bowl, it allows natural light and airflow while providing environmental protection.
• Subterranean Bowl Strategy
Due to its location beneath LAX flight paths, the playing field and lower seating bowl were excavated approximately 100 feet below grade. This reduced the building's visible mass while maintaining full spectator capacity.
• Seismic Isolation System
The roof structure and seating bowl are structurally separated and supported on seismic isolators, allowing them to move independently during seismic events.
• Infinity Screen
A 360-degree, dual-sided 4K video board is suspended within the roof structure, creating a continuous visual field and redefining the spectator experience.
What stands out most is that each of these features serves a purpose beyond aesthetics. Every design decision responds to a specific challenge—whether climate, aviation regulations, seismic activity, or spectator experience.
The result is a stadium where technical constraints become drivers of architectural expression, and where performance and identity are inseparable.
