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If there is one thing I have learned about covering World Cup openers, it is that the venue sets the emotional temperature for the entire tournament. For the All Whites, that temperature will be set in Inglewood, California, where SoFi Stadium — one of the most technologically advanced sports venues on the planet — hosts Iran vs New Zealand on 16 June at 21:00 ET, which is 13:00 NZST the following day. A perfect lunchtime kickoff for Kiwis at home. For those making the trip to Los Angeles, this is where the All Whites’ World Cup story begins.
TL;DR — Venue and NZ Matches
- SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Los Angeles hosts the All Whites’ opening match against Iran on 16 June at 13:00 NZST.
- The venue holds approximately 70,000 in its World Cup configuration and features a semi-enclosed canopy roof that provides shade without fully enclosing the structure.
- SoFi also hosts Belgium vs Iran on Matchday 2, giving NZ fans who stay in LA a chance to scout their next Group G rivals.
- Los Angeles is the most accessible US city from New Zealand, with direct flights from Auckland on Air New Zealand taking approximately 12 hours.
- Budget 250 to 450 NZD per night for hotel accommodation in the greater LA area during the World Cup.
Know the Venue — SoFi by the Numbers
There is a moment when you walk into SoFi Stadium for the first time and your brain needs a second to process what it is seeing. The roof — or rather, the canopy — floats above the playing surface like a translucent wing, filtering California sunlight into a diffused glow that makes the entire interior feel like a film set. It opened in September 2020 at a construction cost exceeding 5 billion USD, making it the most expensive stadium ever built. The Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers share it as their NFL home, and it hosted Super Bowl LVI in 2022.
For the World Cup, SoFi’s seating capacity will be configured at approximately 70,000. The canopy roof does not fully enclose the stadium — it is open at the sides, which means air circulates naturally and the temperature inside roughly mirrors the outdoors. In mid-June in Los Angeles, expect daytime highs of 24 to 28 degrees Celsius with low humidity and almost zero chance of rain. These are close to ideal conditions for football, and a far cry from the oppressive heat that some East Coast venues will experience later in the tournament. The playing surface will be natural grass installed over the existing artificial turf, meeting FIFA’s requirements for all World Cup matches.
One detail that matters for spectators: SoFi’s concourse design is open and spacious, with wide walkways that reduce the crush you feel at older, more compact stadiums. Sightlines are excellent from virtually every seat because the bowl was designed with American football’s wider field in mind, meaning football (soccer) pitches sit comfortably within the space and seats feel closer to the action than at some purpose-built football venues in Europe.
Check All Whites and Other Matches at SoFi
The match that matters most to every New Zealand fan reading this is Iran vs New Zealand on 16 June at 21:00 ET (13:00 NZST on 17 June). This is the All Whites’ tournament opener — the fixture that will define whether their World Cup campaign has genuine momentum or becomes a three-match exercise in damage limitation. I have written extensively about the betting angles for this specific match in my Group G preview, but from a venue perspective, what you need to know is that SoFi’s surface and conditions will suit both sides equally. Neither team will have a climate advantage, and the natural grass installation should favour New Zealand’s direct, physical style over a worn or unpredictable artificial surface.
SoFi also hosts Belgium vs Iran on Matchday 2 of Group G, scheduled for 21 June at 15:00 ET (07:00 NZST on 22 June). If you are a Kiwi fan who has flown to LA for the opener and extended your stay, attending this match is an excellent way to scout two of New Zealand’s group rivals. Belgium’s tactical approach against Iran will reveal how they handle a compact defensive side — information that is directly relevant to the All Whites’ own encounter with Belgium six days later in Vancouver.
Beyond Group G, SoFi will host matches from other groups during the group stage and is expected to stage at least one knockout-round fixture. The full schedule for the venue includes some of the tournament’s most attractive matchups, given LA’s status as one of the premier host cities. Ticket demand will be high across all SoFi fixtures, so secure your seats through FIFA’s official ticket portal well in advance.
Explore Los Angeles — A Kiwi Traveller’s Guide
Los Angeles is the easiest American city to reach from New Zealand. Air New Zealand operates direct flights from Auckland to LAX that take approximately 12 hours, landing you on the US West Coast without the fatigue of an additional connection. The time difference between NZST and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT, UTC-7) is 19 hours, which means when it is 13:00 on a Tuesday in New Zealand, it is 18:00 on Monday in LA. Jet lag from NZ to the US West Coast is more manageable than the East Coast because you gain hours rather than losing them.
SoFi Stadium is located in Inglewood, roughly 5 kilometres from LAX airport. This proximity is a genuine advantage — you can check into a hotel near the airport, rest for a few hours and be at the stadium within a 15-minute drive or a short Metro ride. The LA Metro’s K Line connects the Inglewood area to the wider Metro network, and dedicated World Cup shuttle services from key transport hubs are expected. However, LA is a car city, and public transport outside the Metro lines can be unreliable. If you plan to explore beyond Inglewood and the airport corridor, renting a car or using rideshare apps is the most practical option.
Accommodation options near SoFi range from airport-area chain hotels (150 to 250 NZD per night) to boutique properties in Santa Monica or Venice Beach (350 to 600 NZD per night). For a World Cup trip where the match is the priority, I would recommend staying in the Inglewood or airport area for convenience and spending saved dollars on experiences rather than a fancier postcode. If you want the full LA experience, base yourself in Santa Monica — it is about 20 kilometres from SoFi but offers beach access, excellent restaurants and a walkable neighbourhood feel that most of Los Angeles lacks.
Food in LA reflects the city’s diversity. You will find some of the best Mexican, Korean, Japanese and Thai food in the United States within easy driving distance of SoFi. For a pre-match meal, the Inglewood neighbourhood has a growing food scene with a range of casual dining options. Expect to spend 20 to 40 NZD per person for a sit-down meal outside the stadium, or 10 to 20 NZD for excellent street food and tacos from local vendors. Inside the stadium, prices are predictably higher — budget 15 to 25 USD per item for food and 12 to 18 USD for a beer.
Prepare for Matchday — What to Expect
I have a checklist I run through before every stadium visit, and SoFi has a few specific considerations worth noting. First, the stadium enforces a clear-bag policy identical to most major US venues — your bag must be transparent and smaller than 30 by 30 by 15 centimetres. No backpacks, no oversized handbags. Carry your essentials in a small clear bag or go with just your pockets. Second, arrive at least 90 minutes before kickoff. SoFi’s security screening is efficient but the volume of people at a World Cup match will test any system, and you want time to find your seat and absorb the pre-match atmosphere. Third, wear layers. June evenings in LA cool down quickly once the sun drops — the temperature can fall 8 to 10 degrees between afternoon and late evening, and the open-sided canopy offers no insulation. For the 21:00 ET kickoff, the second half will be played as the California evening settles in.
Transport after the match deserves planning. The Metro will be running extended services, but expect crowding and waits of 20 to 40 minutes for trains immediately after the final whistle. Rideshare surge pricing kicks in hard around major events at SoFi — I have seen fares triple within minutes of a match ending. My advice: walk 10 to 15 minutes away from the stadium before ordering a rideshare, or pre-book a pickup from a designated spot further from the venue. If your hotel is in the Inglewood or airport area, walking might be the fastest option.
Grab Tips for NZ Fans Attending
The New Zealand expat community in Los Angeles is one of the largest in North America, and World Cup match days will bring them out in force. Look for supporter group meetups on social media in the weeks before the tournament — in my experience, someone from the local Kiwi community always organises a pre-match gathering at a nearby pub or restaurant. These meetups are worth attending not just for the camaraderie but for practical tips from people who know the area.
Bring your All Whites shirt and wear it with pride. New Zealand football shirts are rare enough at World Cups that you will attract attention from neutral fans and media. In 2010 in South Africa, the handful of Kiwi supporters became minor celebrities in their sections — expect the same in LA, where the novelty of a Pacific Island nation at the World Cup will generate genuine warmth. If you can coordinate with other NZ supporters to sit in the same section, the collective effect is amplified.
Phone connectivity inside SoFi is generally better than at older stadiums thanks to a distributed antenna system installed during construction, but expect some congestion during peak moments — halftime and immediately after goals. Have offline maps and your hotel address saved before entering. If you are on a New Zealand mobile plan, check roaming rates before travelling — a local US prepaid SIM card from providers available at LAX can save significant money over two to three weeks of travel.
Finally, pace yourself. If you are attending multiple matches across different cities during the tournament, LA is the ideal starting point because of its direct flight access from NZ and the forgiving time-zone adjustment. Use your first day or two to recover from the flight, attend the Iran vs New Zealand match on Day 5 of the tournament, and then decide whether to stay for the Belgium vs Iran fixture or move on to Vancouver for the All Whites’ next two matches at BC Place.