February 27 – One of the world’s newest and greatest sporting cathedrals, the SoFi Stadium in Hollywood Park, Los Angeles, is on a path to become one of football’s most storied stadiums.
On March 20 and 24 the stadium will host the final four of the Concacaf Nations League. The SoFi hosted the Concacaf Gold Cup final in 2023. Next summer it will host eight World Cup matches, including two featuring the US men’s team.
As well as hosting the climax of the 2024-25 Nations League, Concacaf will return to the SoFi for more games in June in the Gold Cup 2025.
The Nations League, now in its fourth edition, has been a transformative game changer for Concacaf’s member associations, providing them with regular and meaningful international competition across three tiered divisions.
“Before 2018 most of our member associations were not playing competitively on an on-going basis,” said Concacaf general secretary Philippe Moggio (pictured right).
“They would play World Cup qualifiers every three or four years. As the governing body we need to provide opportunities. The Nations League is structured for everyone. For our smaller nations we created a consistent schedule and opportunities for promotion. At the top we have the final four that creates the rivalries our fans want to see.
“This final four competition is a unique edition as it has the the three World Cup 2026 host nations competing. It is one of the last opportunities (alongside the Gold Cup in June) for pre-2026 competition play,” Moggio continued.
So important is the Nations League finals to the SoFi that the owners are laying a fully irrigated grass pitch over the top of the existing artificial pitch used for NFL. The pitch will last until the USA women vs Brazil women play each other in April.
The genius of the Nations League has been its ability to engage all Concacaf’s member associations. Looking below the final four nations who will compete at the SoFi, Moggio highlights “a trajectory of growth” within Concacaf’s member nations. He singles out Guatemala, Guadeloupe and Suriname in particular as nations who have been upwardly mobile.
“The Nations League has proved to be a showcase for a lot of talent and provided players with a global window,” said Moggio.
But why LA? “In the summer of 2023 we held an amazing Gold Cup final here. Mexico won that final… this will be a big celebration of community.”
While the football is the centrepiece, Concacaf is also co-hosting a business of soccer conference, as well as a number of fan events including a music concert between matches.
The USA have won each of the previous three Nations League finals beating Mexico twice and Canada once in the final. Canada, Mexico and the USA all have new managers in Jesse Marche, Javier Aguirre and Mauricio Pochettino. All three have started their terms winning, and are pushing their squads to improve their performance levels ahead of 2026.
Panama are a little more understated, but nevertheless have established themselves in the top four of Concacaf’s hierarchy, moving above Costa Rica.
Mexico will open against Canada in the first of the double header on March 20. They will follow the USA vs Panama match-up.
At the media presentation at the SoFi Stadium Pochettino was noticeable by his absence. The question is really who will turn up for the USA come end of March if they are to retain.
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