Designing Emotion: SoFi Stadium and the FIFA 2026 Experience

As I exited the shuttle, an evening sea breeze washed over the parking lot, and I observed the pre-game bustle of the LA Chargers vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers. Fans buzzed with anticipation, many wore jerseys for either team, and roadside vendors grilled by the wayside.

Then it appeared. Emerging from the ground was a silvery metallic form, resembling part spaceship, part breaking wave. Mystery and awe at once. In a city that creates epic films, I felt like I was in one.

Upon entering SoFi Stadium, a cavernous space unfolded, reminiscent of California canyons, with trees and cliff-like overhangs. Walkways surrounded the stadium, with an open view of the action. From field to roof, an open bubble of space created a sphere of activity, including an Infinity Screen video board, spanning 70,000 feet and comprising 80 million pixels. 

When AC/DC’s “THUN-DER” chant began to play, I knew I was in for a ride I wouldn’t forget. This wasn’t just a sporting event; it was the intersection of design, sports, and humanity. I finally understood how a modern stadium impacts the fan experience.

FIFA 2026 kicks off on June 12 at SoFi Stadium when the US hosts Paraguay, with an additional seven matches to follow. It all culminates with a Quarterfinal on July 10. Over that period, the stadium will be the epicenter of the world of sport and how design shapes human experiences.

I spoke to Michelle Stevenson, Regional Practice Director, Sports & Entertainment Principal at HKS Architects, the firm behind SoFi Stadium’s design. Here are some of the fascinating details of the project and how it’ll shape the fan experience at FIFA 2026.

The California Soul of SoFi Stadium

Michelle Stevenson on SoFi Stadium and the Hollywood Park Entertainment District:

This project — SoFi Stadium and the Entertainment District as a whole — meant a lot to me. Not only because of the Rams coming back, but the idea that I would be building my backyard. I’m also a collegiate soccer player, so the World Cup, to me, is a really big deal.

The Manual: Could you tell me about the initial meetings — what were some of the ideas being batted around? What did you want to accomplish?

Michelle Stevenson: We call it the Hollywood Park Entertainment District. It’s a larger 300-acre district. The idea was that we were creating a destination — the ultimate entertainment destination. The big picture is that we needed to create something that was integral to the city of Inglewood, but represented Southern California and was accessible to the residents. At the same time, we knew we were also creating a stadium that is a destination on its own.

The idea, though, is that we weren’t focused entirely on just the stadium. As we’ve done in the past — historically — it’s usually that destination on the hill. This was an entertainment district.

What we were looking at is a much broader, bigger scale. And one of the three actual venues within that canopy — there are three of them. There’s SoFi Stadium itself. Then there’s a 2.5-acre American Airlines Plaza, an outdoor area that serves as an outdoor amphitheater. And then there’s the 6,000-seat YouTube Theater. So we’ve created not just one destination within that one facility, but an entertainment district.

But really, the soul and the heart of this entertainment district is that lake in the middle — the idea that we’ve created a public space in the middle, and it has an ode to what was there before, which was the Hollywood Park racetrack.

The idea that we’ve created a district with a park in the center that is accessible by residents at all times — it is public. It is a full 6-acre lake park. You can walk around it, jog around it on any day, even if there is a game going on. That really shows a true understanding that this is not just a destination for visitors — it’s for the fabric, for the people.

TM: I was so taken by the essence, the emotion of the stadium as I approached it. Were there any sources of inspiration you were drawing from?

MS: As you approach it — and I’m not sure where you approached it from — there are four or five different perspectives you get of the stadium. But the first thing you probably saw was the canopy. Think of it like a wave, something that just encompasses you with that natural feeling of motion.

There are a lot of influences from the region that you’ll see in the shapes and the feelings. It’s a climate-controlled, open-air stadium that is very much of Southern California. The geography of it, that wave element. It’s even an ode to the regional architecture next door — the Forum. The columns of the Forum are replicated on the exterior, so there’s an ode to that.

TM: One detail that stood out during my visit was the stadium’s satin silver surface, which gave it a spacecraft-like presence. Could you share more about the material itself and the design decisions that led to its inclusion?

MS: The metallic surface encompasses SoFi Stadium, American Airlines Plaza, and YouTube Theater in one unifying stroke. The surface of the canopy is constructed of 35,000 perforated anodized aluminum metal panels. Each of the perforated panels is unique in both pattern and shape, and was produced in a direct-to-fabrication process where HKS provided the 3D model of record to be used directly by the fabricator.

The signature shape — viewed from various angles depending on approach — mimics the form of a Pacific Ocean wave, in the same way that the lush landscape canyons into the stadium are reminiscent of the cliffs adjacent to Malibu. The shape of the roof provides that grand sense of arrival while providing a dappled light on the interior concourses during the day. At night, the canopy changes to glowing from the interior and exudes out to the night sky.

The signature shape — viewed from various angles depending on approach — mimics the form of a Pacific Ocean wave, in the same way that the lush landscape canyons into the stadium are reminiscent of the cliffs adjacent to Malibu.

Architecture You Can Feel

TM: You said the project was very personal to you. Could you expand on that?

MS: As an athlete — and I’m now considered a recreational athlete, not professional — Southern California has been my home. There has always been a drive to understand what the essence of California would be in a built structure, and how you would do it.

The entry has a canyon aspect to it. The landscape is truly integrated in an indoor-outdoor space, and you’re going through different biomes representing different areas of the region — like chaparral, or the mountainous regions.

All of that is very comfortable and very much inherent to what I experience in nature. Being able to walk into a facility that is of the landscape — to me, that feels so natural, so of the region. And I think that’s one of the things you really strive for: to have awe, to have something magnificent.

TM: One of the elements I thought was so amazing was the Infinity Screen. Where did that idea come from?

MS: There are both technical reasons, and it is a blend of everything we wanted to do with a board. We wanted to make sure it is truly visible from all different areas of the stadium — whether you’re sitting at ground level looking up, or in the upper deck, and all the regions between.

Being double-faced means you are able to view it at any perspective as you sit down. It’s not just on the end zone, and it’s not just in the middle, giving you a square view — you get this immersive feeling. No matter where you sit, this building is made for you as a spectator to really enjoy the event.

TM: Could you talk me through the user journey? Somebody arrives, travels through the spaces, then they’re in their seat.

MS: No matter where you approach from — the south or the north — you get different perspectives of the stadium, a different feeling. But the idea is breaking down the scale, so that when you start to enter the facility, you know there’s something amazing, but you’re not overwhelmed.

You are going through the site in a manner that is of a human scale. You’re interacting with nature along the way. It’s not just an asphalt parking lot. There’s paving, there’s intentionality to how the wayfinding moves you in a manner that is not rigid. You’re allowed to meander. You’re allowed to go at your pace, at whatever feels comfortable to you.

As you approach, scalability is really important — what is tactile and near the human scale, so that as you enter, you can still have those wow moments, but it’s not overwhelming. You’re approaching something amazing, but it’s also built at a scale that makes you feel like an important part of the journey.

There is a breeze that is intentionally thought through. We looked at the major wind patterns to allow air to come passively into the stadium, so that you feel cool, so that you feel as if this were truly an outdoor experience. People forget — the ETFE roof on top allows for natural light to come down into the space. You feel comfortable in your surroundings, in your environment, but protected.

There is a breeze that is intentionally thought through. We looked at the major wind patterns to allow air to come passively into the stadium, so that you feel cool, so that you feel as if this were truly an outdoor experience.

TM: LA has that nice cool breeze — I noticed it when I was there.

MS: Yes — and I can’t claim credit for that. We are utilizing the natural wind and the geological conditions of the region. The canopy does have a small frit element that provides a light shading component without really compromising visibility.

TM: Could you tell me about some hidden elements of the design that are playing a role that visitors might not realize?

MS: One thing I’ll highlight is the intentionality of connectivity to the event. The experience is that you’re always connected — visually and through sound. As you walk the upper concourse, we’ve intentionally moved all of the concessions and restrooms outboard, allowing for glimpses into the stadium and allowing people to walk a pathway with full visibility to the field.

What we’ve done is removed what would be considered a barrier, by pushing all concessions and restrooms into the space that would otherwise block the view of someone walking around the concourse. If we remove that barrier, we’re allowing for a natural connection. When you hear a goal, everyone turns around — and you have the visibility.

A Stadium Built for the World Stage

TM: Can you tell me about the design challenges you faced?

MS: Every stadium is going to have challenges, but one thing we did — I think for the first time at any stadium — was address an FAA challenge posed by the flight paths directly overhead. Being truly under two flight paths, there were two things we did that we ultimately thought would help the project.

First, we dug down 100 feet into the earth. By reducing the overall mass of the stadium and pushing it below grade, that also helps with the scale as you walk into the space.

The second, which I think is a very interesting one, if you flew in, depending on which flight path you’re on, you look down, and you see SoFi Stadium, and you see what we call the fifth facade. There are LED elements that light up that fifth facade — the roof, the canopy — and it can be branded to show whatever is needed. Whether it’s SoFi, or in the case of the World Cup, since it’s going to be LA Stadium, it can display the flags of the two teams playing as you fly in.

We knew we were underneath the flight path — so why not take advantage of how many people fly into LAX daily, and make sure they know where they are? Capitalizing on that not only as a roof structure, but as an opportunity.

TM: FIFA is just around the corner. Can you talk about why SoFi feels like an ideal destination for it?

MS: When I talk about world-class — and we can go beyond FIFA, we can go to the Olympics — think about the fact that we’ve created a destination in one of the most significant cities in the world. This stadium: people fly into LAX, and it’s right there. It could not be situated any better for the world’s eyes to land on it.

And it’s not just a stadium. You have all the infrastructure for someone to come in and spend time and actually enjoy the surroundings. Come a little early. Grab a bite to eat, eat by the water — there are going to be many different celebrations. With the World Cup, it’s not just the event itself — the opportunities that happen around the actual competition are amazing. There’s such flexibility within the site to serve the everyday resident and the out-of-towner alike.

TM: What lessons from SoFi do you think will influence future stadium design?

MS: Right now, it’s already influencing a number of designs — influencing the way we look at stadiums as destinations. One of the things that has always been the assumption is that you go to an event and you leave. We want to capture more of an experience than that.

You want to enjoy the moment longer, you want it to linger, you want to build up to it. The entrance, how welcoming it is before the event even begins, and then the lingering after — that’s become an incredible part of the way we design, more on the master plan side than as a single facility.

One of the things that has always been the assumption is that you go to an event and you leave. We want to capture more of an experience than that.

Also incredibly important is the true flexibility of a stadium. The goal is that when you have a different event — whether it’s football, soccer, or a concert — the visitor feels like that facility was purpose-built for them. The way to do that is to make a building such a chameleon that it feels purpose-built every time.

There are ways to introduce technology, starting with when you drive in, to ensure there’s a branding opportunity. SoFi’s exterior is a very simple palette — very subdued, almost white — so you can imagine how a concert or any other event can use the facility to be truly multi-use.

Even for the Olympics, hosting the swimming competition there — the corners of the stadium are demountable to allow for different field widths. The sightlines are amazing for a number of different event types.

That’s the point of a facility like this: making people want to come back, making people want to enjoy.