Quiet around SoFi as LA shows muted World Cup mood | OneFootball

Los Angeles remains subdued for the World Cup, with the area around SoFi Stadium near silent on Wednesday night despite the tournament set to open there with United States v Paraguay 48 hours later. According to L'Équipe, only police sirens and constant landings at the nearby international airport broke the calm.

On the roads, a handful of banners note that the city will stage eight matches, including two United States group games and a quarter-final. A small number of mainly South American fans posed for photos beside giant tournament wraps around the ground.

Inside, workers were finalising details. A few hours earlier, the union for 2,000 stadium staff announced a deal after last week’s strike threat, describing it as historic. The agreement brings sizeable pay rises, stronger protections and preserves a right to strike if ICE intervenes, the immigration agency officially present for security but feared in immigrant communities.

Ruben, a local in his sixties of Mexican origin, felt this climate is damping interest in a city with deep Latin roots, alongside a sport that is less followed. He contrasted the packed scenes a week before the Super Bowl with today’s ease of finding last-minute hotels. Taxi drivers reported normal traffic and bookings.

He plans to watch Mexico and follow Brazil, fancies Spain or France to win, yet expects a tricky start against Erling Haaland’s Norway. He reckoned there are too many matches and that the mood will rise late.

The city centre began to stir on Wednesday with a countdown concert at Crypto.com Arena. On Thursday it shifted to the Memorial Coliseum’s FIFA Fan Festival and BMO Stadium, where Paul Pogba appeared.

Mexican shirts still dominated on Thursday, and with the United States based in Irvine, they are not certain to fill the 70,000 seats for Paraguay, with many tickets still on sale on the eve of kick-off.

Source: L'Équipe