Arsenal boss Kroenke faces an awkward problem if he wants to host the 2026 World Cup, the expensive Los Angeles stadium needs to be expanded just 18 months after its unveiling.
While spending $3.8-5 billion on soFi Stadium, Kroenke faces a problem that if he needs to host a World Cup final stage match, he needs to invest more money to solve some of the stadium's problems.
The 298-acre stadium in Los Angeles (three times larger than Disney) can accommodate 70,000 spectators, but doesn't meet FIFA's stadium requirements. If Kroenke wants its flagship project to participate in the 2026 World Cup jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, then it will need to find ways to broaden the course.
This may seem like an easy problem to solve, but it's not, and there's now an argument that the pitch can only be widened if you lift it up.
As you can see from the GIF below, although there is some room for widening at the edge of the pitch, there are big problems when it comes to corners.
Unlike soccer, the field of American football looks like a standard size. They are 91.44 m (300 ft) long and 48.8 m (160 ft) wide, respectively.
FiFA recommends courses measuring 105 metres (345 ft) long and 68 metres (223 ft) wide. From the GIF just now, there is no room to widen the course by 63 feet.
Even the length can be a big challenge.