From Vancouver’s cable roof that may stay shut, to Mexico City’s elevation and longtime identity, and on to stadiums built, rebuilt and renamed around major tournaments, the World Cup 2026 match venues across Canada, the United States and Mexico come with dist
On the edge of July’s final whistle, the World Cup is going to feel different depending on where you watch it.
In Vancouver, one stadium’s landmark retractable roof could be left closed for a grass surface imported for the tournament. In San Francisco’s Santa Clara, fans face an upper deck that can turn late-day games into heat stress. In Mexico City, the air is thinner—7,200ft above sea level—and the history is thicker than the concrete. Each venue is built to host football. but each also carries the weather. architecture and past events that shape what fans experience in the stands.
That’s the story across the trio of host nations: stadium design decisions aren’t just trivia. They determine whether a roof casts shadows across a pitch, whether the sun pushes temperatures up, and whether the crowd feels like it’s stepping into something familiar.
BC Place (Tournament name: BC Place; Usual name: BC Place; Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
Opened: 1983 (last renovated 2011). Tournament capacity: 54,000.
BC Place will host the following World Cup 2026 games:
Australia v Turkey, 13 June
Canada v Qatar, 18 June
New Zealand v Egypt, 21 June
Switzerland v Canada, 24 June
New Zealand v Belgium, 26 June
Round of 32, 2 July (1B v 3EFGIJ)
Round of 16, 7 July (W85 v W87)
BC Place’s defining feature is its cable-supported retractable roof, described as the largest of its kind in the world. The stadium’s roof was a late addition, part of a major renovation immediately after the 2010 Winter Olympics that removed the previous permanent roof.
When opened in the sun, the cables cast a shadow across the field—something fans may find distinctive or distracting. Recent reports indicate the roof will remain closed for the World Cup because uneven sunlight could affect the growth of the natural grass surface being imported for the occasion. If FIFA decides to open it, the process takes about 20 minutes.
BC Place’s usual tenants are the Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS) and BC Lions (Canadian Football League).
Memorable event (non-soccer): The opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics were held at BC Place. It was the first Olympic opening ceremony to be held indoors. Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky was among the torch bearers to light the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony. and Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young sang as it was extinguished at the closing ceremony.
Memorable game (soccer): The 2015 Women’s World Cup final at BC Place. where Carli Lloyd’s hat-trick led the US to a 5-2 win over Japan and their first World Cup title in 16 years. The official crowd was 53. 341. and the game tied a record set by Brazil v Sweden in 1958 for the most goals in a men’s or women’s World Cup final.
Seattle Stadium (Tournament name: Seattle Stadium; Usual name: Lumen Field; Location: Seattle, Washington, United States)
Opened: 2002. Tournament capacity: 69,000.
Seattle Stadium will host the following World Cup 2026 games:
Belgium v Egypt, 15 June
USA v Australia, 19 June
Bosnia and Herzegovina v Qatar, 24 June
Egypt v Iran, 26 June
Round of 32, 1 July (1G v 3AEHIJ)
Round of 16, 6 July (W81 v W82)
Seattle Stadium sits on the site formerly occupied by Kingdome. One of the few World Cup stadiums in the US located within its urban core, it also stands out architecturally.
It features three rarities for outdoor NFL stadiums: a roof covering most of the seats along the sidelines; a pyramid-shaped bleacher section known as the Hawk’s Nest at the base of a tower in an otherwise-open north end. left empty to maintain views of the city skyline; and public art throughout the grounds. The most visible on television will be four circles adorning the other side of the tower. That work. Earth Dialogue. is attributed to Native American artist Bob Houzous and is described as intended as a constant reminder of “our deep connection to the earth” by the Washington state stadium authority.
The stadium’s usual tenants are Seattle Sounders (MLS), Seattle Reign (NWSL), and Seattle Seahawks (NFL).
Memorable event (non-soccer): The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network began placing sensors at the stadium in 2011 and has recorded numerous instances of crowd shaking powerful enough to register on a seismometer. Examples given include the 2011 Beast Quake run by Marshawn Lynch during a Seahawks home game. with peaks similar to a 2.0-magnitude earthquake. and two Taylor Swift Eras Tour dates in July 2023. a 2.3-magnitude event.
Memorable game (soccer): The Concacaf Champions League final in May 2022. Seattle became the first MLS club to win the tournament in its current format, beating Pumas before a crowd of 68,741, and seismic activity followed the Sounders’ three goals.
The title was described as monumental for the Sounders, who have played at the stadium since their days in the US minor leagues, and at the Kingdome before that as members of the NASL.
San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Tournament name: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium; Usual name: Levi’s Stadium; Location: Santa Clara, California, United States)
Opened: 2014. Tournament capacity: 71,000.
San Francisco Bay Area Stadium will host the following World Cup 2026 games:
Qatar v Switzerland, 13 June
Austria v Jordan, 17 June
Turkey v Paraguay, 19 June
Jordan v Algeria, 22 June
Paraguay v Australia, 25 June
Round of 32, 1 July (1D v 3BEFIJ)
The Bay Area venue was built to replace Candlestick Park. the 49ers’ previous home described as one of the most iconic and soulful old stadiums of its era. Despite being 40 miles south, the new venue was always going to be measured against what came before. The stadium is described as a modern venue praised for its environment-friendly design and clean sightlines. with luxury suites creating an upper deck closer to the field than most.
But the upper deck faces fans directly into the sun for afternoon and evening games. The resulting temperatures have resulted in multiple heat stress-related issues among fans.
Usual tenants: San Francisco 49ers (NFL).
Memorable event (non-soccer): The stadium hosted the Super Bowl twice—first in 2016 and most recently this year. In February, a crowd of 70,823 watched the Seattle Seahawks defeat the New England Patriots 29-13. Bad Bunny headlined the half-time show. with sets mirroring the Puerto Rican countryside and guest appearances by Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin. The 2016 Super Bowl is tied to a description that Beyoncé soft-launched her Lemonade era to overshadow the Denver Broncos’ win over the Carolina Panthers.
Memorable game (soccer): The Copa América Centenario in 2016 kicked off at the stadium with Colombia’s 2-0 win over the USMNT. Cristián Zapata and James Rodríguez scored for Los Cafeteros, who finished third in a tournament won by Chile.
Los Angeles Stadium (Tournament name: Los Angeles Stadium; Usual name: SoFi Stadium; Location: Inglewood, California, United States)
Opened: 2020. Tournament capacity: 70,000.
Los Angeles Stadium will host the following World Cup 2026 games:
USA v Paraguay. 12 June
Iran v New Zealand. 15 June
Switzerland v Bosnia and Herzegovina. 18 June
Belgium v Iran. 21 June
Turkey v USA. 25 June
Round of 32. 28 June (2A v 2B)
Round of 32. 2 July (1H v 2J)
Quarter-final. 10 July (W93 v W94).
Constructed at around $5bn, SoFi Stadium has become a fixture for major events. Its distinctive feature is a semi-clear canopy spanning around 1m sq ft covering the entire stadium structure while letting a good amount of light through. The roof extends in a teardrop shape to create a plaza in the south-east corner and also covers an event venue.
Despite California’s warm climate, the stadium usually uses an artificial turf surface because it serves as home to two NFL teams. The pitch has been modified to meet FIFA’s sizing standards, including demolishing a few rows of permanent seats.
Usual tenants: Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers (NFL).
Memorable event (non-soccer): The stadium will host the opening ceremony and the swimming events at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The swimming venue will seat 38,000 spectators, described as the largest for a swimming event in Olympic history. Its design inspiration is tied to the structures built at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for the 2024 US Olympic trials.
Memorable game (soccer): The 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup final between Mexico and Panama, which had a crowd of 72,963—the largest for a soccer game in the venue’s six-year history. Santiago Giménez’s goal off the bench gave El Tri their record ninth Gold Cup title.
Estadio Guadalajara (Tournament name: Estadio Guadalajara; Usual name: Estadio Akron; Location: Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico)
Opened: 2010. Tournament capacity: 48,000.
Estadio Guadalajara will host the following World Cup 2026 games:
South Korea v Czechia, 11 June
Mexico v South Korea, 18 June
Colombia v Democratic Republic of Congo, 23 June
Uruguay v Spain, 26 June
A map places Zapopan in Mexico for the tournament coverage described here.
What to know: From the inside, the stadium is described as not especially noteworthy—the everyday home of Chivas, the Mexican league team who play here. From the outside, however, Estadio Guadalajara has a striking facade.
Designed by French architects Jean-Marie Massaud and Daniel Pouzet, it is described as resembling an erupting volcano. The vast majority of the stadium sits within a grass-covered, man-made hill. Only the 360-degree roof rises above, with fans entering through overhangs in the hill below.
Usual tenants: CD Guadalajara (Liga MX).
Memorable event (non-soccer): The stadium’s attendance record was set at a 2023 boxing bout between Mexico’s Canelo Álvarez and British fighter John Ryder. The Guadalajara native, fighting in his home country for the first time in 12 years, dominated in front of a reported 51,000 fans.
Memorable game (soccer): Manchester United and Chivas played one of the first friendlies after the stadium opened in 2010. Javier “Chicharito” Hernández. a former youth player at Chivas. played the first half for his boyhood club and scored the first goal at the stadium before switching kits and playing for United in the second half.
Mexico City Stadium (Tournament name: Mexico City Stadium; Usual name: Estadio Banorte (more commonly: Estadio Azteca); Location: Mexico City, Mexico)
Opened: 1966. Tournament capacity: 83,000.
Mexico City Stadium will host the following World Cup 2026 games:
Mexico v South Africa, 11 June
Uzbekistan v Colombia, 17 June
Czechia v Mexico, 24 June
Round of 32, 30 June (1A v 3CEFHI)
Round of 16, 5 June (W79 v W80)
Mexico City’s venue is described as the most iconic of this year’s World Cup venues. Built for the 1968 Olympics. it has undergone several rounds of renovations over its life. including a wide-ranging recent round wrapped this spring that brought the official capacity to 87. 500. FIFA lists the capacity for this tournament as 83,000. It is described as the eighth-largest stadium in the world used for soccer.
It was also the first stadium to host two World Cup finals, with Mexico staging in 1970 and 1986.
The environment when Mexico plays here is described as legendarily tough, attributed partly to El Tri’s passionate fans and partly to elevation—7,200ft above sea level.
Usual tenants: Club América, Cruz Azul and Atlante (Liga MX).
Memorable event (non-soccer): The stadium has hosted a parade of big-name acts on world tours. Michael Jackson brought in more than half a million people across five nights for his Dangerous World Tour in 1993. In 2011, U2 brought their 360° Tour to the Azteca, attracting 282,978.
Memorable game (soccer): The stadium’s World Cup moments are described through several landmark matches. In the 1970 World Cup final, Brazil beat Italy 4-1 for a third star above their crest. In 1986. Diego Maradona was paraded around the stadium on the shoulders of his teammates after Argentina defeated West Germany 3-2 to win their second World Cup. Days before that. the stadium’s most infamous match is described as Argentina’s quarter-final win over England. where Maradona introduced the world to the Hand of God and the Goal of the Century.
Stadium name: Estadio Monterrey (Tournament name: Estadio Monterrey; Usual name: Estadio BBVA; Location: Guadalupe, Nuevo León, Mexico)
Opened: 2015. Tournament capacity: 53,500.
Estadio Monterrey will host the following World Cup 2026 games:
Sweden v Tunisia, 14 June
Tunisia v Japan, 21 June
South Africa v South Korea, 24 June
Round of 32, 29 June (1F v 2C)
No stadium at this World Cup is described as having a more magnificent view from the stands than this one. Photos from fans are expected from the upper decks, looking out toward Cerro de la Silla, whose peak is just below 6,000ft.
The stadium and grounds are described as among the newest and most advanced in Mexico. with sustainable design nods to preserving the surrounding ecological environment. Nicknamed the “steel giant. ” it features a cantilever roof designed to block sunlight and allow airflow to cool hot temperatures in north-east Mexico.
Usual tenants: CF Monterrey (Liga MX).
Memorable event (non-soccer): Bad Bunny visited for two sold-out nights on his World’s Hottest Tour in 2022.
Memorable game (soccer): On 10 April 2024, Lionel Messi and co fell 3-1 to Monterrey in the second leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup quarter-final, giving Inter Miami their first taste of continental disappointment here.
Houston Stadium (Tournament name: Houston Stadium; Usual name: NRG Stadium (formerly and soon to be Reliant Stadium); Location: Houston, Texas, United States)
Opened: 2002. Tournament capacity: 72,000.
Houston Stadium will host the following World Cup 2026 games:
Germany v Curaçao, 14 June
Portugal v Democratic Republic of Congo, 17 June
Netherlands v Sweden, 20 June
Portugal v Uzbekistan, 23 June
Cape Verde v Saudi Arabia, 26 June
Round of 32, 29 June (1C v 2F)
Round of 16, 4 July (W73 v W75)
NRG Stadium opened at the turn of the century and is described as the first with a retractable roof used in the NFL. Designed by architecture firm Populous (then known as HOK Sport). the roof meets in the middle of the field in two sections and is covered in fabric. giving a boxy interior feel while using abundant natural light.
The roof opening procedure takes about seven minutes, and it’s anticipated it will be closed for every World Cup match.
The stadium was initially known as Reliant Stadium, later changed to NRG Stadium after Reliant’s parent company. After the World Cup, it will return to the original Reliant moniker—linked to Reliant being a subsidiary of NRG.
Usual tenants: Houston Texans (NFL).
Memorable event (non-soccer): The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is held at NRG Stadium for three weeks each March. Top professional rodeo cowboys like Stetson Wright and Riley Webb headline events including calf roping and bronc riding. steer wrestling and bull riding. This year’s event drew more than 2.6m visitors across 21 days.
Memorable game (soccer): At the 2010 MLS All-Star Game, 70,728 watched Chicharito and Manchester United beat Landon Donovan and the MLS All-Stars 5-2. United were described as the first international club to beat the MLS All-Stars in regulation.
Dallas Stadium (Tournament name: Dallas Stadium; Usual name: AT&T Stadium; Location: Arlington, Texas, United States)
Opened: 2009. Tournament capacity: 94,000.
Dallas Stadium will host the following World Cup 2026 games:
Netherlands v Japan. 14 June
England v Croatia. 17 June
Argentina v Austria. 22 June
Japan v Sweden. 25 June
Jordan v Argentina. 27 June
Round of 32. 30 June (2E v 2I)
Round of 32. 3 July (2D v 2G)
Round of 16. 6 July (W83 v W84)
Semi-final. 14 July (W97 v W98).
The stadium is colloquially known as Jerry World, after Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. It is described as the retractable-roof behemoth with the largest capacity of any stadium at the World Cup.
The dome is described as one of the tallest in the world, supported by two 300ft-tall arches spanning the length of the venue and then some. The retractable roof is expected to remain closed throughout the tournament.
If the roof is open, the relatively small opening is described as a nod to the Cowboys’ previous home, Texas Stadium, which had a distinctive hole due to abandoned plans for its own retractable roof.
The twin video boards running the length of the field were described as the largest in the world upon opening and still among the biggest. The article notes that some NFL punters have been able to hit them with kicks.
Usual tenants: Dallas Cowboys (NFL).
Memorable event (non-soccer): The 2021 bout between Canelo Álvarez and Billy Joe Saunders surpassed Leon Spinks v Muhammad Ali in 1973 as the most-attended indoor boxing fight in US history with an official attendance of 73. 126. Jake Paul and Mike Tyson faced off there before more than 72,000 in 2024.
Memorable game (soccer): Trivia is given for the stadium’s first sporting event: it wasn’t American football. The first sporting event at Jerry World was a 2009 Concacaf Gold Cup quarter-final between Costa Rica and Guadeloupe. Costa Rican legend Celso Borges scored the first goal in the stadium’s history. and Mexico v Haiti drew a crowd of 82. 252.
Kansas City Stadium (Tournament name: Kansas City Stadium; Usual name: Arrowhead Stadium (or, if you must, GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium); Location: Kansas City, Missouri, United States)
Opened: 1972 (last renovated in 2010). Tournament capacity: 73,000.
Kansas City Stadium will host the following World Cup 2026 games:
Argentina v Algeria, 16 June
Ecuador v Curacao, 20 June
Tunisia v Netherlands, 25 June
Algeria v Austria, 27 June
Round of 32, 3 July (1K v 3DEIJL)
Quarter-final, 11 July (W95 v W96)
At the time the stadium was built. multi-purpose monstrosities such as Riverfront Stadium (Cincinnati). Three Rivers Stadium (Pittsburgh) and Veterans Stadium (Philadelphia) were described as the rage. Those concrete donuts sought to serve both baseball and gridiron football teams with modular designs and movable stands.
Kansas City went a different route, building an NFL stadium separate from MLB’s Royals. Fifty years later, all of the multi-sport buildings were demolished and Arrowhead remains functioning without the flashier amenities and glass of newer venues.
It is described as the oldest World Cup stadium in the United States. The stadium has undergone numerous renovations including the addition of a new press box, updated football-shaped video boards at either end, and the removal of some rows of seating to allow for a FIFA-approved pitch.
A distinctive feature is the swooping silhouette along the top, meaning seats in the corners are truly in the corners.
Usual tenants: Kansas City Chiefs (NFL).
Memorable game (non-soccer): The article points to six AFC championship games hosted since 2018, noting that the Chiefs won four to advance to the Super Bowl. It also mentions a major game in 2007 between Missouri and Kansas ranked No 4 and No 2 respectively, where Mizzou won 36-28.
Memorable game (soccer): Kansas City served as home of the Kansas City Wizards of MLS before rebranding to Sporting Kansas City and moving into their own stadium on the Kansas side of town. It notes a US Open Cup title in 2004 when Russian forward Igor Simutenkov scored what was likely described as the last top-flight golden goal in the world before the rule was nixed.
It also notes that Manchester United fell to the Wizards 2-1 in a preseason friendly at the stadium with Davy Arnaud and Kei Kamara scoring for the hosts.
Atlanta Stadium (Tournament name: Atlanta Stadium; Usual name: Mercedes-Benz Stadium; Location: Atlanta, Georgia, United States)
Opened: 2017. Tournament capacity: 75,000.
Atlanta Stadium will host the following World Cup 2026 games:
Spain v Cape Verde. 15 June
Czechia v South Africa. 18 June
Spain v Saudi Arabia. 21 June
Morocco v Haiti. 24 June
Democratic Republic of Congo v Uzbekistan. 27 June
Round of 32. 1 July (1L v 3EHIJK)
Round of 16. 7 July (W86 v W88)
Semi-final. 15 July (W99 v W100).
Atlanta is described as having a retractable roof but none of those US roofs resembling the pinwheel-esque design utilized here. It lists multiple distinctive features including one end using a massive glass wall for views outside.
The stadium was designed with American football and soccer in mind for the Falcons and Atlanta United, with more primary tenants described.
The article singles out pricing as the stadium’s unusual feature: hot dogs, sodas, beer and other snacks are priced similarly inside the stadium as outside. It ties that to an owner view that the stadium’s commitment is to fan experience.
Usual tenants: Atlanta Falcons (NFL), Atlanta United (MLS), Atlanta NWSL (future).
Memorable event (non-soccer): Super Bowl LIII occurred here in 2019, when the New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 in the lowest-scoring Super Bowl ever.
Memorable game (soccer): Atlanta United lifted their first and only MLS Cup at their home stadium in 2018, defeating the Portland Timbers 2-0 and setting off wild celebrations.
Miami Stadium (Tournament name: Miami Stadium; Usual name: Hard Rock Stadium; Location: Miami Gardens, Florida, United States)
Opened: 1987. Tournament capacity: 65,000.
Miami Stadium will host the following World Cup 2026 games:
Saudi Arabia v Uruguay, 15 June
Uruguay v Cape Verde, 21 June
Scotland v Brazil, 24 June
Colombia v Portugal, 27 June
Round of 32, 3 July (1J v 2H)
Quarter-final, 11 July (W91 v W92)
Third-place match, 18 July (RU101 v RU102)
The venue’s makeover history is described as extensive. It was founded as Joe Robbie Stadium, named for the founder and owner of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, and the venue was initially completely uncovered before adaptations to host baseball as well as American football.
After the baseball team left, a large-scale renovation added a canopy over most of the seats. That is described as lending a more traditional feel after the venue’s evolution.
The canopy is described as much needed because south Florida heat has been a factor at numerous games.
The stadium is also known for near-constant name changes. Miami Stadium will be the ninth moniker used. following Joe Robbie Stadium. Pro Player Park. Pro Player Stadium. Dolphins Stadium. Dolphin Stadium. Land Shark Stadium. Sun Life Stadium. New Miami Stadium and its current Hard Rock Stadium name. The article says it will revert to after the tournament.
Usual tenants: Miami Dolphins (NFL), Miami Hurricanes (college football).
Memorable event (non-soccer): The stadium is described as having the widest-ranging resume at the World Cup. including hosting six Super Bowls; home to baseball’s Miami Marlins from 1993 to 2001. including hosting the World Series twice; and still the site of tennis’s annual Miami Open. where the main show court is built over the grass field.
It also says the stadium’s parking lots are used for the course of Formula One’s annual Miami Grand Prix.
Memorable game (soccer): Miami hosted the 2024 Copa América final, where Argentina beat Colombia 1-0.
The match is described as best remembered for chaos off the pitch: kickoff delayed for more than an hour due to overcrowding. with an estimated 7. 000 people gaining entry without tickets; the president of the Colombian federation arrested after getting in several fights; and the venue left with significant damage.
On a brighter note, Shakira did the half-time show, and it’s added that she is also co-headlining the World Cup final half-time show.
Toronto Stadium (Tournament name: Toronto Stadium; Usual name: BMO Field; Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
Opened: 2007 (last renovated and expanded in 2016). Tournament capacity: 45,000.
Toronto Stadium will host the following World Cup 2026 games:
Canada v Bosnia and Herzegovina, 12 June
Ghana v Panama, 17 June
Germany v Côte d’Ivoire, 20 June
Panama v Croatia, 23 June
Senegal v Iraq, 26 June
Round of 32, 2 July (2K v 2L)
BMO Field was originally built as a modest home with about 20,000 seats when Toronto entered MLS. The piece says the permanent capacity has expanded significantly and the physical profile has grown.
It describes the current configuration with an added upper deck along the sideline and seating about 28,000, with a roof over many seats giving it a European feel.
This summer the stadium will add more than 17,000 new temporary seats, largely through a large structure at the stadium’s south end, just under the canopy installed in 2016. Upgrades for the showpiece include new LED video boards, new team dugouts and a fresh sound system.
Usual tenants: Toronto FC (MLS) and Toronto Argonauts (Canadian Football League).
Memorable game (non-soccer): The 104th Grey Cup in 2016, when the Ottawa Redblacks defeated the Calgary Stampeders 39-33 to win the championship despite finishing the regular season with a losing record.
Memorable game (soccer): MLS Cup hosted three times—once as a neutral venue in 2010 and twice as Toronto FC’s home stadium in Cup wins over Seattle Sounders in 2016 and 2017. The home side lost on penalties in 2016 and won 2-0 in 2017.
Boston Stadium (Tournament name: Boston Stadium; Usual name: Gillette Stadium; Location: Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States)
Opened: 2002. Tournament capacity: 65,000.
Boston Stadium will host the following World Cup 2026 games:
Haiti v Scotland, 14 June
Iraq v Norway, 16 June
Scotland v Morocco, 19 June
England v Ghana, 23 June
Norway v France, 26 June
Round of 32, 29 June (1E v 3ABCDF)
Quarter-final, 9 July (W89 v W90)
Gillette Stadium replaced old Foxboro Stadium, used as a venue for the 1994 World Cup, located adjacent to the current plot in what is now a parking lot.
The stadium’s most obvious architectural feature is a slice cut out of the seating bowl to its north-east corner, at the behest of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who also owns the stadium and insisted upon a grand entrance.
Next to that grand entrance is a mock lighthouse that features 360-degree panoramic views of the stadium and Patriot Place, a nearby open-air shopping center also owned by the Kraft family.
Usual tenants: New England Patriots (NFL), New England Revolution (MLS) and Boston Legacy (NWSL).
Memorable event (non-soccer): The stadium has been the home site of many notable moments in the New England Patriots’ dynasty this century. including a snowy AFC championship game in January 2004 against Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts and an AFC championship game against the San Diego Chargers in January 2008 that gave the Patriots an 18-0 record heading into Super Bowl XLII.
Memorable game (soccer): The 2002 MLS Cup between the New England Revolution and the LA Galaxy. Galaxy won with Carlos Ruiz’s 113th-minute golden goal in double overtime—the final MLS Cup to be played with a golden-goal rule—before a crowd of 61,316, an attendance record that stood until 2018.
Philadelphia Stadium (Tournament name: Philadelphia Stadium; Usual name: Lincoln Financial Field; Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States)
Opened: 2003. Tournament capacity: 69,000.
Philadelphia Stadium will host the following World Cup 2026 games:
Côte d’Ivoire v Ecuador, 14 June
Brazil v Haiti, 19 June
France v Iraq, 22 June
Curaçao v Côte d’Ivoire, 25 June
Croatia v Ghana, 27 June
Round of 16, 4 July (W74 v W77)
Lincoln Financial Field is described as a huge mass of exposed steel and irregular seating sections, like many stadiums of its era.
One notable feature at the north end is a steel tower upon which sits a small circular seating section called the Eagles Nest. At one point, a row of wind turbines adorned the top of the adjacent seating section, but they were removed in 2019 and never replaced.
The stadium abuts Interstate 95 and sits in a mass of parking lots alongside the city’s baseball stadium and basketball/hockey arena. It’s not downtown, but is accessible via the city’s Septa train. The article says Septa will be running extra service for the usual $2.90 fee with no charge for outbound trips after the games.
Usual tenants: Philadelphia Eagles (NFL) and Temple Owls (college football).
Memorable event (non-soccer): The annual Army-Navy college football game. Philadelphia is described as the most regular home of the matchup, with 90 times hosted—14 times at this stadium—with sitting US presidents from Truman and JFK to Clinton and Trump attending over the years.
Memorable game (soccer): The first sporting event held in the stadium was a 2003 friendly between Manchester United and Barcelona. Patrick Kluivert scored the first goal at the stadium’s history off a Ronaldinho assist. before United responded for a 3-1 win. The crowd of 68. 396 was described as a record for a Philadelphia soccer game for 21 years until a 2024 friendly between Liverpool and Arsenal brought 69. 879.
New York/New Jersey Stadium (Tournament name: New York/New Jersey Stadium; Usual name: MetLife Stadium; Location: East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States)
Opened: 2010. Tournament capacity: 82,500.
New York/New Jersey Stadium will host the following World Cup 2026 games:
Brazil v Morocco, 13 June
France v Senegal, 16 June
Norway v Senegal, 22 June
Ecuador v Germany, 25 June
Panama v England, 27 June
Round of 32, 30 June (1I v 3CDFGH)
Round of 16, 5 July (W76 v W78)
Final, 19 July (W101 v W102)
The final site is described as open-air and familiar with big events, including hosting a Super Bowl in a cold-weather city when Super Bowl XLVIII took place.
The stadium was built for about $1.6bn and is shared by the Giants and Jets of the NFL. The exterior is marked by rows of aluminum slats around the facade and the massive seating bowl is interrupted only by four high-definition TV screens. There is no roof over the stadium and only a small canopy over some seats due to a late change to the funding agreement that dropped proposed plans for a retractable roof.
The location is described across the Hudson River from New York City in the swamplands of New Jersey. Getting to and from the stadium is described as a chore: there is no direct rail connection between New York City and the small station that serves the stadium. and car traffic often slows to gridlock after big games.
The American Dream mall is described as linked to MetLife by a pedestrian walkway, with places to eat, a water park and an indoor skiing facility.
Usual tenants: New York Giants and New York Jets (NFL).
Memorable game (non-soccer): Super Bowl XLVIII is noted as the open-air exception, with the article saying the Seattle Seahawks dominated the Denver Broncos 43-8.
Memorable game (soccer): Two notable finals are highlighted: the 2016 Copa América Centenario final that saw Chile win on penalties and prompted Lionel Messi to retire from the national team in the tunnel after the match (with the article adding “Obviously. that retirement didn’t last.”). The other final referenced is last year’s Club World Cup that Chelsea won, with Donald Trump front and center.
This article was amended on 1 June 2026. An earlier version omitted Haiti v Scotland from Boston Stadium’s list of games and said the 2002 Tuck Rule game was played at Gillette Stadium; it was played at Foxboro Stadium, the previous venue.
World Cup 2026 stadium guide BC Place Lumen Field Levi’s Stadium SoFi Stadium Estadio Akron Estadio Azteca Estadio BBVA NRG Stadium AT&T Stadium Arrowhead Stadium Mercedes-Benz Stadium Hard Rock Stadium BMO Field Gillette Stadium Lincoln Financial Field MetLife Stadium