2026 World Cup Stadiums Guide
The 2026 World Cup stadiums are due to host 5.5 million fans across a 104-match tournament in the summer – making it the biggest World Cup in history.
Host cities across the USA, Canada and Mexico have spent millions of dollars preparing their World Cup venues.
And it’s not only stadium organisers preparing for the tournament, with World Cup betting enthusiasts eagerly awaiting the 48-team festival of football.
But where exactly are the World Cup locations in 2026 and what makes these stadiums so special? Read on to find out!
Mexico
Mexico has twice hosted the World Cup before and will stage games at three venues in 2026. This includes the biggest of the 2026 World Cup stadiums – the iconic Azteca Stadium.
Here’s what you need to know about the World Cup locations in Mexico:
Estadio Azteca (Estadio Ciudad de México) – Mexico City
Capacity: 87,523
Key facts:
- Host of the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals
- Possible venue for opening match in 2026
- Biggest World Cup 2026 stadium
- Home to Mexican side Club América
The Azteca Stadium will officially be known as the Estadio Ciudad de México during the World Cup. This 87,523-capacity venue is undergoing a major renovation before the tournament.
The enormous bowl was the stage for the 1970 World Cup final, when Pele’s Brazil beat Italy 4-1. In 1986, Diego Maradona helped Argentina to World Cup glory as they won three straight knockout games at the Azteca Stadium, beating England, Belgium and then West Germany in the final.
What to expect:
Mexico City sits on an enormous plateau, meaning the Azteca Stadium is 7,200 feet above sea level. For context, the UK’s highest stadium – The Hawthorns – is 552 feet in altitude. Oxygen levels are lower at altitude and games will take place in the Mexican summer. So, expect energy-sapping matches played in front of an intense atmosphere.
Estadio BBVA – Monterrey
Capacity: 53,500
Key facts:
- Built for $200m in 2015
- Awarded an ecological award for its construction
- Home of C.F. Monterrey
Monterrey hosted eight matches at the 1986 World Cup and 40 years on the city is ready to open its doors to the world once more. However, this time games will be played at the Estadio BBVA, a “steel giant” newly built in 2015.
Constructed next to a zoo, water park and ecological zone, the stadium has a campus feel that still manages to shuttle fans to and fro without much issue.
Monterrey will host four matches at the 2026 World Cup, including one from Group A (which features Mexico).
What to expect:
Monterrey is a modern Mexican city with a mountain backdrop, where industry meets nature. Fans can expect a festive, campus-like atmosphere at the ground and can also escape into the nature reserves nearby.
Estadio Akron – Guadalajara
Capacity: 49,813
Key facts:
- Built in time for the 2010 Copa Libertadores finals
- Out-of-town location
- Exterior walls built with grass verges
Sitting 5,100 feet above sea level, Estadio Akron is another Mexican stadium where altitude could affect performance. However, its cooler summer temperatures make Guadalajara a palatable venue for World Cup games.
The Estadio Akron took six years to plan and build, and opened its doors in time for the 2010 Copa Libertadores finals. C.D. Guadalajara have played there ever since, while Mexico’s men’s national team has occasionally staged games there.
The stadium is set to host four matches at the 2026 World Cup, all in Group A (Mexico’s group).
What to expect:
Fans will have to drive or take public transport to reach Estadio Akron, and will likely enjoy a festival atmosphere outside the stadium’s grass walls before entering the bowl. Camping and glamping is available in the nearby Bosque de la Primavera national forest.
Canada
Canada has never hosted a Men’s World Cup before and has the honour of providing two of the tournament’s 16 North American venues in 2026. This includes the smallest World Cup stadium.
BC Place – Vancouver
Capacity: 54,500
Key facts:
- Redeveloped in the early 2010s to become one of Canada’s most modern stadiums
- Nestled in the heart of Vancouver’s downtown
- Due to host seven games, including two Canada matches in Group B
Built back in the 1980s with an inflatable roof, BC Place got a significant uplift 15 years ago and now boasts a remarkable retractable roof instead.
The stadium hosted the 2015 Women’s World Cup final and is the home of MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps. It is a proper football stadium.
Nestled on the edge of downtown Vancouver, BC Place is a football fan’s dream. There are eight sports bars within eight blocks of the stadium, a casino in the stadium’s campus, and breathtaking views of False Creek.
What to expect:
If you’ve ever been to Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, then you may know the joy of spilling out of a downtown bar and straight into the football ground. Fans can enjoy the city on their doorstep after watching games at BC Place, and celebrate their wins (or drown their sorrows following defeat) all night long.
BMO Field – Toronto
Capacity: 28,180 (expanded to 45,736)
Key facts:
- Located on outskirts of Toronto
- Stadium capacity expanded by 17,756 for the World Cup
- New pitch, dugouts and VIP areas part of $146m uplift
- Home of MLS team Toronto FC
If BC Place is a downtown haven, BMO Field in Toronto is the complete opposite. A stadium purposely built on campus alongside hockey’s Coca-Cola Coliseum, a convention centre and a theatre, you have to drive to BMO Field.
Still, you can find soul inside the ground itself, as it’s the home of Toronto FC. The 28,000-capacity venue will upgrade to more than 45,700 as temporary seats are added. There’s also a lot of hospitality seating.
BMO Field will host six games at the World Cup.
What to expect:
If you’re staying in downtown Toronto then you’ll need to catch a taxi or public transport to reach the stadium. In the summer there are amazing views of Lake Ontario, so long as you’re willing to walk through the multiple parking lots to reach the shore.
United States
Most of the World Cup 2026 venues are located in the United States, including the final at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. America last hosted the World Cup in 1994 when the country didn’t quite know what to do with the world’s game. Fast-forward three decades and the US seems far more ready to embrace soccer.
MetLife Stadium – New Jersey
Capacity: 82,500
Key facts:
- 15th largest stadium in the USA
- More than 28,000 car parking bays
- $13 for a beer (expected to be more at the World Cup)
- Hosted 2025 Club World Cup final
The MetLife Stadium will stage the World Cup final on July 19 and BetMGM UK has a great welcome offer for new punters eagerly awaiting the showpiece this summer!
Built in 2010, it replaced the iconic Giants Stadium. It is, quite simply, an enormous bowl with all the trimmings of a modern sports stadium.
The MetLife Stadium is primarily an NFL stadium for the New York Giants and New York Jets. However, its artificial turf makes it suitable for summer concerts, with Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Metallica, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney and Oasis just some of the names to have played there.
As for football, it has hosted CONCACAF Gold Cup games, a Copa América final, and nine 2025 FIFA Club World Cup matches. It will stage eight games at the 2026 World Cup.
What to expect:
The MetLife Stadium is designed for cars. There are around 28,000 parking spaces around the bowl and, while you can get the train from New York Penn Station, driving is the best option. There are very few restricted view seats but those at the top of the upper tier can feel exposed to the elements (so, bring a hat!). Stadium goers have also remarked that the price for food and drink is high, even for New York standards.
AT&T Stadium – Dallas
Capacity: 80,000
Key facts:
- Built in 2009 at a cost of $1.3bn
- Located in Arlington, 19 miles from downtown Dallas
- Features a 175-feet jumbotron
- Home of NFL side the Dallas Cowboys
- College sports, soccer, boxing and hockey all played here
- +100,000 fans attended WrestleMania 32 in 2016
The AT&T Stadium is the sort of arena that truly takes your breath away. An 80,000-capacity sports ground that can increase to over 100,000 – it’s as ultra-modern as they get.
Not only does the stadium hold a former World Record for the biggest TV screen in history (now beaten), it has opulent VIP lounges and great views for all fans.
There’s also a retractable roof to protect fans from the elements.
However, arguably the best thing about the AT&T Stadium is the pizza burger. That’s right – fans can buy a 16oz burger sandwiched inside two slices of pepperoni pizza.
Let’s see what Italian fans think of it, if Italy play in Texas!
What to expect:
Ever wanted to watch football on TV alongside the live experience? Well, you can at the AT&T Stadium, where fans claim your eyes naturally gravitate towards the big screen, instead of following the play on the field. Temperatures in Arlington can hit 35c in July, so be ready for the heat.
Arrowhead Stadium – Kansas City
Capacity: 76,416
Key facts:
- Broke ground in 1968, with multiple developments over the years
- NFL fans broke the noise record of 142.2 dB at a game in 2014
- Kansas City Royals' MLB stadium next door
- Open-roofed bowl
Arrowhead Stadium is a classic US sports facility. Built in the 1960s and redeveloped multiple times, it's a 76,000-seat megabowl off the freeway, nine miles from downtown Kansas City. It's home to the Kansas City Chiefs and used to host the MLS side Kansas City Wizards, until they moved to a more suitable (smaller) stadium.
The stadium will host six World Cup games this summer, including a quarter-final. In 2025 it underwent additional redevelopment in preparation for the World Cup, with more hospitality built for VIPs.
What to expect:
Arrowhead Stadium has an impressive tailgate based outside the stadium on NFL games, and we’re likely to see something similar at the World Cup.
NRG Stadium – Houston
Capacity: 72,220
Key facts:
- Built in 2002 and renovated in 2018
- Suffered damage from Hurricane Ike in 2008
- Retractable roof and climate control
- Stadium built inside 1.4km entertainment facility
The retractable roof and climate-controlled setting inside the NRG Stadium makes Houston an obvious choice to be a World Cup 2026 location. NRG Stadium was built in 2002 and redevelopment over the past decade means it's one of the top sports stadiums in North America.
Texas being Texas, the stadium is located out of town and there are 26,000 parking spaces. The stadium is part of NRG Park, which stages on average two events per day throughout the year.
Home of the Houston Texans, it's hosted college football's Texas Bowl since 2006 and is transformed into a live rodeo venue each year.
Mexico beat USA in the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup final here, and seven World Cup games are to come this summer.
What to expect:
Fans will likely need to take a car to the NRG Stadium but there's plenty to do around the venue. Not only is this the centre of sports in Houston, but a few miles north is the Houston Zoo and the Museum of Natural Science. Inside the stadium, two mega screens sit either side of the goals and are some of the biggest in world sport.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta
Capacity: 71,000
Key facts:
- Built in 2017 next to the old Georgia Dome
- Will host seven World Cup games, including a semi-final
- Enviable downtown location ideal for fans
- Beyoncé’s three dates here in 2023 grossed almost $40m
- Home of the Atlanta Falcons and MLS side Atlanta United FC
If you ever wondered what a UFO landing in the heart of a city might look like, then you haven't seen the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. A stone's throw from downtown Atlanta, the stadium was built next to the old Georgia Dome and opened in 2017.
It has a swirling retractable roof, stands 30 stories high, 24 bars/restaurants, 1,264 beer taps, and a 63,800 sq ft scoreboard.
This is one of the few US-based World Cup venues that is genuinely walkable. Across the road, there's the Georgia Aquarium, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and the World of Coca-Cola. A day out for everyone!
What to expect:
Fans can enjoy downtown Atlanta and walk to the stadium in around 20 minutes. The bowl is huge and the roof can close on hot days to shield the pitch from the intense Georgian sun.
SoFi Stadium – Los Angeles
Capacity: 70,240
Key facts:
- Opened in 2020 at a cost of $6bn
- Hosted American Football's Big Game and will do so again in 2027
- Non-retractable glass roof cools inside air by up to 4c
- USA will play two group games here
FIFA have already confirmed they will utilise climate control and retractable roofs at various World Cup venues, in order to mitigate the effects of playing in the midday heat. The SoFi Stadium goes one step further, with a permanent glass roof and no climate control.
Instead, the venue uses smart airflow to keep fans cool inside. It's a unique design for this World Cup and the stadium only opened in 2020, at a cost of $6bn.
So, what do fans get for that eye-watering sum? An ultra-modern stadium bowl with an end-to-end 'Infinity Screen' hung over the pitch. The roof filters out UV rays from the sun, and there are green spaces within the stadium campus.
Located near LAX, it's home to two American football teams. USA will play two of their group games at the venue this summer.
What to expect:
Los Angeles is a city built for cars, so don’t expect to walk to this stadium. It’s very close to Los Angeles International Airport, meaning fans may dip into California and back out again once the game is over.
Lumen Field – Seattle
Capacity: 68,740
Key facts:
- Opened in 2002 primarily as an NFL stadium
- Has become a cultural home for US men’s and women’s club soccer
- Fans carry a reputation for being loud and rowdy
- Downtown location ideal for fans without cars
Seattle is arguably the home of US soccer. It’s a city that embraced the sport in its early years and now is home to the Seattle Sounders and Seattle Reign FC.
Both teams play at Lumen Field, which has been the home of NFL team Seattle Seahawks since 2002. The stadium consists of two enormous terraces, with open ends behind each goal. It boasts an atmosphere like few other US stadiums.
Fans can commute to Lumen Field from downtown Seattle and elsewhere with relative ease, using the Sounder commuter train. Otherwise it's a 15-minute walk to downtown Seattle.
What to expect:
This might be the most exciting stadium at the 2026 World Cup. Seattle Sounders fans regularly sell the ground out for games and this soccer-mad city is ready to welcome the World Cup to its streets. A fan park is being built in the city, too.
Levi’s Stadium – San Francisco Bay Area
Capacity: 68,500
Key facts:
- Opened in 2014 to plenty of controversy
- Replaced Candlestick Park as the San Francisco 49ers’ home
- Occasionally hosts soccer games
- Will stage six World Cup games this summer
Levi’s Stadium is an ultra-modern sports facility with retractable terraces, so it can be used for baseball and pro football purposes. It’s an obvious choice to host World Cup games, yet not everyone loves the place.
Built almost an hour’s drive from San Francisco, Levi’s Stadium effectively replaced the downtown Candlestick Park venue that fans had come to love. Levi’s Stadium is bigger, bolder, and arguably more corporate.
The San Jose Earthquakes occasionally play MLS games here, but not regularly.
The stadium is located close to San Jose Mineta International Airport, making it a viable option for fans to jet in and out on matchdays.
What to expect:
While the stadium has won awards for its sustainability, fans may need to prepare for the heat during the World Cup. It’s a lot warmer in Santa Clara than San Francisco, and public transportation isn't exactly easy to come by.
Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia
Capacity: 67,594
Key facts:
- Opened on 2003
- Home to the Philadelphia Eagles NFL team
- Chelsea played three times here during the 2025 Club World Cup
- Strong fan culture within the city
Built in 2003 and renovated a decade later, Lincoln Financial Field ('The Link') is a typical NFL stadium. It's big, bold and open. European football clubs have been coming to Lincoln Financial Field since it opened, while it staged eight 2025 Club World Cup games and four 2003 Women's World Cup fixtures.
Manchester United famously opened the stadium with its first sporting event in 2003, when facing Barcelona in a summer friendly.
Fans can take public transport from downtown Philadelphia, or drive and pay $50 for a parking space. It will host six World Cup games this summer, including one last-16 clash.
What to expect:
Getting to the stadium is easier than most US-based World Cup locations thanks to Philadelphia’s public transport system. However, a bottle of water costs $7.75 in the stadium and a can of Miller Lite $18.50.
Hard Rock Stadium – Miami
Capacity: 64,767
Key facts:
- Home of the Miami Dolphins and formerly the Florida Marlins
- Miami Open tennis venue
- F1 Miami Grand Prix venue
- Cheese pizza costs $22
Nestled within the enormous urban sprawl that is Miami is the Hard Rock Stadium – a multi-purpose entertainment mega development that has reshaped and remoulded over the decades.
Built way back in 1987, the stadium has played host to pro football, tennis, baseball, soccer, wrestling, F1, boxing, and numerous concerts.
Historically one of America's big bowl stadiums, the ground got a major upgrade with a new open-air roof added. Tennis courts are situated around the stadium campus and play host to the Miami Open. There is also a racetrack built around the stadium, which is used for F1's Miami Grand Prix.
NFL team the Miami Dolphins have been tenants since the 1980s but there's not an overly rich soccer history here. Eight Club World Cup games were played in Miami in 2025, and the stadium will host seven World Cup fixtures – including the third-place playoff.
What to expect:
Fans will likely enjoy Miami’s tropical climate but will also get a level of protection from the elements within the stadium. The ground is a long way from downtown Miami, though.
Gillette Stadium – Boston
Capacity: 64,628
Key facts:
- Redeveloped in 2023 to include a huge jumbotron
- Officially called ‘Boston Stadium’ for the World Cup, it’s located 27 miles from the city
- The old Foxboro Stadium hosted games at the 1994 World Cup
Perhaps the most remote stadium at the 2026 World Cup, the Gillette Stadium is not really in Boston. It's a 40-minute drive to the city but that's unlikely to deter football tourists who have a love for NFL too.
Gillette Stadium is the home of the New England Patriots and MLS side New England Revolution. Built in 2002, it was revamped in 2023 to include another enormous video screen, more hospitality and events space… and a lighthouse!
The stadium will host seven World Cup games, including a quarter-final.
What to expect:
Gillette Stadium is a pretty iconic stadium, thanks in part to the success of the New England Patriots since it opened. Recent redevelopments have made walking around the stadium concourse much easier and fan-friendly.
