What Stadiums Will be Used at the 2026 World Cup?

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What Stadiums Will be Used at the 2026 World Cup?
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The 2026 World Cup will be the first in history to have three nations host the tournament as the United States, Canada and Mexico successfully won the bid a few years back. During the bidding process, 41 cities with 43 venues were submitted, and this was eventually brought down to 16 host cities by FIFA. 

This was then separated into three geographical divisions: Western, Central and Eastern. Two stadiums will be used in Canada, three in Mexico and 11 in the U.S. across the three divisions.

It will be the first time since 1986 that the World Cup has hit Mexico and the first time since 1994 for the U.S., so we look at what venues are set to host the 2026 World Cup. Moreover, with this being the third time a World Cup has gone to Mexico, it will mean no country in the world has hosted the finals more.

Estadio Azteca, Mexico City

As the biggest and most famous soccer stadium at the 2026 World Cup, the Estadio Azteca is at the forefront of the magnificent stadiums on show. The Azteca is the only venue worldwide that has hosted two World Cup finals, following Brazil’s win in 1970 and Argentina’s triumph in 1986.

It's also the only soccer stadium in the world to have Pelé (1970) and Diego Maradona (1986) win World Cups. Finally, it has the biggest capacity of all the 2026 World Cup stadiums with 87,523 seats.

MetLife Stadium, New Jersey

Just behind Mexico City's gargantuan stadium, the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey can get 82,500 inside it for the 2026 World Cup games. During the bidding, it was also stated that MetLife Stadium can increase its capacity to 87,157.

The stadium is multi-purpose, but its tenants are the NFL sides, the New York Jets and the New York Giants. It also hosted Super Bowl XLVIII back in 2013.

AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Technically speaking, AT&T Stadium is the biggest of all 2026 World Cup stadiums, with the 80,000-seat venue able to be reconfigured to hold around 100,000. During the bidding process, however, it was agreed this ground would have a capacity of 80,000.

It also has the world's 34th-largest high-definition video screen and has been home to the Dallas Cowboys since it opened in 2009.


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Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

The Kansas City Chiefs have played at the Arrowhead Stadium since 1972, and with a seating capacity of 76,416, it is the 27th-largest stadium in the United States and the sixth-largest NFL stadium.

On Oct. 13, 2013, in a game between the Chiefs and Oakland Raiders, the crowd set a Guinness World Record for the loudest stadium with 137.5 decibels. They lost the record to a game at CenturyLink Field in 2013, then reclaimed it with 142.2 decibels during a game against the New England Patriots.

NRG Stadium, Arlington, Texas

As the other stadium in Texas for the 2026 World Cup, NRG Stadium is home to the Houston Texans. It has hosted many games for matches between the USMNT and Mexico national teams and Super Bowls XXXVIII in 2004. It was also the first NFL facility to have a retractable roof.

It will have a seating capacity of 72,220 at the World Cup.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

As the home for the Atlanta Falcons, it has also been the stadium for every Atlanta United game since 2017 and hosted Super Bowl LIII in 2019. It is also one of the most expensive stadiums in the world in terms of construction, costing an estimated $1.6 billion in 2016.

The stadium has seen many soccer games outside of the Atlanta games, as it hosted a game in the 2019 Campeones Cup, the 2018 MLS All-Star Game and the 2019 U.S. Open Cup final. It also hosted some international games for Mexico and has a capacity of 71,000 for the World Cup.

SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles

SoFi Stadium is one of three stadiums in California for the 2026 World Cup and is home to the L.A. Rams and the L.A. Chargers. It also won Stadium of the Year in StadiumDB's Jury Award in 2021, and the Outstanding Architectural Engineering Project the same year.

With a capacity of 70,240, it will also host soccer's Gold Cup final in 2023 and host events at the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics.

Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

This stadium is now used only for Philadelphia Eagles in terms of professional sporting events, but it was the temporary home of MLS side, Philadelphia Union, in 2010.

Ironically, the stadium's opening event was a soccer game back in 2003 when Manchester defeated Barcelona in a preseason friendly. What's more, after winning the Gold Medal game at the 2004 Olympics, the USWNT conducted a fan celebration tour at the stadium that same year.

It has a capacity of 71,896.


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Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Massachusetts

Gillette Stadium is another at the 2026 World Cup that regularly invites soccer fans, as it is the home of MLS team the New England Revolution.

It is more famously known as the home for the New England Patriots and will also be the most eastern stadium at the 2026 World Cup. It usually only seats 20,000 for MLS games, but it will now have a capacity of 65,878 at the finals.

Lumen Field, Seattle

Lumen Field was built in 1998 and is home to the most professional franchises on this list. The Seattle Seahawks (NFL), the Seattle Sea Dragons (XFL), the Seattle Sounders (MLS) and OL Reign (NWSL) play there.

It has also hosted the MLS Cup final twice in the past 20 years and hosted numerous exhibition games, including clubs such as Manchester United, Barcelona, Celtic, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Club América and Chivas de Guadalajara. 

Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California

As the home of the San Francisco 49ers since 2014, Levi's Stadium has already hosted Super Bowl 50 and is the only stadium at the 2026 World Cup that has an app designed specifically to enhance the fan experience. 

The Levi's Stadium has a capacity of 68,500 for World Cup games and will host more games than most stadiums at the 2026 finals.

Hard Rock Stadium, Miami

The final U.S. ground on show at the 2026 World Cup is the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami and it also has the lowest capacity of all stadiums in the U.S. for fans at the 2026 finals.

It is the home field for the Miami Dolphins (NFL) and the Miami Hurricanes, and the University of Miami's NCAA Division I college football team. 

The stadium has also hosted many high-profile boxing events down the years, including a fight between Floyd Mayweather and Logan Paul and Canelo Alvarez's win over Avni Yildirim. Film buffs may also recognize the stadium from films such as Marley and Me, Any Given Sunday and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.

BC Place, Vancouver 

There will be two stadiums placed in Canada for the 2026 World Cup with BC Place in Vancouver being the most western stadium on show across all 16 venues. 

BC Place is the home of the Vancouver Whitecaps and it is one of the oldest stadiums at the 2026 finals, having opened 40 years ago. In fact, at the time of opening, it had the world's largest air-supported roof at the time.

Estadio BBVA, Monterrey 

Along with the historic soccer stadium, Estadio Azteca, Mexico will have two other stadiums at the 2026 World Cup. One of those is Estadio BBVA, and it is one of only a few stadiums at the finals that plays hosts to only soccer games, having been the home stadium for Monterrey games since 2015.

It will have a capacity of 48,071, according to the official bid and it has already been used at the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship, where it opened its door for eight games at that tournament.

Estadio Akron, Guadalajara 

Estadio Akron is Mexico's third and final stadium at the 2026 World Cup, and it is also used primarily for soccer games throughout the year, as it is the home of Liga MX side, C.D. Guadalajara. 

The stadium hosted its first major international soccer game in 2010 at the Copa Libertadores, while it has also been used for Mexico men’s national team games.

BMO Field, Toronto

As the second stadium in Canada for the 2026 World Cup, the BMO Field also has the lowest capacity of all 16 stadiums at 45,736. It is normally 30,000 for Toronto games in the MLS, and as well as being the home stadium for Toronto, it has also been the main stadium for Canada men's national team games since it opened in 2007.

We won’t find out until nearer the time whether or not Canada will play its games here, but it would be quite the spectacle if it did.

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