World Cup Stadium Spotlights (USA, Canada and Mexico)

The Historic Cathedrals (Mexico)

Mexico City | Estadio Azteca – “The Ghost of Estadio Azteca”

One of the most historic and famous stadiums in the world, the Azteca has played host to some of the most memorable moments in football history. 

Brazil beat Italy at this venue in the 1970 final. The match included Pelé's final ever World Cup goal and Carlos Alberto's iconic strike, arguably the best team goal ever scored in the competition. 

More drama followed in 1986, with Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal against England, with the controversial captain later lifting the World Cup for Argentina after leading his team to a 3-2 win over West Germany in the final.

The Azteca will become the first stadium to host matches at three different World Cups, and the first to stage three opening matches when Mexico opens the competition against South Africa on 11 June.

Guadalajara | Estadio Akron – “The Volcano of Jalisco”

A new stadium opened in 2010, the Estadio Akron is best known for its unique design and for blending into the natural scenery of the area. The home of Liga MX side CD Guadalajara, the stadium was designed to replicate the nearby Tequila Volcano. 

It has a grass-covered roof and man-made embankment, all created from the soil excavated to create the playing surface which sits 11 metres below the natural ground level. Four matches will be held here beginning with South Korea vs Czechia on 11 June.

Monterrey | Estadio BBVA – “The Steel Giant”

An even more modern stadium sitting in the shadow of the Cerro de la Silla mountain is CF Monterrey’s Estadio BBVA home. The stadium opened in 2015 and has a capacity of 53,500.

Estadio BBVA is widely regarded as one of the most sustainable stadiums in Latin America, and its design brings fans close to the pitch, creating a vibrant, close-to-the-action atmosphere. It will host the 1,000th match in World Cup history when Tunisia face Japan here on 20 June.

The Tech & Luxury Titans (USA: West & South)

Los Angeles | SoFi Stadium – “The Tech of SoFi”

Bringing modern technology to the forefront of the 2026 World Cup, Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium is the newest stadium at the tournament, having only opened in 2020.

Home to the NFL’s Rams and Chargers, the SoFi is an outdoor stadium that has a unique indoor-outdoor design. It is also home to the largest dual-sided video board in sports. The venue will host eight World Cup matches, including USA vs Paraguay, and is also set to be used in the 2028 summer Olympics.  

San Francisco Bay Area | Levi’s Stadium – “The Silicon Valley Standard”

Another complex built with sustainability in mind, the Levi’s Stadium is situated in Santa Clara and is home to the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers. The venue holds 71,000 fans and given its proximity to Silicon Valley, is blessed with high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity.

Fans will also notice solar-powered pedestrian bridges and plenty of greenery highlighting a commitment to environmental issues. There are six matches at the venue beginning with Qatar vs Switzerland on 13 June.  

Dallas | AT&T Stadium – “The Big Screen in Big D”

The AT&T Stadium is home to the Dallas Cowboys and is set to cater for 80,000 fans at the 2026 World Cup. Situated in Arlington, Texas, the AT&T opened in 2009. It is scheduled to host nine matches, including England's Group L clash with Croatia and one of the semi-finals. If you're interested in placing bets on your favourite team, check out our odds for the World Cup during the event to see some bets and then decide.

Described as providing a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ visitor experience, the stadium boasts a retractable roof, the world’s largest column-free interior and one of the largest HD video boards in America. 

Houston | NRG Stadium – “The Retractable Pioneer”

The NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas will host 72,000 fans at the World Cup and comes equipped with a retractable roof, built to help withstand the brutal Texas heat. Home to the NFL’s Houston Texans, the stadium previously hosted three matches at the Copa America Centenario in 2016, and is used by the USMNT.

Opened in 2002, the NRG will host seven World Cup matches with the standout fixture taking place between the Netherlands and Sweden on 20 June. Ronaldo’s Portugal team will also play two of their group matches at this venue.

Atlanta | Mercedes-Benz Stadium – “The Pinwheel of Progress”

The Mercedes-Benz Stadium is home to Atlanta United of the MLS and the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL. Situated in downtown Atlanta, it opened in 2017 and is regarded as a premier sports and entertainment venue that consists of a unique ‘Oculus’ retractable roof and a spectacular 360-degree ‘Halo’ video board.

Adding to the venue's footballing pedigree, five Club World Cup matches took place here in 2025. A further eight World Cup matches will take place here, including two of Spain’s Group H fixtures and one of the semi-finals.

The Atmospheric Fortresses (USA: East & Midwest)

New York/New Jersey | MetLife Stadium – “The Final Stage”

Situated in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the MetLife Stadium is an open-air venue that plays host to the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets. It is one of only two shared NFL stadiums, has a capacity of 82,500 and was opened in 2010.

Given its proximity to the world’s media capital, New York City, expect it to be the main backdrop of the competition with the bulk of the world’s press based in the region.

Football fans will recognise it as the venue where Cole Palmer led Chelsea to Club World Cup glory in 2025, and the 2026 World Cup champions will also be crowned here. As the final approaches, sportsbooks are expected to release specialised World Cup bonus offers, giving fans extra incentive to back their favourite nation on the world’s biggest stage.

Including the final, there will be eight matches at the venue, with Brazil vs Morocco the standout fixture of the group stages.

Seattle | Lumen Field – “The Emerald Sound”

Home to the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and the MLS’ Seattle Sounders, Lumen Field is a multi-purpose venue renowned for being one of the loudest outdoor stadiums in the USA. 

It can hold up to 69,000 fans and has a horseshoe design with an open north end offering spectators stunning views of Seattle.

The Sounders played all three of their 2025 Club World Cup fixtures here and it is set to host six World Cup matches, including the USMNT’s second group match against Australia on 19 June.

Kansas City | Arrowhead Stadium – “The Loudest House”

Another loud venue is the Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas. Home to the Kansas City Chiefs, the 76,000-seater holds the Guinness World Record for the loudest roar ever recorded at an outdoor stadium, with a decibel level of 142.2 recorded at a Chiefs’ game in 2014.

Known as the ‘soccer capital of America’, there is plenty of footballing pedigree at the Arrowhead. There will be six World Cup matches at the venue with defending champions Argentina getting their title defence underway against Algeria on 17 June.

Philadelphia | Lincoln Financial Field – “The Brotherly Gritty”

Sustainability is at the forefront of the Lincoln Financial Field with the stadium’s ‘Go Green’ initiative a core value since the 69,000-seater venue first opened its doors in 2003.

The sporting culture in Philadelphia is like no other in the US. And it’s not just fans of the Eagles and the Phillies, it also extends to fans of the Flyers, 76ers and Union. The fanbase is passionate and are quick to let their respective teams know if they are underperforming. 

Philadelphia will host six matches including Brazil’s second Group C match against Haiti on 20 June.

Miami | Hard Rock Stadium – “The Tropical Coliseum”

Located in Miami Gardens, the Hard Rock Stadium is a multi-purpose venue home to the Miami Dolphins NFL franchise and the Miami Hurricanes NCAA team. The complex has a unique open-air canopy to help protect fans and players from Florida’s unpredictable tropical climate. 

The stadium has hosted six Super Bowls and eight Club World Cup fixtures took place here in 2025. With a 65,000 capacity, the Hard Rock will host seven World Cup matches including Scotland’s clash with Brazil and the third-place playoff. 

Boston | Gillette Stadium – “The Revolutionary View”

Home to the New England Revolution, the Gillette Stadium is located in the Foxborough region southwest of Boston. The 65,000-seater venue opened in 2002 and is probably most famous for its New England matchday experience that includes a 22-story lighthouse that offers panoramic views of the stadium and the Boston skyline.

The stadium has undergone major renovations ahead of the 2026 World Cup and is now home to the largest outdoor high-definition stadium-based video board in the country. There will be seven World Cup matches at the venue including the mouth-watering clash between Erling Haaland’s Norway and Kylian Mbappé’s France. 

The Northern Frontier (Canada)

Toronto | BMO Field – “The Intimate Pitch”

Regarded as the spiritual home of Canadian soccer, BMO Field is a football stadium purpose-built to host the U20 World Cup in 2007. The venue is home to MLS club Toronto FC and has undergone significant reconstruction to increase capacity to 45,000 for this summer’s World Cup.

BMO Field has a football feel about it with a British stadium-style roof canopy and steep stands at both ends of the ground. It will host six World Cup matches including Canada’s opening Group B showdown against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Vancouver | BC Place – “The Crown of the Pacific”

BC Place boasts the world's largest cable-supported retractable roof which can open or close in 20 minutes. Located on the scenic north side of False Creek in downtown Vancouver, the stadium is home to the Vancouver Whitecaps MLS franchise and often hosts the Canadian national team.

The 54,000-seat venue is staging seven World Cup fixtures including Canada’s group matches against Qatar and Switzerland along with one round of 16 match in the knockout phase.