Breaking Down the 2026 World Cup Stadiums, Pt. 1: The USA | OneFootball

The 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada will feature 16 venues across the three nations. We break down the soccer significance of each stadium, starting with the 11 in the United States.

Now that we’re officially in a World Cup year, the anticipation for the newly-expanded tournament is only going up. Played across three host countries for the first time, 75% of the matches will take place in the United States, with the final quarter split between Canada and Mexico.

The last time the World Cup came to North America was 1994, which remains one of the biggest success stories in FIFA history. To this day, it still holds the attendance record, and while the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar surpassed it financially, USA ’94 is widely viewed as the gold standard for how to properly host a tournament.

Now the competition returns to the continent, this time with Mexico and Canada adding extra spice. To properly prepare ourselves, we take a look at each stadium that will host a match, breaking down key details of their soccer histories, and what we can look forward to, starting with the 11 U.S. venues.

AT&T Stadium: Arlington, Texas

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One of the largest 2026 World Cup host venues, Dallas’ Arlington’s AT&T Stadium is best known as the home of the Dallas Cowboys. However, there have been plenty of unforgettable soccer moments in “Jerry’s World,” including a 2-0 Mexico victory over Brazil in 2012.

Albeit an international friendly, it was a memorable night for El Tri, as goals from Giovani dos Santos and Javier “Chicharito” Hernández sealed the victory over the Brazilian giants.

AT&T Stadium has also hosted many CONCACAF Gold Cup and Nations League matches over the years. One of the most notable came in 2024, when the United States men’s national team defeated Mexico 2–0, with Tyler Adams scoring a wonder goal to secure the Americans’ third Nations League title.

The last major tournament played in Arlington was the 2024 Copa América, with one of the marquee matches being the USMNT’s 3–0 opening win over Bolivia.

For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, AT&T Stadium will reportedly have a capacity of 94,000, and it will host a tournament-high nine matches. The stadium will also temporarily change its name to “Dallas Stadium” to comply with FIFA regulations.

Confirmed matches: Netherlands vs. Japan, England vs. Croatia, Argentina vs. Austria, and Jordan vs. Argentina.

TBD Matches: Japan vs. UEFA Playoff B winner, two round of 32 matches, one round of 16 match, and one semifinal match.

MetLife Stadium: East Rutherford, New Jersey

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MetLife Stadium will have the honor of hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. Opened in 2010 as a replacement for the iconic Giants Stadium, one of the venues at the 1994 World Cup, it is still building its own soccer legacy.

Home to the NFL’s New York Giants and Jets, MetLife’s most famous soccer moment came in June 2012, when Argentina edged Brazil 4–3 in a friendly, powered by a Lionel Messi hat trick.

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The stadium also hosted the 2016 Copa América Centenario final between Argentina and Chile, a match Chile won on penalties and one that famously led to Messi temporarily retiring from international football. More recently, MetLife was a venue for the 2024 Copa América, and in July 2025 it hosted the Club World Cup final, where Chelsea defeated PSG.

For the 2026 World Cup, MetLife will have a capacity of 82,500. It will feature natural grass during the tournament, as its predecessor did in 1994, and will be temporarily renamed “New York New Jersey Stadium.” In total, MetLife will host eight matches.

Confirmed matches: Brazil vs. Morocco, France vs. Senegal, Ecuador vs. Germany, Norway vs. Senegal, Panama vs. England.

TBD matches: One round of 32 match, one round of 16 match, and the final.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium: Atlanta

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Without a doubt, one of the most state-of-the-art venues in the tournament is Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Home to Atlanta United and the Atlanta Falcons, the stadium — known locally as The Benz — has quickly become one of MLS’s premier stages.

It was the venue where Atlanta United won their first and only MLS Cup to date, under the guidance of Tata Martino in December 2018. It also hosted the 2018 MLS All-Star Game, where Juventus defeated the MLS All-Stars on penalties after a 1–1 draw.

Internationally, Mercedes-Benz Stadium hosted the 2019 Campeones Cup, which Atlanta United won against Club América, as well as the 2024 SheBelieves Cup featuring the U.S. women’s national team. The stadium has also staged Copa América matches, FIFA Club World Cup games, and will host the USMNT’s World Cup send-off friendlies against Portugal and Belgium in March.

For the World Cup, The Benz will have a capacity of 75,000 and host eight matches. Like many venues, it will undergo a temporary name change and be known as “Atlanta Stadium.”

Confirmed matches: Spain vs. Cape Verde, Spain vs. Saudi Arabia, and Morocco vs. Haiti.

TBD matches: South Africa vs. UEFA Playoff D winner, Uzbekistan vs. FIFA Playoff 1 winner, one round of 32 match, one round of 16 match, and one semifinal match.

Arrowhead Stadium: Kansas City, Missouri

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Arrowhead Stadium will host six World Cup matches and undergo approximately $50 million in renovations before the tournament begins. While best known as the home of Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, its soccer history has seen highs and lows.

Originally home to Sporting Kansas City during MLS’s early years, when the club was known as the Wizards, Arrowhead symbolized the league’s growing pains, with crowds sometimes as low as 4,000 in a cavernous 70,000-seat stadium.

Over time, Kansas City has grown into a true soccer town, driven by Sporting KC. That evolution was on full display in April 2024, when 72,000 fans packed Arrowhead to watch Sporting KC face Inter Miami.

Arrowhead has also hosted USWNT friendlies and was the site of the USMNT’s disappointing 1–0 loss to Uruguay at the 2024 Copa América. The stadium will be set at a capacity of 73,000.

Confirmed matches: Argentina vs. Algeria, Tunisia vs. Netherlands, Algeria vs. Austria, and Ecuador vs. Curaçao.

TBD matches: One round of 32 match and one quarterfinal match.

NRG Stadium: Houston

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NRG Stadium will have a capacity of 72,000 for the World Cup and has long been a staple for major soccer events, including CONCACAF Gold Cup matches, Copa América games, and Mexico fixtures.

Notable matches include Mexico’s 2025 Gold Cup final victory over the United States, Argentina’s penalty shootout win over Ecuador at the 2024 Copa América, and Messi’s world-class free kick against the USMNT during the 2016 Copa América Centenario — part of Argentina’s 4–0 rout of Jürgen Klinsmann’s side.

Confirmed matches: Germany vs. Curaçao, Portugal vs. Uzbekistan, and Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia.

TBD matches: Portugal vs. FIFA Playoff 1 winner, Netherlands vs. UEFA Playoff B winner, one round of 32 match, and one round of 16 match.

Levi’s Stadium: San Francisco

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Home to the San Francisco 49ers and a host of two Super Bowls, Levi’s Stadium knows a thing or two about being a top-tier venue. From a soccer perspective, it has developed a tradition of hosting at least one marquee San Jose Earthquakes match per year and has staged Copa América, Gold Cup, and Leagues Cup games.

In 2016, Colombia defeated the United States 2–0 here in the opening match of the Copa América Centenario. More recently, over 50,000 fans attended a 2025 MLS regular-season match in which LAFC defeated the Earthquakes 4–2. In July 2024, Wrexham drew Chelsea 2–2 in a uniquely staged friendly.

For the World Cup, Levi’s — temporarily renamed “San Francisco Bay Area Stadium” — will host six matches and be capped at 70,000.

Confirmed matches: Qatar vs. Switzerland, Jordan vs. Algeria, Paraguay vs. Australia, and Austria vs. Jordan.

TBD matches: Paraguay vs. UEFA Playoff C winner, and one round of 32 match.

SoFi Stadium: Los Angeles

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SoFi Stadium, home to the LA Rams and Chargers, will host its second Super Bowl in 2027 and has already been the site of major spectacles, including WrestleMania 39.

From a soccer standpoint, the stadium has hosted marquee events from the Gold Cup, Nations League, Leagues Cup, and Copa América since 2022. Notable matches include Mexico’s 2023 Gold Cup final win over Panama, the USMNT’s 2–1 Nations League loss to Canada in 2025, and the USWNT’s recent friendly victory over Brazil.

For the World Cup, SoFi Stadium will need modifications to meet FIFA field-size requirements, as its pitch is currently too narrow. To address this, some lower-level seats will be removed and the artificial turf  will be replaced with natural grass.

In February 2024, FIFA announced that SoFi Stadium will host the United States’ opening match on June 12, 2026, as well as another group match on June 25. Overall, the stadium will stage eight matches.

Confirmed matches: United States vs. Paraguay, Iran vs. New Zealand, and Belgium vs. Iran.

TBD matches: United States vs. UEFA Playoff C winner, Switzerland vs. UEFA Playoff A winner, two round of 32 matches, and one quarterfinal match.

Lincoln Financial Field: Philadelphia

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Philadelphia was notably left out of hosting duties in 1994, but since 2003 the city has become a consistent soccer destination. Lincoln Financial Field has hosted matches from the 2003 Women’s World Cup, eight games at the 2025 Club World Cup, and countless international friendlies featuring clubs and national teams from around the world.

For the 2026 World Cup, the stadium will be capped at 69,000 and host six matches.

Confirmed matches: Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador, Brazil vs. Haiti, Croatia vs. Ghana, and Ivory Coast vs. Curaçao.

TBD matches: France vs. FIFA Playoff 2 winner, and one round of 16 match.

Lumen Field: Seattle

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Home to one of the best-supported clubs in MLS, the Seattle Sounders, Lumen Field and the city of Seattle were natural choices as World Cup hosts. The passion for the sport is deep-rooted and the tradition first-class.

Lumen Field’s biggest claim to fame is its role in the rise of the Sounders, from MLS Cup triumphs to their historic CONCACAF Champions Cup victory over Pumas, becoming the first MLS club to win the tournament under its current format.

The stadium recently hosted Club World Cup matches, including fixtures featuring the Sounders and River Plate vs. Urawa Red Diamonds.

For the World Cup, Lumen Field will be capped at 69,000 and host six matches, including two knockout games.

Confirmed matches: United States vs. Australia, Belgium vs. Egypt, and Egypt vs Iran.

TBD matches: Qatar vs. UEFA Playoff A winner, one round of 32 match, and one round of 16 match.

Gillette Stadium: Boston

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Like MetLife Stadium, Gillette Stadium was built on the site of a 1994 World Cup venue, Foxboro Stadium. It is home to the New England Revolution and the New England Patriots.

In 1994, the Boston area served as Argentina’s base of operations, with Diego Maradona leading the team to wins over Greece and Nigeria. Gillette Stadium later hosted the 2002 MLS Cup, where LA Galaxy edged the Revolution 1–0, and matches at the 2003 Women’s World Cup, including the USWNT’s quarterfinal win over Norway.

For the 2026 World Cup, seven matches will be played at the 65,000-seat stadium.

Confirmed matches: England vs. Ghana, Scotland vs. Morocco, Haiti vs. Scotland, and Norway vs. France.

TBD matches: Norway vs. FIFA Playoff 2 winner, one round of 32 match, one quarterfinal match.

Hard Rock Stadium: Miami

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A vibrant soccer hub, especially with Messi now playing for Inter Miami, Miami has grown into one of the biggest soccer cities in the United States, though debates about overall sports fandom in the city remain.

Hard Rock Stadium has hosted six Super Bowls, the 2010 Pro Bowl, two World Series, four BCS National Championship Games, the 2021 College Football Playoff title game, the 2024 Copa América final, matches from the 2009 World Baseball Classic, and WrestleMania 28.

The stadium also hosted eight Club World Cup matches, including Inter Miami’s shock 2–2 draw with Palmeiras. For the 2026 World Cup, seven matches will be played here, and capacity will be set at 65,000.

Confirmed matches: Uruguay vs. Saudi Arabia, Uruguay vs. Cape Verde, Scotland vs. Brazil, and Colombia vs. Portugal

TBD matches: One round of 32 match, one quarterfinal match, and the third-place match.