Four reasons Allegiant Stadium missed out for World Cup 2026 | OneFootball

According to Hounslow Herald, Las Vegas's Allegiant Stadium was overlooked for World Cup 2026 matches despite its status as a new NFL venue.

The tournament will be staged across Mexico, Canada and the United States this summer. The USA will face Paraguay, Australia and either Türkiye, Slovakia, Kosovo or Romania, playing twice at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and once at Lumen Field in Seattle.

FIFA pitch specifications were a stumbling block. The stands at Allegiant sit close to the field for NFL games, and meeting the required dimensions and run-off areas would have meant removing thousands of lower-bowl seats.

Nearly nine months of work would have been needed to comply, which would have forced a shutdown through the NFL season and stripped the stadium of revenue.

The financial case was weak. The projected return was judged insufficient to cover the up-front costs required to prepare the city, with FIFA typically seeking tax breaks and substantial local investment.

Geography counted too. With Los Angeles, Seattle and the San Francisco Bay Area already designated as West Coast hubs, FIFA aimed to reduce travel for teams and supporters across multiple time zones.

Allegiant has already staged the Super Bowl, the CONCACAF Gold Cup Final and high-profile friendlies. Its fixed roof and climate control could have handled Nevada’s summer heat, but the venue will sit out the tournament before welcoming the Raiders back for the new NFL season.

Source: Hounslow Herald