World Cup 2026: A guide to the 16 stadiums in the USA, Canada & Mexico
The 2026 World Cup will be a tournament like no other. An unprecedented 104 games will be crammed into 39 days, spanning four time zones and three countries, at locations up to 2,800 miles apart.
To stage this mammoth event, Fifa has selected 16 host cities across North America, showcasing some of the world’s most spectacular and iconic stadiums – from cutting-edge marvels like Los Angeles’ record-breaking $5.5bn venue to Mexico City’s historic Estadio Azteca, the scene of World Cup finals in 1970 and 1986.
But these arenas won’t just provide a stunning backdrop to the action – they could influence how England and Scotland, and possibly the other home nations, fare at the tournament.
Extreme weather is possible anywhere but if the Three Lions or Tartan Army play in Miami or Monterrey they are almost guaranteed sweltering, energy-sapping heat.
Conditions in Seattle and Vancouver, on the other hand, should be relatively cool, while the stadiums in Atlanta, Dallas and Houston will operate with closed roofs and air conditioning, taking weather out of the equation entirely. Altitude, meanwhile, becomes a factor for matches in Mexico City and Guadalajara.
Another consideration is that eight of the venues normally operate with artificial turf. To meet Fifa requirements, temporary grass surfaces will have to be laid for the duration of the World Cup. This will be the case in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, LA, New Jersey, Seattle and Vancouver. Short-term pitches used at the 2025 Club World Cup were heavily criticised, but Fifa has promised those issues will be rectified for their showpiece event.
Fifa will also insist most stadiums temporarily adopt generic titles, dropping sponsors’ names. It may take some getting used to for fans of American football or Major League Soccer, but venues such as SoFi Stadium and Gillette Stadium will officially be known as Los Angeles Stadium and Boston Stadium. To keep things simple, both the standard and Fifa-designated names are included in this guide.
Despite the logistical challenges, it promises to be a memorable tournament. Whether you will be there in person or enjoying it all from the sofa, here’s everything you need to know about the stadiums and cities.
