16 stadiums confirmed for 104 2026 World Cup matches in North America By Beatriz
3 min read
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México opens the dispute on Estádio Azteca, on Cidade on México. The stadium has already hosted the openings of 1970 and 1986. Estados Unidos will have 78 matches, including all from the quarter-finals onwards. México and Canadá receive 13 games each.
Azteca receives opening for the third time
The legendary Mexican stadium, with a capacity for 83 thousand fans, hosts the debut game between México and África of Sul. Localizado at 2,240 meters above sea level, Azteca has 66 concrete columns that support the structure. Ele already saw Pelé win the title in 1970 and Maradona shine in 1986.
México still uses two other stadiums. BBVA, at Monterrey, has a capacity for 53,500 people and overlooks Cerro from Silla. Akron, in Guadalajara, holds 48 thousand fans and hosts four games, including Espanha against Uruguai.
- Estádio Azteca: opening and four more matches
- Estádio BBVA: four games on Monterrey
- Estádio Akron: four games on Guadalajara
MetLife Stadium hosts final and seven other games
The stadium on the outskirts of Nova York, with 82,500 seats, hosts the tournament decider. Inaugurado in 2010, it also hosted Chelsea’s Mundial Clubes final last year. Torcedores must pay a minimum of US$105 for a round-trip train ticket on game days.
Outros American stadiums complete the list. The AT&T Stadium, at Dallas, is the largest with 94,000 seats. The Mercedes-Benz, in Atlanta, has a retractable roof and a 360-degree screen. SoFi, in Los Angeles, opens the 2028 Olimpíadas right after Copa.
Capacidades and American stadium highlights
Cada venue brings its own characteristics. Arrowhead, in Kansas City, is considered the loudest in the world by Guinness. Lumen Field, in Seattle, is shaped like a horseshoe and overlooks skyscrapers. The NRG, in Houston, was the first in the NFL with a retractable roof.
Levi’s Stadium, in Santa Clara, is 62 km from São Francisco. Lincoln Financial Field, at Filadélfia, hosts Brasil and França in the group stage. Gillette, in Boston, has already seen França beat Brasil in a recent friendly.
- Hard Rock Stadium, in Miami: dispute for third place
- SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles: eight games
- Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City: record sound level
Venues Canadians have lower capacity
BC Place, in Vancouver, hosted the 2015 Copa Feminina final. Ele hosts two group stage matches from Canadá. The BMO Field, at Toronto, is the smallest of the 16 with an expanded capacity of 45,000 seats. Foram added temporary stands to meet Fifa rules.
Distribuição games by country
Estados Unidos concentrates most of the programming. Todas the knockout stages from the quarterfinals onwards take place there. México and Canadá divide the initial games evenly, but with fewer venues.
Azteca gains historical prominence. Nenhum another stadium opens three Copas from Mundo. The altitude requires adaptation from the teams that play there. Outros factors such as transportation and infrastructure also influence the fan experience.
The 16 stadiums are already receiving final preparations. Capacidades range from 45 thousand to 94 thousand seats. Fifa confirms that all locations meet international safety and comfort standards.
