From SoFi Stadium to the Azteca, the five most iconic stadiums of the 2026 World Cup

Home of the Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers (NFL)

It is a symbol of the extreme financialisation of sport. The SoFi is not just a stadium but an entertainment district: immersive technology, a 360° giant screen, and premium facilities. For the 2026 World Cup, it is hosting some of the most important matches of the group stage, including the United States’ opening match.

SoFi Stadium mentre Los Angeles si prepara per i Mondiali FIFA 2026, organizzati congiuntamente da Stati Uniti, Canada e Messico, a Inglewood, in California (Stati Uniti), l'11 maggio 2026. REUTERS/Daniel Cole/Foto d'archivio

Year of completion: 2010

Cost: 1.6 billion dollars

Capacity: over 82,000 spectators

Home ground shared by the New York Giants and the New York Jets (NFL)

It is the venue chosen for the 2026 World Cup final, and this is no coincidence. MetLife is the epitome of industrial scale: large capacity, well-established revenue models, and strong integration with the East Coast corporate market.

Here, football forms part of a well-established ecosystem, designed to maximise hospitality, premium rights and major global events.

Una veduta generale del MetLife Stadium durante la partita di calcio del Gruppo C dei Mondiali tra Brasile e Marocco a East Rutherford, nel New Jersey, vicino a New York, sabato 13 giugno 2026. (Foto AP/Matt Slocum) Associated Press / LaPresse Solo Italia e Spagna

Year of completion: 2009

Cost: approximately 1.3 billion dollars

Capacity: 80,000 seats (over 100,000 including standing room)

Home of the Dallas Cowboys (NFL)

Even before the SoFi, it served as a testing ground for the new model. A giant screen, a retractable roof, cross-disciplinary events (from the NBA to wrestling): everything is designed to broaden the audience and diversify revenue streams.

For the 2026 World Cup, it is already one of the most ‘lively’ stadiums in terms of attendance, thanks to its record capacity. High-profile matches will be played here, attracting large international crowds.

Una veduta del Dallas Stadium prima della partita di calcio del Gruppo J dei Mondiali tra Argentina e Austria, disputata lunedì 22 giugno 2026 ad Arlington, in Texas, nei pressi di Dallas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)

Year of construction: 1966

Renovation cost: approximately 75–150 million dollars

Capacity: approximately 83,000 seats

Home of the Americas and the Mexican national team

It is the mecca of world football: two World Cup finals (1970 and 1986) and three World Cup opening matches – in 1970, 1986 and 2026 – have been played here.

This redevelopment project is a prime example: investing relatively less than is standard in the US, whilst capitalising on a unique, historic brand. It demonstrates that a stadium’s value lies not only in its concrete structure, but in its legacy.

L'Estadio Azteca a Città del Messico, prima di ospitare le partite dei Mondiali, martedì 3 marzo 2026. (Foto AP/Fernando Llano, archivio)

Year of construction: 1983 (refurbished in 2011)

Cost: 514 million Canadian dollars for the major refurbishment, plus a further 150–190 million for additional upgrades.

Capacity: approximately 54,500 seats

Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS) and BC Lions (CFL)

BC Place epitomises the Canadian model: significant public investment, a focus on sustainability and multi-event use. Following the 2010 Winter Olympics, the FIFA World Cup is the second major driver of investment.

VANCOUVER, COLUMBIA BRITANNICA - 21 GIUGNO: Una veduta d'insieme mentre lo schermo mostra un'affluenza di 52.497 spettatori durante la partita del Gruppo G della Coppa del Mondo FIFA 2026 tra Nuova Zelanda ed Egitto al BC Place di Vancouver il 21 giugno 2026 a Vancouver, Columbia Britannica. (Foto di Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)