A History of the 2026 World Cup Stadiums

The 2026 World Cup will be played across 16 stadiums spread across three countries (USA, Mexico, and Canada), blending century-old history with cutting-edge architecture.

Estadio Azteca: Three World Cups, Three Eras

Inaugurated in 1966, the Colossus of Santa Úrsula becomes the first stadium in history to host matches at three different World Cups (1970, 1986, 2026). With a capacity of 80,824 — the largest of the 16 venues — it staged the opening match on June 11. Pelé played his greatest World Cup there in 1970, and Maradona scored the 'Goal of the Century' in 1986. For 2026, the stadium received a full renovation: a new facade, LED lighting, and modernized dressing rooms.

MetLife Stadium: Home of the Grand Final

MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (renamed 'New York/New Jersey Stadium' for the tournament), will host the Grand Final on July 19, 2026. With 82,500 seats, it is the largest NFL stadium, shared home of the New York Giants and Jets. Built at a cost of $1.6 billion, it had never previously seen a footballing event of this magnitude.

AT&T Stadium (Dallas): The Match King

Dallas will host 9 matches — the most of any of the 16 venues — including a semifinal on July 14. AT&T Stadium (home of the Dallas Cowboys, renamed 'Dallas Stadium') has a retractable roof and can hold over 90,000 fans. Its indoor high-definition screen is one of the largest in the world.

BC Place, Vancouver: Canadian History

BC Place already has women's World Cup history: it hosted the 2015 Women's World Cup Final (USA 5-2 Japan). Now it adds men's football to its legacy.

Mexico Contributes Three Venues

In addition to the Azteca, Mexico has the Estadio Akron in Guadalajara (where South Korea beat Czech Republic 2-1 on opening day) and the Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, considered one of the most modern stadiums in Latin America.