All 16 Tournament Venues
The 2026 tournament uses existing world-class stadiums across three countries. Here's your guide to each venue.
United States
MetLife Stadium — East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Capacity: 82,500
- Hosts: Final, semi-final, group matches
- Getting there: NJ Transit from Penn Station Manhattan (~40 min). Shuttle buses on match days.
- Nearest airport: Newark Liberty (EWR) — 15 min
- Notes: Open-air stadium. Home of the NFL's Giants and Jets. Weather in June-July: warm and humid, 25-32°C.
SoFi Stadium — Inglewood, California
- Capacity: 70,240
- Hosts: Semi-final, group matches
- Getting there: LA Metro C Line to Downtown Inglewood station + shuttle
- Nearest airport: LAX — 5 miles
- Notes: Indoor stadium with open-air feel. Air-conditioned. Home of the NFL's Rams and Chargers.
AT&T Stadium — Arlington, Texas
- Capacity: 80,000
- Hosts: Quarter-final, group matches
- Getting there: TRE train to CentrePort station + shuttle. Parking available.
- Nearest airport: DFW — 15 min
- Notes: Retractable roof. Famous massive centre-hung video board. Very hot outside in summer (35-40°C), but air-conditioned inside.
NRG Stadium — Houston, Texas
- Capacity: 72,220
- Hosts: Group matches, knockout rounds
- Getting there: MetroRail Red Line to NRG Park/Fannin South
- Nearest airport: Hobby (HOU) — 15 min
- Notes: Retractable roof. Air-conditioned. Houston summers are extremely hot and humid.
Hard Rock Stadium — Miami Gardens, Florida
- Capacity: 65,326
- Hosts: Group matches, knockout rounds
- Getting there: Special event shuttles. Limited public transit.
- Nearest airport: Miami International (MIA) — 20 min
- Notes: Open-air with innovative canopy. Very hot and humid in June-July. Thunderstorms common in afternoon.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium — Atlanta, Georgia
- Capacity: 71,000
- Hosts: Group matches, knockout rounds
- Getting there: MARTA rail to Vine City or GWCC/CNN Center stations (5 min walk)
- Nearest airport: Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) — 15 min by MARTA
- Notes: Retractable roof. One of the most modern stadiums in the world. Excellent public transit access.
Lincoln Financial Field — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Capacity: 69,176
- Hosts: Group matches
- Getting there: Broad Street Line subway to NRG station
- Nearest airport: PHL — 10 min
- Notes: Open-air. In the South Philadelphia sports complex alongside other major venues.
Lumen Field — Seattle, Washington
- Capacity: 69,000
- Hosts: Group matches
- Getting there: Walking distance from downtown Seattle. Light rail to Stadium station.
- Nearest airport: Sea-Tac (SEA) — 30 min by light rail
- Notes: Open-air with partial cover. Seattle weather is milder (18-25°C) and drier in summer than its reputation suggests.
Levi's Stadium — Santa Clara, California
- Capacity: 68,500
- Hosts: Group matches
- Getting there: VTA Light Rail + Caltrain from San Francisco
- Nearest airport: San Jose (SJC) — 10 min; SFO — 40 min
- Notes: Open-air. Silicon Valley location. Hot in summer (30-35°C). Bring sun protection.
Gillette Stadium — Foxborough, Massachusetts
- Capacity: 65,878
- Hosts: Group matches
- Getting there: Special event trains from Boston South Station. Parking available.
- Nearest airport: Boston Logan (BOS) — 45 min
- Notes: Open-air. Home of the New England Patriots. Relatively remote location — plan transport carefully.
Arrowhead Stadium — Kansas City, Missouri
- Capacity: 76,416
- Hosts: Group matches
- Getting there: Limited public transit. Parking and shuttles from downtown.
- Nearest airport: Kansas City (MCI) — 30 min
- Notes: Open-air. Home of the Kansas City Chiefs. Known for passionate atmosphere.
Mexico
Estadio Azteca — Mexico City
- Capacity: 87,523
- Hosts: Opening match, group matches
- Getting there: Metro Line 2 to Tasquena + shuttle, or Metro Line 12 to Estadio Azteca
- Nearest airport: Mexico City (MEX) — 30 min
- Notes: Legendary venue. Altitude: 2,200m — this can affect stamina for fans and players alike. Bring layers — evenings can be cool despite daytime warmth.
Estadio Akron — Guadalajara
- Capacity: 49,850
- Hosts: Group matches
- Getting there: Taxi/rideshare from city centre (~30 min)
- Nearest airport: Guadalajara (GDL) — 25 min
- Notes: Modern stadium. Home of Chivas. Pleasant climate in June-July (25-30°C with afternoon rain showers).
Estadio BBVA — Monterrey
- Capacity: 53,500
- Hosts: Group matches
- Getting there: Metro + shuttle or taxi from city centre
- Nearest airport: Monterrey (MTY) — 30 min
- Notes: Beautiful mountain backdrop. Very hot in summer (35-40°C). Hydrate well.
Canada
BMO Field — Toronto
- Capacity: 30,000 (expandable)
- Hosts: Group matches
- Getting there: Streetcar from downtown Toronto, or walk from Exhibition GO station
- Nearest airport: Toronto Pearson (YYZ) — 30 min; Billy Bishop (YTZ) — 10 min
- Notes: Smallest venue. Intimate atmosphere. On the waterfront. Toronto in summer is warm (25-30°C) and pleasant.
BC Place — Vancouver
- Capacity: 54,500
- Hosts: Group matches
- Getting there: SkyTrain to Stadium-Chinatown station (1 min walk)
- Nearest airport: Vancouver (YVR) — 25 min by SkyTrain
- Notes: Retractable roof. Downtown location — walk to restaurants, hotels, and nightlife. Vancouver summers are gorgeous (20-25°C, dry).
Stadium Practicalities for UK Fans
The Clear Bag Policy
Every 2026 tournament venue follows NFL-standard security rules, which apply uniformly regardless of country. This means:
- Permitted: Clear plastic bags up to 12" × 6" × 12". Small clutch bags up to 4.5" × 6.5" (no strap required). One-gallon clear zip-lock bags.
- Not permitted: Backpacks (including clear ones larger than 12" × 6" × 12"), camera bags, coolers, sealed containers, luggage.
- Strictly prohibited: Outside food and drink, professional cameras with detachable lenses, flagpoles over 1 metre, face paint aerosols.
Pack your essentials in a clear zip-lock bag before leaving your accommodation. Security queues are fastest for fans who are already compliant.
Tickets: Digital-First
All 2026 World Cup tickets are digital-only. You will need the official tournament app installed on your phone with your ticket downloaded before you leave your accommodation — do not rely on stadium Wi-Fi to load tickets at the gate. Carry a fully charged phone; portable battery packs (not exceeding 100Wh) are permitted into the venues.
Food and Drink at Venues
American NFL stadiums have transformed their food offerings in recent years. At most venues you will find:
- A wide selection of food from local vendors as well as international cuisine
- Alcohol available for purchase until roughly half-time (policies vary by venue)
- Non-alcoholic options and water throughout
- Cashless payment only at the majority of venues — ensure your card works internationally
US stadiums are alcohol-friendly compared to many European football grounds. However, the USA has a "21 and over to drink" rule — you may be asked for ID even if you are clearly over 21. Carry your passport or a copy as photo ID.
England's Group Stage Venues at a Glance
England's group stage opponents for 2026 are Slovenia, Panama, and Senegal. The match venues are drawn from the confirmed host city assignments for Group C. Fans should expect matches at:
- MetLife Stadium, New Jersey — accessible from New York City via NJ Transit; the stadium hosts the Final on 19 July
- Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia — 90 minutes south of New York by Amtrak; compact stadium with excellent public transport
- Hard Rock Stadium, Miami — the only way to get there without a hire car is by taxi or rideshare; plan ahead and factor in costs
Exact city assignments for each group stage match will be confirmed by FIFA closer to the tournament start date.
Weather Advice by Venue Type
Outdoor venues (MetLife, Lincoln Financial, Hard Rock, Lumen Field, Gillette, Arrowhead, Levi's): Sun protection is essential in June-July. Bring or buy sunscreen (SPF 50+), a hat, and a refillable water bottle. In Florida and the Gulf Coast, afternoon thunderstorms are common — matches are played regardless, but the weather can be dramatic.
Retractable/closed roof venues (AT&T Stadium Dallas, NRG Houston, Mercedes-Benz Atlanta, BC Place Vancouver): Temperature-controlled. Dress in layers — the air conditioning can be intense.
High-altitude venues (Estadio Azteca, Mexico City — 2,200m): If you are travelling to Mexico City, allow 24-48 hours of acclimatisation before attending a match. Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol on arrival day, and be aware that physical exertion (including walking up stadium stairs) takes more effort at altitude.