Which U.S. Stadiums Could Host the 2026 World Cup?
By Eric Harris
There’s no shortage of good options for stadiums in the U.S., but which would be selected is they were to host the World Cup?
With the announcement of the joint bid for the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico, there was all kinds of speculation about who would host games. With 60 games to split up, most likely 10-12 cities will get to host.
The fun and unpredictability of this list is that this hypothetical is still nine years down the road. Stadiums will certainly be renovated and entirely new ones can be built in this time. But for right now, its fun to play the guessing game.
The Locks
These five stadiums aren’t only going to host, but there is a good chance of them hosting a semifinal or final.
New York: MetLife Stadium (Capacity: 82,500)
The biggest city, and one of the biggest stadiums? Lock it in.
Los Angeles: Los Angeles Stadium (Capacity 75,000, expands to 80,000)
It isn’t finished yet, but the future NFL home will be one of the premiere places to watch a game in the near future.
Dallas: AT&T Stadium (Capacity: 100,000)
You can bet that JerryWorld is going to be featured in this World Cup. With it’s insane capacity and central location it might be the favorite for the final as well.
Atlanta: Mercedes Benz Stadium (Capacity: 71,000, expands to 83,000)
It opens later this year and the renderings of it look fantastic. It should be the site of some raucous Atlanta United crowds.
The Near Locks
Unless something drastic changes, expect these stadiums to host.
Houston: NRG Stadium (Capacity: 72,220)
It just hosted a Super Bowl and is close (relatively) to potential hosting sites in Mexico. The only negative would be if the committee wants to only have one host in Texas.
Philadelphia: Lincoln Financial Field (Capacity: 69,176)
Philadelphia has always been a good host for Gold Cups past in the U.S. There is little reason to think it won’t be on the short list for the World Cup.
Chicago: Soldier Field (Capacity: 61,500)
It’s the smallest stadium on the list, but Chicago is too big of a city to leave off.
Seattle: Century Link Field (Capacity: 67,000)
The turf is an issue, but they will want to get some games in the Pacific Northwest, so I’m sure they will find a solution for that.
Other Possibilities
1-3 of these stadiums will most likely be chosen. Which will be on the outside looking in?
Phoenix: University of Phoenix Stadium (Capacity: 63,400, expands to 72,200)
Again a good location near Mexico, also has no problem bringing in a grass field.
Washington D.C.: FedEx Field (Capacity: 82,000)
The World Cup should have games in the nation’s capital, but what kind of shape will the stadium be in come 2026?
Miami: Hard Rock Stadium (Capacity: 65,326)
Orlando: Camping World Stadium (Capacity: 65,000)
The committee could very well want some matches in Florida, but which city would they choose? Miami has the nightlife and the stadium, but Orlando has the atmosphere.
Kansas City: Arrowhead Stadium (Capacity: 76,416)
A big stadium in an area with a good soccer culture, but will the stadium be good enough quality and is Kansas City too much travel from other places?
Next: USSF Division 2: What USL D3 potentially means for the NASL
Those are the candidates for US stadiums hosting potential World Cup 2026 matches. Let us know who you think this get to host a match and who is out.