Hosting an international event at any city or stadium is surely a feat to be proud off. The recent FIFA Club World Cup was a small predecessor of this, but the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States was a good runner up. 3,587,538 Spectators descended on the country to support their teams during this spectacular sporting event. Since then, the United States saw the development of Major League Soccer and the sport itself has developed tenfold in the country since then.
Stadium experiences on an international platform
For competitions of this magnitude, a certain level of preparation is required. Sports experience per stadium is also key. AT&T Stadium based in Arlington, Texas has been scheduled to host most of the matches of any city, nine to be specific. There sports resume is certainly impressive, with matches such as the Super Bowl XLV and multiple CONCACAF Gold Cup matches under their belt.
With these types of prestigious events, it would not necessarily be that far-fetched to assume that some renovations and upgrades will need to be done at the selected stadiums. These upgrades will not only benefit the upcoming event but will also lend a certain allure to other future events. Strategic venue location also adds to the overall experience of the event.
Learning some lessons from the past
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup was a small forerunner of things to come during the World Cup. Taking a snippet of some of the key features of each will help one to understand what has made its so unique:
- Pasadena’s Rose Bowl Stadium – The circular arena leaves fans with an uninterrupted view of the field. The stadium hosted the FIFA World Cup Final in 1994 as well as the FIFA Women’s World Cup Final during 1999.
- Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida – This stadium had the honor of hosting the opening match of this year’s Club World Cup. It is also based within the same state were the host nation club (Inter Miami) is based. This one has also hit the roster for next year’s World Cup.
- MetLife Stadium in New York, New Jersey – The final for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be played on this field. the stadium itself is very versatile. Apart from sporting events, the stadium also featured Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran amongst others.
A city-wide perspective on an international event
As the FIFA World Cup is set to be hosted across three countries, various cities and stadiums will play host to this international tournament. With 16 stadiums earmarked for this, it will be the most utilized since the 2002 event.
- Mexico
- Estadio Guadalajar
- With a capacity of 48,000
- Estadio Azteca
- With a capacity of 83,000
- Estadio Monterrey
- With a capacity of 53,500
- Estadio Guadalajar
- Canada
- BC Place Vancouver
- With a capacity of 54,000
- Toronto Stadium
- With a capacity of 45,000
- BC Place Vancouver
- USA
- Boston Stadium
- With a capacity of 65,000
- Atlanta Stadium
- With a capacity of 75,000
- Kansas City Stadium
- With a capacity of 73,000
- Miami Stadium
- With a capacity of 65,000
- Los Angeles Stadium
- With a capacity of 70,000
- New York New Jersey Stadium
- With a capacity of 82,500
- Philadelphia Stadium
- With a capacity of 69,000
- Houston Stadium
- With a capacity of 72,000
- Dallas Stadium
- With a capacity of 94,000
- San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
- With a capacity of 71,000
- Seattle Stadium
- With a capacity of 69,000
- Boston Stadium
Stadium preparation for these types of events requires a certain level of professional preparation. The cities that surround these also do their bit to ensure the experience that the fans have resonate further than the seat occupied. Each of these have been identified and chosen for the uniqueness that they can bring to the table, something that will greatly enhance the overall tournament experience. Previous experience in international tournaments is also something that various stadiums can boast about. Excitement is still building for the 2026 event.
