NEW YORK (AP) – Review of 23 bidding venues for soccer matches in World Cup 2026 in the United States, Mexico and Canada:
ARLINGTON, TEXAS
AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, is the NFL’s largest venue. The stadium opened in 2009 has a retractable roof and artificial surfaces. Its capacity is about 93,000, but the stadium set a record of more than 105,000 for an NFL game the year it opened. It also hosted the 2010 NBA All-Star game. The nearby city of Dallas hosted the 1994 World Cup games at the Cotton Bowl.
ATLANTA
Mercedes-Benz Stadium is one of three NFL-MLS venues. The Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United both play home games at this stadium, which opened in 2017 and seats about 75,000 people. The stadium has a retractable roof and artificial surface. It was set to host the Finals of college basketball in 2020, which was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
BALTIMORE
M&T Bank Stadium is another NFL stadium that hosts games for the Baltimore Ravens. The stadium opened in 1998, has about 71,000 seats and has a grass surface. Baltimore is about 40 miles from Washington, where the 1994 World Cup games were held at RFK Stadium.
CINCINNATI
One of three NFL stadiums not named after a sponsor, Paul Brown Stadium is the home ground of the Cincinnati Bengals. The stadium is named after the founder of the Bengals, Paul Brown, who previously founded the Cleveland Browns. Brown died in 1991. The stadium opened in 2000 and has a capacity of about 67,000 with artificial surfaces.
DENVER
From football to rugby to rugby league, Empower Field in Mile High has hosted it all. The site, which replaced the old Mile high Stadium, opened in 2001 and has a capacity of about 77,000 people with turf. This is the home ground of the Denver Broncos but also hosts the Gold Cup and Nations League matches in the CONCACAF area. In 2018, England beat New Zealand 36-18 in a rugby league match.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY
Just across the Hudson River from New York, MetLife Stadium opened in 2010 to replace Giants Stadium. Both the New York Jets and the New York Giants play NFL games at the venue, which has a capacity of about 87,000 and has man-made surfaces. The stadium previously hosted a number of matches at the 1994 FIFA World Cup and the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
EDMONTON, ALBERTA
Commonwealth Stadium opened in 1978, just weeks before Edmonton hosted the Commonwealth Games. The stadium has a capacity of about 56,000 seats. This is the home ground of the CFL’s Edmonton Elks. It has an artificial surface. The stadium hosted matches at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup and also hosted the 2001 World Athletics Championships.
PANTS, MASSACHUSETTS
The Boston suburb of Foxborough hosted the 1994 World Cup games, but Gillette Stadium was another, built near the old Foxboro Stadium. The new location opened in 2002 and has a capacity of about 70,000 seats. The stadium, which has an artificial surface, hosts home football games for the New England Patriots and football for the New England Revolution. The town is about 30 miles south of Boston and 21 miles north of Providence, Rhode Island.
GUADALAJARA, MEXICO
Used primarily for football, the Estadio Akron opened its doors in 2010 and hosted that year’s Copa Libertadores final and the opening ceremony of the 2011 Pan American Games. Mexican football club Chivas hosted the matches. play at home at a venue with a capacity of about 48,000 people. and a piece of grass. The city hosted matches in both the 1970 and 1986 World Cups, but in a different stadium.
HOUSTON
NRG Stadium hosts soccer, soccer, and even some rodeo games. The stadium opened in 2002, is home to the Houston Texans and has hosted World Cup qualifying matches for the United States. But it also serves as the home ground for several friendlies of the Mexican national team. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is also held annually at the stadium, which has a capacity of about 72,000 people and an artificial surface. Retractable roofs and air conditioning will be critical to the area’s summer temperatures and humidity.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA
The city of Los Angeles has two contenders for the World Cup and one of them is the newest contender on the list, SoFi Stadium. Built on the site of the Hollywood Park RaceTrack and opening in 2020, the stadium hosts both the Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers of the NFL. It has a capacity of about 70,000 seats, an artificial surface and a permanent roof.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
Arrowhead Stadium is the home ground of the Kansas City Chiefs. The stadium opened in 1972 and has been renovated several times, the last time in 2010. Capacity is about 76,000, making it the sixth-largest NFL stadium. The stadium is famous for its noise records, with opposing teams sometimes having difficulty communicating because of rackets. It has a grassy surface.
MEXICO CITY
Estadio Azteca became the first stadium to host two World Cup finals when Argentina beat West Germany 3-2 in the 1986 title match. Before that, it hosted the final for the 1970 tournament. , when Brazil beat Italy 4-1 _ with Pele scoring the first. Perhaps the most famous was the 1986 stadium quarterfinal match between Argentina and England, when Diego Maradona scored with a ball punch into the net. The stadium opened in 1966 and has a capacity of about 87,000 people with a grass surface. However, the venue’s audience record for football, is said to be 119,853.
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA
Located in suburban Miami, Hard Rock Stadium hosts both NFL and college football games. The Miami Dolphins and the University of Miami both compete in venues that have a capacity of about 67,000, grass and covered spectators but are open on the field. The stadium opened in 1987 and is also the venue for tennis tournaments.
MONTERREY, MEXICO
One of the newer stadiums in dispute, the Estadio BBVA opened in 2015 and features grass. Mexican club Monterrey plays it home matches at the stadium. The capacity is about 53,000 seats. Three matches at the 1986 World Cup were held in Monterrey, but at the Estadio Tecnologico.
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NASHVILLE, TENNESSE
Nissan Stadium has some experience with football. The stadium hosted the group stage matches of the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup and was also the venue for the World Cup qualifiers. The stadium opened in 1999 and has a capacity of about 70,000 people. It has a grass surface and is also home to the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, who have begun planning a new stadium.
ORLANDO FLORIDA
Recommended venue in Orlando with World Cup experience. Then known as the Citrus Bowl, the 65,000-seat stadium hosted games at the 1994 World Cup. Olympic football matches were also held at the stadium two years later, when nearby Atlanta hosted Hosted the 1996 Olympics. The stadium opened in 1936 and has been expanded several times. It has an artificial surface.
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
The second contender in Los Angeles is among the most famous stadiums in the world. The Rose Bowl hosted the 1994 World Cup final when Brazil beat Italy on penalties. Perhaps most famous was the final of the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, when Brandi Chastain scored the winning goal for the United States against China and then took off his shirt to celebrate. The stadium, which has a capacity of about 88,000 people and turf, has hosted many other events since its opening in 1922, including cycling at the 1932 Olympics.y
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PHILADELPHIA
Lincoln Financial Field opened in 2003 and its first event was a football match between Manchester United and Barcelona. The stadium serves as the venue for the Philadelphia Eagles and Temple University. The 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup final was played at the stadium, with Mexico beating Jamaica 3-1. The stadium has a capacity of nearly 70,000 spectators and has an artificial surface.
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA
Located about 40 miles south of San Francisco, Levi’s Stadium opened in 2014 and has hosted several major football games since, including the Super Bowl in 2016. It is the home stadium. of the San Francisco 49ers. The stadium has a capacity of about 71,000 people and grass surface.
SEATTLE
Lumen Stadium is home to two professional football teams and the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks. The stadium, which opened in 2002 and has a capacity of about 69,000, is home to the MLS’ Seattle Sounders and the National Women’s Soccer League’s OL Reign. The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network recorded tremors in stadiums caused by crowds. The stadium has an artificial surface.
TORONTO
BMO Field is the home ground of the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts and the MLS’ Toronto FC. Originally built as a football venue, it has hosted a number of international events since opening in 2007, including Men’s and Women’s Under-20 World Cup matches and soccer matches. Rugby. In 2010, it became the first venue outside the United States to host the MLS Cup. The stadium also hosted matches for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup. It has a capacity of about 28,000 and a hybrid surface, and bids are expected to expand to around 45,000.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Opened in 1983, BC Place has been the home of the CFL’s BC Lions since its opening. The stadium also hosts home games for the MLS’ Vancouver Whitecaps. The stadium has a capacity of about 54,000 people and was last renovated in 2011. It has an artificial surface.
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