❓ STADIUMS FAQ

There are 16 official stadiums across three nations: 2 in Canada (BC Place in Vancouver and BMO Field in Toronto), 11 in the United States, and 3 in Mexico (Estadio Azteca, Estadio BBVA and Estadio Akron). Together they provide over 1.8 million total seats and will host all 104 matches of the tournament.

MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will host the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final on July 19, 2026. The stadium has a capacity of 82,500 and is located approximately 8 miles west of Manhattan, accessible from New York Penn Station via New Jersey Transit.

Canada plays its home group-stage matches at BC Place in Vancouver (Canada vs Brazil on June 13, Canada vs Colombia on June 18) and at BMO Field in Toronto (Canada vs Morocco on June 23). Both stadiums are new to World Cup football.

The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California has the highest seated capacity at 90,888 — making it the largest of the 16 venues. However, Estadio Azteca (87,523) is the most historically significant and stages the Opening Match on June 11. MetLife Stadium (82,500) hosts the Final.

Yes. BC Place has North America's largest cable-supported retractable roof, a 28,000 m² PTFE-coated fibreglass structure installed during the 2011 renovation. The roof opens and closes in approximately 20 minutes. The artificial pitch surface meets FIFA Quality Pro standards for international matches.

Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington is the closest US World Cup venue to the Canadian border — approximately 230 km south of Vancouver via the I-5 highway. Driving time is roughly 2.5 to 3 hours. Amtrak Cascades also operates Vancouver–Seattle rail service, though capacity during World Cup events will be limited.

Estadio Azteca in Mexico City stands at 2,240 metres (7,349 feet) above sea level. This elevation reduces oxygen availability by approximately 25% compared to sea level, which noticeably affects athletic performance. FIFA builds mandatory acclimatisation time into the match schedule. Fans arriving from sea-level cities may experience mild altitude sickness — headaches, fatigue and shortness of breath — for the first 24–48 hours.

Canada will host 13 matches in total: 7 at BC Place (Vancouver) and 6 at BMO Field (Toronto). This includes 3 of Canada's group-stage matches, 3 additional group-stage fixtures and several Round of 32 games.

The two Semi-Finals will be held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (Dallas) on July 14, and at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California (Los Angeles) on July 15. Both venues were selected for their iconic status and large capacities.

BMO Field uses a natural grass surface following the expansion completed in 2025. Unlike BC Place, which plays on FIFA-certified artificial FieldTurf, BMO Field's grass pitch meets FIFA's natural surface standards. This distinction is important for some national team federations that have raised concerns about playing on artificial turf.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup opens on June 11, 2026 with the inaugural match at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City and concludes with the Final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19, 2026. The tournament spans 39 days in total.

MetLife Stadium in New Jersey hosts the most matches — 8 in total — including one Group Stage fixture, two Round of 32 games, one Quarter-Final and the Final. AT&T Stadium (Dallas) hosts 7 matches including a Semi-Final.