World Cup 2026 stadiums

All 16 stadiums

Why no new stadiums were built

FIFA's decision to award the 2026 World Cup to a joint USA/Canada/Mexico bid was partly because all three countries already had large, high-quality stadiums. This avoided the infrastructure controversy that surrounded the 2022 Qatar World Cup, where new stadiums were built at significant human and financial cost.

The existing venue approach also meant construction costs were minimal — though all 16 stadiums have undergone modifications to meet FIFA requirements, including installing natural grass surfaces where previously artificial turf was used.

The Estadio Azteca in history

No World Cup 2026 stadium guide would be complete without noting the Azteca's unique place in football history. The Mexico City ground has hosted two World Cup finals — 1970 (Brazil 4-1 Italy) and 1986 (Argentina 3-2 West Germany) — and is the venue where Diego Maradona scored both the Hand of God and the Goal of the Century in 1986.

In 2026, the Azteca will host the third-place play-off, giving it a third World Cup final appearance in a broad sense. It remains the only stadium to have hosted two World Cup finals.

The smallest venue: BMO Field, Toronto

BMO Field has a capacity of around 30,000 — significantly smaller than the other venues. It will host group stage matches only. Canada insisted on Toronto as a host city, and BMO Field was the only suitable venue available, despite its size relative to the other stadiums on the list.

FIFA approved BMO Field after Canada committed to temporary capacity expansions. It is the only stadium in the tournament that is primarily a football (soccer) venue rather than an NFL or major league sports stadium.