The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be contestedĀ in 16 stadiums acrossĀ North America, making it the most geographically expansive tournament in the competition’s history.Ā To helpĀ showcaseĀ theĀ event, Bentley SystemsĀ built an interactive 3D experienceĀ of eachĀ stadiumĀ using Cesium’s open-source geospatial technology.Ā SoĀ you canĀ now fly between every hostĀ city,Ā explore each venue, and survey the surrounding neighborhoodsāall from any device, in one sitting.Ā
Built on Cesium, a Bentley company, the experience turns real-world geospatial data intoĀ accurateĀ digital replicas of each venue. The same open platformĀ used to mapĀ theĀ stadiumsĀ in Canada,Ā Mexico, andĀ the U.S.Ā alsoĀ helps engineers worldwide design, manage, and analyze infrastructure atĀ aĀ globalĀ scale. “Cesium for us is a very powerful technological foundation because it allows you to bring all of those data points, the ones that you produce with our engineering applications, but also the ones you collect from the field or from people who are collaborating on the project,” saysĀ Bentley Systems CTO Julien Moutte.Ā
Canada
BC Place Vancouver
The arena opened in 1983 as one of the world’s largest air-supported domed stadiums, meaning it was primarily held up by air pressure. In 2011, a major renovation gave BC Place a cable-supported retractable roof, and the revitalization helped the venue land the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup final. Home to the Vancouver Whitecaps FC and BC Lions,Ā the stadiumĀ can holdĀ 54,000Ā fansĀ for the 2026 World Cup.
Toronto Stadium
BMO Field, called Toronto Stadium during the tournament, is Canada’s national soccer stadium.Ā The facility hasĀ steadily grownĀ sinceĀ its opening in 2007,Ā as hasĀ the sport it was built to serve.Ā The stadium expanded to accommodate theĀ CanadianĀ Football LeagueĀ and has undergone further temporary expansion ahead of 2026, pushing capacity past 45,000. Home to Toronto FC and the Toronto Argonauts,Ā it’sĀ a compact venue with a strong soccer identity.
Mexico
Mexico City Stadium
Few stadiums carry as much history as Estadio Azteca, now called Estadio Banorte.Ā It opened in 1966Ā inĀ Mexico City,Ā andĀ hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals. PelĆ©’s Brazil and Maradona’s Argentina both claimed titles here. In 2026, with a listed capacity of 83,000, it becomes the first stadium ever to host World Cup matches across three separate tournaments. No other venue on this list comes close to its place in the sport’s history.Ā
Guadalajara Stadium
Known as Estadio Akron, the arena’s exterior was designed to evoke a green hillside or volcano. When it opened in 2010 as the new home of C.D. Guadalajara (Chivas), it replaced the older Estadio Jalisco and gave the club a purpose-built venue with a strong architectural identity. Located in Zapopan just outside Guadalajara, it holds 48,000 for the tournament.Ā
Estadio Monterrey
Located in northern Mexico, Estadio BBVA’s metallic exterior and open sightlines frame one of the most dramatic backdrops in world soccer: Cerro de la Silla, the saddle-shaped mountain that defines Monterrey’s skyline. Home to CF Monterrey (Rayados) since 2015, itĀ can holdĀ 53,500Ā fansĀ forĀ theĀ 2026Ā games.Ā ItĀ is widely considered one of the best club stadiums in Latin America.Ā
United States
Atlanta Stadium
One of the more architecturally distinctive venues in U.S.Ā sports, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, called Atlanta Stadium during the World Cup tournament, is defined by its roofāa camera-aperture design of eight overlapping panels that retract to reveal the sky above the field. A massive circular halo video board rings the interior. Home to the NFLās Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United FC, the stadium can holdĀ 75,000 peopleĀ for theĀ WorldĀ CupĀ and has won numerousĀ design and architecture awards.
Boston Stadium
Known to sports fans as Gillette Stadium and located 30 miles south of Boston in Foxborough, Massachusetts, this arena is regarded as one of the NFL’s most intense venues. It opened in 2002 as the home of the New England Patriots and the New England Revolution soccer team. ItĀ canĀ holdĀ 65,000Ā peopleĀ for the 2026 tournament.Ā A major 2023 renovation transformed the original lighthouse into a 22-story, 218-foot landmark with a 360-degree observation deck, giving the stadium a striking new silhouette.Ā
Dallas Stadium
With a FIFA-listed capacity of 94,000, AT&T Stadium isĀ by farĀ theĀ largest venue on the 2026Ā World CupĀ roster. Home to theĀ NFLāsĀ Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, since 2009, it’s built for spectacle: a retractable roof, massive end-zone doors that open to the plaza outside, and a center-hung video board that was the world’s largest when it debuted. BentleyĀ played a role inĀ theĀ stadiumāsĀ construction:Ā The engineers who built theĀ facilityĀ usedĀ Bentley’s PLAXIS 3D software to simulate and validate the foundation design.
Houston Stadium
Houston’sĀ NRG Stadium was the first NFL venue with a retractable roof, a practical response toĀ theĀ TexasĀ cityāsĀ heat and sudden storms. The roof allows the stadium to host theĀ NFLāsĀ Houston Texans and events like the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo regardless of weather conditions. It will hold up to 72,000 for theĀ World CupĀ tournament.
Kansas City Stadium
GEHA Field at Arrowhead StadiumĀ hasĀ been one of the NFL’s most feared road environments since it opened inĀ MissouriĀ inĀ 1972.Ā Home to the KansasĀ City Chiefs,Ā the NFL teamāsĀ fans set a Guinness-recognized outdoor stadium noise record of 142.2 decibels in 2014, a mark that still stands.Ā The stadium is listed at a capacity of 73,000Ā for 2026.
Los Angeles Stadium
Built beneath a translucent canopy that stretches beyond the stadium’s outer walls, SoFi Stadium in Inglewood,Ā California,Ā just outside LosĀ Angeles,Ā is one of the most technologically ambitious venues in American sports. Its centerpiece is the double-sided Infinity Screen by Samsung suspended above the field. Home to two NFLĀ teams,Ā the Rams and Chargers, it canĀ holdĀ 70,000Ā peopleĀ for World Cup 2026 and has set a new benchmark for what a modern NFL stadium can look like.
Miami Stadium
Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens,Ā Florida,Ā may be the most versatile event venue in theĀ U.S.Ā Since opening in 1987,Ā theĀ facilityĀ has hostedĀ NFLĀ Super Bowls, college football championships, international soccer, the Miami Open tennis tournament, and Formula One’s Miami Grand Prix. Home to theĀ NFLāsĀ MiamiĀ Dolphins andĀ theĀ University ofĀ Miami Hurricanes,Ā the stadiumĀ canĀ holdĀ 65,000 for the 2026 tournament.Ā
New York New Jersey Stadium
Located just outside New York City in East Rutherford, NewĀ Jersey,Ā thisĀ sports and entertainment colossus will host the 2026 World Cup final on July 19āa fitting assignment for the tournament’s largest metropolitan market. Known to localsĀ asĀ MetLife Stadium, theĀ facilityĀ opened in 2010Ā and is one of the few NFL stadiums in full-time use by two separate franchises, theĀ GiantsĀ andĀ theĀ Jets. With a listed capacity of 82,500, it will be the biggest stage in the sport when the final kicks off.
Philadelphia Stadium
HomeĀ of theĀ NFLāsĀ PhiladelphiaĀ Eagles since 2003, Lincoln Financial Field has become one of the more recognizableĀ sportsĀ venuesĀ in the U.S.,Ā partly for the intensity of its crowds,Ā but alsoĀ for itsĀ commitment to green energy. The stadium runs on thousands of solar panels and has received LEED certification for its sustainability program. ItĀ can holdĀ 69,000 for the 2026Ā World CupĀ tournament.Ā
San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
Located in Santa Clara, California, just south of San Francisco, Levi’s Stadium was designed with sustainability as a core feature. It has solar-paneled pedestrian bridges and the NRG Solar Terrace, and is one of the first NFL stadiums to be LEED Gold-certified. Home to the San Francisco 49ers since 2014, the stadium can hold 71,000 and previously hosted Super Bowl 50 in 2016.Ā
Seattle Stadium
Few stadiums in North America match Lumen Field for crowd noise. The steep seating bowl and partial roofĀ helpĀ channelĀ sound back onto the field.Ā Fans of the NFLāsĀ SeattleĀ SeahawksĀ haveĀ twiceĀ setĀ Guinness records forĀ loudest outdoor stadium roar.Ā AlsoĀ homeĀ toĀ Sounders FC and Reign FC since 2002, theĀ stadium canĀ holdĀ 69,000 for World Cup 2026 and previously hosted matches during the 2016 Copa AmĆ©rica Centenario.
FAQ:
The Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium) is by far the largest venue on the 2026 World Cup roster, boasting a FIFA-listed capacity of 94,000. It is built for massive spectacle, and engineers actually used Bentley’s PLAXIS 3D software to simulate and validate the building’s foundation design before construction.
The 2026 World Cup final will kick off on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium, known locally as MetLife Stadium. Located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, this 82,500-capacity venue serves the tournament’s largest metropolitan market.
Both the Kansas City Stadium (GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium) and Seattle Stadium (Lumen Field) are legendary for their crowd volume. Kansas City currently holds a Guinness-recognized outdoor stadium noise record of 142.2 decibels, while Seattle fans have twice set their own Guinness records for the loudest outdoor roar.
