Every World Cup is a unique event. Every four years, the tournament transports spectators to a different part of the globe, offering a fresh perspective on the beauty of football. What can you expect to see in the USA this time? And above all - which stadiums will host the participating teams?

Ahead of us is the first ever World Cup, where matches will be played in three different countries. Have you already seen the guide to the 2026 World Cup stadiums we have created? There we describe the host cities, the intricacies of the format of the event, and in the future we will also show the schedule and give attendances during the matches. For now, however, we will focus on the venue where most of the matches will be hosted - the USA. Find out all the stadiums from this country where we will see the world's best national teams.

AT&T Stadium

Located in Arlington, Texas, AT&T Stadium is a monumental structure known as the home of the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). The stadium is distinguished by its retractable roof and can host concerts, basketball games, rodeos, motocross and more. It replaced Texas Stadium, which was the home of the Cowboys from 1971 to 2008. Called 'Jerry World' and the 'Death Star', it is the NFL's largest stadium in terms of seating capacity, seating approximately 80,000 people, with the ability to expand to approximately 100,000 seats. The stadium's record attendance for an NFL regular season game was 105,121 in 2009, and the stadium features one of the largest high-definition video screens in the world.

_{Photo credit: © Grzegorz Kaliciak / StadiumDB.com}

MetLife Stadium

An open-air multi-purpose stadium located at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, MetLife Stadium is a major landmark in American sports architecture. Opened in 2010 as a replacement for Giants Stadium, it became the most expensive stadium built in the United States at the time at a cost of approximately $1.6 billion. It serves as home to both the New York Giants and the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL), making it one of only two NFL stadiums shared by two teams. The stadium was a key venue for Super Bowl XLVIII and is expected to host some key games during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. On a daily basis, the interior lighting can change colours to represent the team playing - blue for the Giants and green for the Jets.

_{Photo credit: © Anthony Quintano (CC BY 2.0)}

Arrowhead Stadium

Officially named GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium as of March 2021, is an American football stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri. It primarily serves as the home of the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL. The naming rights agreement with GEHA began for the 2021 season and will run until January 2031. Arrowhead Stadium, which is part of the Truman Sports Complex that includes neighbouring Kauffman Stadium, has a capacity of 76,416, making it the 24th largest stadium in the United States and the fourth largest in the NFL. It is worth noting that it is the largest sports facility in terms of capacity in Missouri. The stadium underwent a significant $375 million renovation in 2010, which will see it host the 2026 FIFA World Cup games. It has also been the site of college football and other football games. Construction of Arrowhead Stadium began in 1968, following a $102 million bond issue approved by voters in 1967 for a new sports complex, which was initially to include both a baseball and football stadium with a common movable roof.

_{Photo credit: © Mike Day}

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

A multi-purpose facility in Atlanta, Georgia, was inaugurated in August 2017, taking up the baton from the Georgia Dome. Mercedes-Benz Stadium serves as home to the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL and Atlanta United FC of Major League Soccer (MLS). Construction costs were estimated at $1.6 billion. Since its opening, the stadium has hosted significant events, including the 2018 MLS Cup and Super Bowl LIII in 2019. Architecturally, the stadium is famous for its retractable roof, which consists of eight translucent triangular panels that operate on parallel rails and resemble the wings of a bird when opened. Inspired by Rome's Pantheon, the design uses a transparent, lightweight polymer material for the roof, allowing light control and offering views of the Atlanta skyline. The standout feature inside is the 'Halo', a ring-shaped video board measuring 58 by 1,100 feet, one of the largest in the world.

_{Photo credit: © Grzegorz Kaliciak / StadiumDB.com}

NRG Stadium

Originally named Reliant Stadium, NRG Stadium is a multi-purpose facility located in Houston, Texas. Completed in 2002 at a cost of $352 million, the stadium has the distinction of being the first NFL facility with a retractable roof, symbolising the combination of innovation and functionality in sports architecture. It has a seating capacity of 72,220, but can be expanded to accommodate larger events. The stadium has been selected as the venue for the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship and will participate in the 2024 Copa America. The architectural design of NRG Stadium uses the principles of kinetic architecture. An example of this design approach is the retractable fabric roof, which can be opened or closed in just seven minutes thanks to an advanced mechanism involving 10 parallel tri-chord trusses that move along two super trusses.

_{Photo credit: © Ed Schipul (cc: by)}

Levi's Stadium

Located in Santa Clara, California, near San Jose in the San Francisco Bay Area, Levi's Stadium has been the home venue for the NFL team San Francisco 49ers since 2014. Construction of the stadium began in April 2012 after Santa Clara voters approved a measure in 2010 to create a tax-exempt Santa Clara Stadium Authority to build and own the stadium. The stadium officially opened on July 17, 2014. Designed by architectural firm HNTB, Levi's Stadium features a multi-purpose design with a focus on fan experience and green technology. It has a seating capacity of 68,500, with the potential to expand to around 75,000 for major events such as the Super Bowl and the FIFA World Cup.

_{Photo credit: © David Shamma}

SoFi Stadium

A 70,240-seat indoor sports and entertainment stadium, is located in the Los Angeles suburb of Inglewood, California. It occupies the former site of the Hollywood Park racetrack and is located near Los Angeles International Airport. Opened in September 2020, SoFi Stadium serves as the joint home of the NFL's Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers, as well as hosting the annual LA Bowl in college football. This makes it one of the few stadiums that is also home to two NFL teams. The stadium has hosted notable events such as Super Bowl LVI, the College Football Playoff National Championship, WrestleMania 39 and the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup Final. The stadium is also expected to host 2028 Summer Olympics, including the opening and closing ceremonies.

_{Photo credit: © Doc Searls (CC BY 2.0)}

Gillette Stadium

Located in Foxborough, Massachusetts, is a multi-purpose facility primarily serving as the home of the New England Patriots of the NFL and the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer. Opened in 2002, it replaced neighbouring Foxboro Stadium and has a seating capacity of 64,628, including 5,876 club seats and 92 luxury suites. Construction of Gillette Stadium began in March 2000, after plans were approved by the Town of Foxborough in December 1999. The stadium's first official event was an MLS football match in May 2002. The previous stadium, owned and operated by Kraft Sports Group, was a Patriots stronghold, with the team selling out every home game since 1994. The streak continued at Gillette Stadium.

_{Photo credit: © U.S. Air Force photo / Senior Airman Kelly Galloway (copyright-free)}

Lincoln Financial Field

An American football stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is home to the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles and Temple University's Temple Owls football team. Located in South Philadelphia on Pattison Avenue, Lincoln Financial Field is part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex and has a seating capacity of 67,594. Opened on August 3, 2003, the stadium replaced Veterans Stadium and boasts state-of-the-art amenities, including double the number of luxury and wheelchair-accessible seats, LED video displays and extensive LED boards.The naming rights to the stadium were sold to Lincoln Financial Group in June 2002 for $139.6 million over 21 years. Public funds from the City of Philadelphia and the State of Pennsylvania contributed approximately $188 million towards its construction. Additional funds came from the sale of licences to build the stadium.

_{Photo credit: © Steve Wood}

Lumen Field

Located in Seattle's SoDo district, Lumen Field is a multi-purpose sports and entertainment centre. Opened in 2002, the stadium originally known as Seahawks Stadium has undergone several name changes, adopting its current name in 2020 after CenturyLink rebranded it as Lumen Technologies. The stadium is home to the Seattle Seahawks (NFL) and Seattle Sounders FC (MLS), among others. The standout feature of Lumen Field is its design and location. Covering only 30 acres, it is one of the smallest areas used for new NFL stadiums. The stadium has a U-shaped configuration with an open north end, providing views of downtown.

_{Photo credit: © Cacophony (cc: by-sa)}

Hard Rock Stadium

A facility located in Florida will be the southernmost stadium from the US at the World Cup. The construction of Hard Rock Stadium was the initiative of Miami Dolphins founder Joe Robbie. After years of playing at the Orange Bowl downtown, the club moved north. Here, surrounded by huge car parks, a stadium with two levels of seating for 75,000 spectators was erected in 1987. At the time, its trademark was eight spiral ramps in the corners, leading spectators to the upper stands. Ahead of the World Cup, another tournament, the Copa America 2024, will kick off at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, culminating right here at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

_{Photo credit: © Grzegorz Kaliciak / StadiumDB.com}