A 'made in USA' World Cup with next-generation stadiums

BarcelonaA World Cup had never had 48 teams nor had it been played in three different states. For six weeks, the United States, Canada, and Mexico will host 104 matches, creating a different scenario. A total of 16 stadiums will host matches, most of them in the United States, although there will also be three Mexican venues and two in Canada. Most stadiums are relatively new and for a good part of the season, American football matches are played there, with some exceptions. Some stadiums, like those in Atlanta or Seattle, have become the home of local football teams, although they combine it with other sports. All stadiums in the United States, in fact, are venues prepared to host different disciplines, concerts, or events, with top-level technology. However, the state of the grass worries the coaches, as it would not be the best.

Never before have so many World Cup stadiums had a roof as on this occasion, whether fixed or retractable, which will allow games to be played in places like Texas or Kansas City when outside temperatures reach 40 degrees. The chosen venue for the final will be the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, near New York, a modern stadium that will join the select group of stadiums that have hosted World Cups. A stadium that exemplifies what this World Cup will be like, as it will be a modern stadium but with very expensive tickets and very poorly connected by public transport, as the local custom is to go by car. Many fans have complained about the prices that will have to be paid to get to these giants that will be the stage for this new World Cup.

BMO Field

Toronto (Canada)

The first stadium built in Canada exclusively for football, it has a British aesthetic with vertical stands. It has hosted international tournaments, such as an U-20 World Cup.

• Capacity: 45,000 spectators.
• Inauguration: 2007.
• Matches: Canada-Bosnia, Ghana-Panama, Germany - Ivory Coast, Panama-Croatia and Senegal-Iraq from the group stage and a Round of 16 match.

BC Place

Vancouver (Canada)

Host of the 2005 Women's World Cup final, it is a classic Canadian sports stadium that has hosted various sporting disciplines. The Canada national team plays here as the home team.

• Capacity: 54,000 spectators.
• Inauguration: 1983.
• Matches: Australia-Turkey, Canada-Qatar, New Zealand - Egypt, Switzerland-Canada and New Zealand - Belgium from the group stage, a round of 16 match and a quarter-final match.

Aztec Stadium

Mexico City

The legendary stadium home of the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals has been remodeled to once again be the venue for a third World Cup. It is one of the stadiums with the most history in football.

• Capacity: 83,000 spectators.
• Inauguration: 1966.
• Matches: Opening match between Mexico and South Africa, Uzbekistan-Colombia and Mexico-Czech Republic in the group stage and a round of 16 match.

Akron Stadium

Guadalajara (Mexico)

The home of Chivas de Guadalajara is one of the most modern stadiums in Mexico, built on the outskirts of the city in an elevated area imitating the design of a Roman arena.

• Capacity: 48,000 spectators.
• Inauguration: 2010.
• Matches: South Korea - Czech Republic, Mexico - South Korea, Colombia - DR Congo and Uruguay-Spain from the group stage.

BBVA Stadium

Monterrey (Mexico)

One of the most spectacular stadiums, located under the popular Cerro de la Silla of the Mexican city. It is one of the first stadiums in Mexico designed to save energy.

• Capacity: 53,500 spectators.
• Inauguration: 2015.
• Matches: Sweden-Tunisia, Tunisia-Japan and South Africa - Czech Republic from the group stage and one round of 16 match.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Atlanta (United States)

Although it is already a few years old, it is considered by many to be the most spectacular stadium in the world due to its giant scoreboard, its closed roof and its acoustics, which make it ideal for both football and American football matches.

• Capacity: 75,000 spectators.
• Inauguration: 2017.
• Matches: Spain - Cape Verde, Czech Republic - South Africa, Spain - Saudi Arabia, Morocco - Haiti, and DR Congo - Uzbekistan from the group stage, a round of 32 match, an round of 16 match, and a semi-final.

Gillette Stadium

Boston (United States)

The headquarters of the NFL's New England Patriots has been almost entirely reformatted to install giant screens and a retractable glass roof. It will be the public debut of the renovation of this stadium in Foxborough, near Boston.

• Capacity: 65,000 spectators.
• Inauguration: 2002.
• Matches: Haiti-Scotland, Iraq-Norway, Scotland-Morocco, England-Ghana and Norway-France from the group stage, a round of 32 match and a quarter-final match.

AT&T Stadium

Dallas (United States)

The spectacular stadium of the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL has been home to Superbowls, concerts, and international matches. A giant stadium with a retractable roof, works of art inside the facility, and next-generation scoreboards.

• Capacity: 94,000 spectators.
• Inauguration: 2009.
• Matches: Netherlands - Japan, England-Croatia, Argentina-Austria, Japan-Sweden and Jordan-Argentina from the group stage, a round of 16 match, an eighth-final match and a semi-final.

NRG Stadium

Houston (United States)

Home of American football games, both NFL and college football, has a retractable roof to protect athletes from the heat that is common in Texas.

• Capacity: 72,220 spectators.
• Inauguration: 2002.
• Matches: Germany-Curaçao, Portugal - DR Congo, Netherlands - Sweden, Portugal-Uzbekistan and Cape Verde - Saudi Arabia from the group stage, one round of 32 match and one round of 16 match.

Arrowhead Stadium

Kansas City (United States)

Stadium where American football is usually played, it broke the record at the time as an open-air stadium with the most noise coming from the stands. An old stadium remodeled on two occasions.

• Capacity: 73,000 spectators.
• Inauguration: 1972.
• Matches: Argentina-Algeria, Ecuador-Curacao and Tunisia - Netherlands from the group stage, a round of 16 match and a quarter-final match.

SoFi Stadium

Los Angeles (United States)

The most modern stadium in the World Cup, only four years old, where American football is usually played and artists like Taylor Swift perform. With a roof, it is 30 minutes from the Rose Bowl, the scene of the 1994 final.

• Capacity: 70,000 spectators.
• Inauguration: 2020.
• Matches: United States - Paraguay, Iran - New Zealand, Switzerland-Bosnia, Belgium-Iran and Turkey - United States from the group stage, two round of 16 matches and one quarter-final match.

Hard Rock Stadium

Miami (United States)

A classic stadium that has been home to the Super Bowl, Formula 1 Grand Prix, FIFA Club World Cup matches, and tennis tournaments. It is not covered, which may cause matches to be postponed if there is lightning in the area.

• Capacity: 65,000 spectators.
• Inauguration: 1987.
• Matches: Saudi Arabia - Uruguay, Uruguay - Cape Verde, Scotland-Brazil and Colombia-Portugal from the group stage, a round of 16 match, a quarter-final match and the third-place match.

MetLife Stadium

New Jersey (United States)

The venue for the grand final rises on the outskirts of New Jersey and is usually the home of the two New York NFL teams, as well as major concerts and sporting events. It was already the venue for the final of the Club World Cup in 2025.

• Capacity: 82,500 spectators.
• Inauguration: 2010.
• Matches: Brazil-Morocco, France-Senegal, Norway-Senegal, Ecuador-Germany and Panama-England from the group stage, a round of 32 match, an round of 16 match and the final.

Lincoln Financial Stadium

Philadelphia (United States)

Inaugurated in 2003 precisely by Barça playing a friendly against Manchester United, it is the home of the NFL's Eagles and usually the venue for the United States national football team.

• Capacity: 69,000 spectators.
• Inauguration: 2003.
• Matches: Ivory Coast - Ecuador, Brazil-Haiti, France-Iraq, Curaçao - Ivory Coast and Croatia-Ghana from the group stage and one round of 16 match.

Levi's Stadium

Santa Clara (United States)

A very new stadium located near San Francisco that has already hosted important Copa América soccer matches, as well as the Super Bowl. It is normally used for American football games.

• Capacity: 71,000 spectators.
• Inauguration: 2014.
• Matches: Qatar-Switzerland, Austria-Jordan, Turkey-Paraguay, Jordan-Algeria and Paraguay-Australia from the group stage and a round of 16 match.

Lumen Stadium

Seattle (United States)

Stadium where football is normally played thanks to the Sounders, champion team of the Concacaf Champions. A noisy stadium with a very particular shape that makes it very easy to recognize.

• Capacity: 69,000 spectators.
• Inauguration: 2002.
• Matches: Belgium-Egypt, United States - Australia, Bosnia-Qatar and Egypt-Iran from the group stage, a round of sixteen match and an eighth-final match.