Club World Cup stadium guide: 12 venues set to host some of the world's best

New York Times

13 hours ago

There is always one important factor, or at least a general understanding, that comes with an American-led sporting event: that stadiums will be top of the line. That Americans know how to put on a show. In many cases, venues in the U.S. are tailor-made for the world's biggest entertainment and sporting events.
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Even the country's oldest stadiums, such as the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., which debuted in 1922, are still considered iconic sites for today's modern-day events. There's also the notion that security and crowd control measures are always top of mind in the U.S. If they are, and that's a big if, the past year has been a wake-up call for U.S.-based organizers, and for FIFA.
Two separate incidents of unruly behavior from fans (and players) during last summer's Copa América in the U.S. reinforced the idea that international soccer tournaments are still misunderstood by those in charge of securing a venue. The Copa América semifinal between Uruguay and Colombia nearly turned into a crowd riot after fans from both countries brawled in the Bank of America Stadium stands. Several Uruguayan players joined the melee, including Liverpool's Darwin Núñez, which led to sanctions.
The Copa América final between Argentina and Colombia was marred when thousands of fans were trapped outside the Hard Rock Stadium gates. Miami-Dade officials, Hard Rock Stadium officials and CONMEBOL, the tournament organizers, all pointed fingers at each other for the failed security protocols. Some context is needed, however. Simply peruse social media on an NFL Sunday and you'll find numerous videos of fans engaging in disorderly behavior.
The terrorist attack before the College Football Playoff quarterfinal — the Sugar Bowl — in January in New Orleans was another incident that has raised alarms for Club World Cup host cities and local governments. All that being said, the Club World Cup will carry on as planned this summer, and all eyes will be on the 12 venues that were selected to host FIFA's expanded tournament. Here's a look at each stadium and what makes it unique.
Of all the Club World Cup venues, Mercedes-Benz Stadium is the most eye-catching. Its enormous halo board and pinwheel-designed retractable roof are major features of the massive NFL structure. There are bars, restaurant stands and food stations throughout the stadium, and frankly, there isn't a bad seat in the house. One thing fans like most about MBS is that the stadium's food is among the most affordable in the U.S. Hot dogs, soft drinks and popcorn are all $2. In this economy, that's a dream.
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MBS is the home of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons and MLS's Atlanta United. Its location in downtown Atlanta, close to a plethora of hotels and restaurants and Centennial Olympic Park, makes MBS an ideal venue for big events. The Premier League Summer Series has visited Atlanta recently, and in 2024, MBS hosted the inaugural Copa América match between Argentina and Canada. It's an artificial turf field that will be replaced with natural grass ahead of the tournament.
How to get there using public transportation: MARTA, a citywide rail and bus system, provides two stops on the stadium's doorstep. The closest station to Mercedes-Benz Stadium is the GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center Station, and the Vine City stop also provides convenient access.
Another downtown venue, Bank of America Stadium, is an open-air, multi-use ground that is home to the NFL's Carolina Panthers and MLS side Charlotte FC. It's located in the Uptown section of the city, according to locals. There are a handful of cities in the U.S. that have proclaimed themselves to be Soccer City USA. Charlotte hasn't gone that far, but with the growing interest in the sport, Charlotte is among the newest 'soccer cities' in the country.
Bank of America Stadium has become a routine stop for international friendlies and Concacaf Gold Cup clashes, including hosting Mexico's sizable community of fans in the Southeast. Charlotte FC draws big crowds, as well, and with Real Madrid, CF Pachuca and Bayern Munich set to play one group stage match each in Charlotte, a solid turnout of fans is expected in the Queen City.
How to get there using public transportation: To arrive closest to the stadium, catch the LYNX Blue Line light rail, with FIFA advising to disembark at Brooklyn Village Station, around a 10-minute walk from the stadium. Several bus routes also provide easy access.
TQL Stadium, home to MLS side FC Cincinnati, might be my favorite soccer-specific stadium in the U.S. On a chilly night and with a packed crowd, it has a true European feel. When the U.S. hosted Mexico for a pivotal 2022 World Cup qualifier in November 2021, the energy was palpable. The stadium was brand new, but there was a rustic feel to it as thousands of fans sang and marched throughout the concourse.
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The U.S. won that game 2-0 and established Cincinnati as a viable home for the U.S. national team. It's early in the stadium's history, but it should continue to be an option for international and club competitions. There are strong German roots in the city, which should bode well for support for Bayern Munich and their Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund.
How to get there using public transportation: Connector streetcar service (free) has 10 stops within a 10-minute walk of the stadium, the nearest being Liberty Street and Washington Park.
There are modern marvels like Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and there's the iconic and battle-tested Rose Bowl. This is truly the crown jewel of American stadiums. It has hosted two Olympic Games (1932 and 1984) and two memorable World Cup finals.
The 1994 men's final between Brazil and Italy was the culmination of an iconic World Cup. That tournament put the U.S. on the map in the world of international football competitions. And who can forget Brandi Chastain's winning penalty kick in the 1999 Women's World Cup final? The U.S. win over China was its second World Cup title.
Of course, American college football also has a long and rich history at the Rose Bowl, and there have been many hotly contested matches between rivals Mexico and the U.S. in Pasadena, too. The Club World Cup will reintroduce the stadium to a global audience before it is a main attraction for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
How to get there using public transportation: The Metro A Line serves Pasadena's Memorial Park Station, around 2.4 miles from the Rose Bowl. If that walk in the summer heat sounds grueling, a Rose Bowl Shuttle connects the station with the venue.
The Club World Cup will begin in Miami on June 14. Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will face Al Ahly of the Egyptian Premier League in the same stadium that saw Messi win his last international trophy. Hard Rock Stadium was the site for the 2024 Copa América final between Argentina and Colombia.
Argentina prevailed 1-0 in extra time, but the match was marred by a lack of crowd control that led to a near stampede outside the stadium's gates before kickoff. It was a security disaster for the tournament's organizers (CONMEBOL) and the local government. I was there that day. There are scenes of unconscious men and women and crying children pressed against the gates that will stay with me forever.
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The Club World Cup will be another opportunity for Hard Rock Stadium to prove it can host international football matches safely before the 2026 World Cup. Messi will be the main attraction, but major brands like Real Madrid and Boca Juniors will attract local fan groups and neutrals alike.
How to get there using public transportation: There is no public transportation system to the stadium, making driving or apps such as Uber or Lyft the most common way for fans to reach the site.
If you want to feel as close to the action as possible, travel to Nashville and take in the intimate confines of GEODIS Park. The newest of the 12 venues, the home of Nashville SC has a similar feel to Cincinnati's TQL Stadium. The seats are close to the pitch, which makes Nashville's home stadium a fun venue for locals and neutrals. The city itself is worth a visit. There is always something to do in Music City.
The matchups in Nashville don't jump off the page, but Mexican side Pachuca should certainly feel at home in the southern city when it faces Al Hilal on June 26. The opportunity to see Boca Juniors against Auckland City FC, a team of part-time footballers against one of the most scrutinized teams in the world, should make for some interesting storylines.
How to get there using public transportation: Nashville's WeGo public transit system of buses and rail offers free rides on Club World Cup matchday on the 52 Nolensville Pike and 77 Thompson/Wedgewood routes.
No venue will host more Club World Cup matches than MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Both semifinals and the final will be played in the same stadium that will host the 2026 World Cup final. After having been to MetLife Stadium multiple times to cover the Copa América last summer, I can understand why the venue has been chosen for back-to-back FIFA tournament finals.
It's gigantic. It's the type of stadium that makes one feel tiny in comparison with the colossal concrete structure. Argentina's Copa América semifinal against Canada was a prime example of what MetLife Stadium can sound like for a big international football match. The Argentines took over the ground, chanting and singing throughout the game.
Unfortunately, the press box is enclosed with large glass windows, which suppresses the ambient sound. So instead of feeling like I was part of the crowd, I felt like I was in a focus group, watching a game with the volume turned down. It's not a perfect venue, but it's the right stadium to host a major final.
How to get there using public transportation: From New York City, NJ Transit trains marked 'SEC' from Penn Station stop at Secaucus Junction. Departure boards at Secaucus direct passengers to the correct platform to catch a train to the stadium.
Camping World Stadium opened before World War II, and it's a huge stadium that is well known in the U.S. as a neutral site stadium for college football games. It has undergone several remodels and expansions that make the venue ideal for big concerts.
In that sense, it's clear why FIFA picked Camping World Stadium as one of the stadiums that will host one of the tournament's marquee games. Juventus versus Manchester City will have a U.S. summer tour feel to it. This time it'll be, in theory, a meaningful match in which two European powers battle for first place in Group G.
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It'll be scorching hot in Orlando, so bring your sunscreen and drink plenty of water. And try not to lose your wallet at Disney World.
How to get there using public transportation: ​​The LYNX bus service has routes 20, 21, 36 and 107 all linking with Camping World Stadium; additionally, Route 8 from Central Station, and Route 107 passes a block away from the stadium.
Orlando has two stadiums as Club World Cup venues. The city failed in its bid to host matches for next year's World Cup, so perhaps this was a concession. Regardless, Inter&Co Stadium is a soccer-specific venue that is home to MLS side Orlando City.
In MLS, Orlando City has one of the more authentic atmospheres. The crowd is hostile toward opponents, and there is a distinct Latin flavor to the drum sounds and energy when Orlando City plays. That is unlikely to be the case this summer when Orlando hosts South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns FC and Korean side Ulsan HD.
The second match in Orlando won't make anyone's mouth water, either. It's surprising that FIFA did not put any of the four Brazilian teams in Orlando for the first round, considering the large community of Brazilians who call the city home. It's a downtown stadium, so fans who do attend matches here will be close to the city's center.
How to get there using public transportation: The stadium is in downtown Orlando, so it will likely be within walking distance from your hotel. If you're staying slightly further out, SunRail is your best bet. Church Street Station is only a short walk from the stadium, so ensure your train stops there.
Philadelphia will be a busy host with eight matches being held at Lincoln Financial Field, the home of the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. There are some intriguing matches, too. On June 20, Brazilian power Flamengo will take on Chelsea, and Real Madrid will meet FC Salzburg on June 26.
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The stadium is located in South Philadelphia, and it's part of a bustling sports complex that includes Major League Baseball stadium Citizens Bank Park, where the Phillies play, and Wells Fargo Center, home of the NBA's 76ers and the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers. Of course, there are plenty of tourist attractions to visit, too, such as the Rocky Balboa statue.
Hopefully, a brave coach or physio will make their team run the stairs that lead up to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, just as Sylvester Stallone did in the classic 1976 film 'Rocky.'
How to get there using public transportation: The SEPTA Broad Street subway line offers the quickest way to the stadium. Exit at the last southbound stop, NRG Station.
Another NFL stadium that is also home to an MLS side is Seattle's Lumen Field, a loud open-air venue that has for years been a bastion of home-field advantage for the Seahawks and the Sounders. Seattle is getting the best group-stage games of this Club World Cup.
Look at the wide range of football cultures that will land in the Pacific Northwest. Botafogo, River Plate, Inter Milan, PSG and Atletico Madrid. Even the J-League power Urawa Red Diamonds should be a must-see club, and they should attract the large Japanese community that resides in Greater Seattle. The home side Sounders have been put into a brutal group.
'Seattle in that group – it's going to be a bloodbath,' an MLS executive told The Athletic in February. That might be true, but the Sounders should benefit from playing before their loyal fans.
If I had to choose a city to visit for this Club World Cup, it would be Seattle. The city's culture, the history of iconic grunge music and indie bands, the food, the mountain air… Throw in some legitimate football heavyweights, and you've got a nice little vacation plan.
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How to get there using public transportation: Multiple transit options connect to Lumen Field, including Link light rail, Sounder trains, ST Express buses and several Metro routes. The nearest stations, Stadium and International District/Chinatown Link, are a short walk away. Special Sounder game trains will be in operation for five of the six Club World Cup matches.
In D.C., locals view Audi Field like a minor miracle. It still seems improbable that the city finally built a new stadium after MLS club D.C. United spent nearly 15 years trying to move the project forward. The result is a 20,000 soccer-specific stadium on the Southwest Waterfront that's surrounded by restaurants, hotels, bars and shops. The location includes Nationals Park, home of the city's baseball team.
But compared with other MLS stadiums, Audi Field is quite basic. It's new, but it isn't a modern marvel by any means. D.C. United is pushing the city to expand the stadium's capacity, but for now, Audi Field is what it is: a place where former England and Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney once called home. Rooney's last-minute assist to Luciano Acosta versus Orlando City in 2018 is the stadium's most iconic moment to date, which tells you how bad D.C. United has been over the past decade. His tackle and cross-field assist is on a mural inside the Audi Field concourse.
So if you're in the nation's capital this summer and feel motivated to watch Al Ain FC versus Juventus FC or a Middle Eastern clásico between Wydad AC and Al Ain FC in the hot D.C. sun, by all means, get yourself to Audi Field.
How to get there using public transportation: Audi Field recommends accessing the venue via the Navy Yard Metrorail station on the Green Line. Waterfront station is another nearby option.
(Illustration: Kelsea Petersen / The Athletic; Iconsportswire / Getty, Kirby Lee / Associated Press)