World Cup stadiums, by altitude.
All 16 host venues across the USA, Canada and Mexico, with capacity, climate and elevation for each. Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca sits at 2,200m, the highest stage at any World Cup since 1986.
Only 2 of 16 venues sit high enough for thin air to measurably change a game: Estadio Azteca (2,200m) and Estadio Akron (1,566m). At elevation the ball flies further, recovery is slower and tempo drops late on, which is exactly why teams searching “azteca stadium altitude” are doing their homework.
All 16 venues
RANKED BY ALTITUDEEstadio Azteca
HIGH ALTITUDEMexico City · Mexico · Open air2,200m7,200 ftAt ~2,200m the thin air is the tournament’s defining physical challenge. The first stadium ever to host three World Cups (1970, 1986, 2026).
CAPACITY 87,523Estadio Akron
HIGH ALTITUDEGuadalajara · Mexico · Open air1,566m5,138 ftThe tournament’s second high-altitude venue, where ~1,566m thins the air enough to matter over 90 minutes.
CAPACITY 46,232Estadio BBVA
Monterrey · Mexico · Open air540m1,772 ftModerate elevation against a dramatic Cerro de la Silla mountain backdrop; summer heat is the bigger factor here than altitude.
CAPACITY 53,500Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta, GA · USA · Retractable roof320m1,050 ftThe highest of the US venues (~320m) and roofed, a controlled, humidity-managed environment.
CAPACITY 75,000Arrowhead Stadium
Kansas City, MO · USA · Open air270m886 ftOpen-bowl venue famous for noise; midsummer heat and humidity are the conditions to watch.
CAPACITY 73,000AT&T Stadium
Arlington, TX · USA · Retractable roof180m591 ftThe tournament’s largest venue. Retractable roof + air-conditioning take Texas summer heat out of the equation.
CAPACITY 94,000BMO Field
Toronto, ON · Canada · Open air76m249 ftExpanded for the tournament; open-air on the Lake Ontario shore.
CAPACITY 45,000Gillette Stadium
Foxborough, MA · USA · Open air70m230 ftOpen-air New England venue; temperate by host-city standards.
CAPACITY 65,000Lumen Field
Seattle, WA · USA · Open air50m164 ftOne of the cooler, milder host climates; partial roof covers the stands but not the pitch.
CAPACITY 69,000SoFi Stadium
Inglewood, CA · USA · Fixed canopy30m98 ftA fixed translucent canopy shades the bowl while keeping it open-sided, with mild LA conditions throughout.
CAPACITY 70,000NRG Stadium
Houston, TX · USA · Retractable roof15m49 ftRetractable roof and air-conditioning shut out the Gulf Coast heat and humidity.
CAPACITY 72,000Lincoln Financial Field
Philadelphia, PA · USA · Open air12m39 ftOpen-air on the East Coast; warm, humid summer evenings.
CAPACITY 69,000MetLife Stadium
East Rutherford, NJ · USA · Open air5m16 ftHosts the final on 19 July. Open-air at near sea level.
CAPACITY 82,500Levi's Stadium
Santa Clara, CA · USA · Open air5m16 ftOpen-air; afternoon kick-offs can bake in direct California sun.
CAPACITY 71,000Hard Rock Stadium
Miami Gardens, FL · USA · Fixed canopy3m10 ftA shade canopy over the stands helps, but Miami’s heat and humidity are among the most testing of any venue.
CAPACITY 65,000BC Place
Vancouver, BC · Canada · Retractable roof0m0 ftRetractable roof at sea level, the mildest and most weather-proof of the venues.
CAPACITY 54,500