by Ronald C. Weston, AIA
Wow, what an exciting five weeks of matches the FIFA World Cup 26TM served up for people around the globe to celebrate!
Like most fans, I found relief in the escape the soccer matches provided from the tension of daily world news headlines. The event unified diverse nations and cultures across the globe by turning the sport into a universal language of shared passion, joy, and community.
The games wrapped up with the July 19th final game hosted in New Jersey at the FIFA-branded “New York New Jersey Stadium” (better known as MetLife Stadium). This World Cup was the largest ever, with 104 matches played by an expanded field of teams from 48 diverse nations.
Our state hosted eight matches in the Meadowlands New York New Jersey Stadium, and there were six matches played at Lincoln Financial Field stadium in neighboring Philadelphia, across the Delaware River from our West Jersey and South Jersey sections. While the cities and stadiums where the games and large fan festivals were located received the most attention, the World Cup fever spread far and wide around the world. FIFA reported that 5.2 billion people – nearly two-thirds of the planet’s population – engaged with or watched the tournament across broadcast, digital, and social platforms.
World Cup Stadium Architecture
The architecture of the 16 host stadiums for this year’s World Cup highlighted a modern shift toward technological integration, sustainability, and adaptive reuse rather than building a wave of single-use mega-structures. While not the most striking architecture,
our region’s MetLife Stadium and Lincoln Financial Field venues were examples of adapted (and re-branded) stadiums, which did a reasonable job hosting their matches.
My favorite two stadiums were Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium), designed by HKS, and opened in 2020, and Monterrey Stadium (Estadio BBVA), designed by Populous and opened in 2015.
Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium)
The sleek Los Angeles Stadium design is not only the most aesthetically striking venue at the 2026 World Cup in my opinion, but the facility is loaded with state-of-the-art features. Completed in 2020 with a price tag over $5 billion it is the most expensive
stadium ever built.
Los Angeles Stadium is an example of the new generation of large indoor/outdoor hybrid sports and entertainment arenas. The stadium and its adjacent public plaza are covered by a large sculptural translucent canopy which spans nearly one million square
feet and is held up by 37 earthquake-resistant seismic columns.
Monterrey Stadium (Estadio BBVA)
Monterrey Stadium’s sweeping, sculptural silhouette is inspired by traditional brewing kettles, referencing the city’s historic brewing industry. This venue wins the most striking site award for sure, and its architectural form is inspiring.
The most famous architectural stroke of the stadium is its asymmetrical design featuring a roof that dramatically dips down to the south to frame a breathtaking view of the iconic Cerro de la Silla (Saddle Mountain) peak.
For those interested viewing these two, or all 16 of the 2026 World Cup stadium venues, CLICK HERE to access The Guardian “Stadium Guide.”
In Real Life (IRL) Public Space
Beyond the stadium walls, many in-person gatherings took place for World Cup match viewing in a wide range of architect-designed spaces that accommodated “In Real Life (IRL)” experiences. People collectively gathered and created pop-up communities centered on the unifying spirit of the world’s most popular game.
Artificial technology (AI) dominates the headlines these days; however, AI experiences are curated and insular, and devoid of the enthusiasm curated in real-life public spaces. Architects and designers should celebrate the sense of community that joyful shared
public spaces showcased at this year’s World Cup. Good design of “real” physical places and spaces still matters, and no artificial intelligence platform can take that away.