The 2026 FIFA World Cup went underway in North America, with Canada, Mexico, and the United States co-hosting for the first time in history. The World Cup featured 48 teams instead of 32 in 12 groups of four, with the top two from each group—and the eight best third-place teams—advancing to the brand-new Round of 32.

The excitement built up for the World Cup, and fans weighed more than just the usual matches. The fans traveled across Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. and factored in the overall stadium experience—especially with the rising costs of tickets, flights, and accommodations due to a combination of inflation, higher fuel prices, and soaring geopolitical tensions.

A new study by the UK Soccer Shop, an English soccer shirt retailer, analyzed the Tripadvisor reviews for World Cup stadiums to reveal which World Cup venues were rated the highest by fans, based on the percentage of five-star reviews for the stadiums.

AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, United States, topped the UK Soccer Shop’s study as the top-ranked World Cup stadium for fan experience, according to Tripadvisor, an American travel guidance platform. Out of the reviews, 74.2% were five-star ratings.

Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, followed in second place, with 69.9% five-star reviews. Meanwhile, SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, U.S., and BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, ranked as the lowest, with fewer than 40% of reviews as five-star ratings.

Top 10 World Cup venues for fan experience

A total of 16 venues were selected to host the FIFA World Cup games, the most since South Korea and Japan co-hosted the World Cup in 2002. Ten spectacular venues showcased the best in the beautiful sport of soccer, better known as football.

AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, United States, took the top spot, with 74.2% five-star reviews on Tripadvisor. Out of 4,056 total reviews, 3,009 were five-star ratings, which made the stadium the highest-rated World Cup venue for fan experience.

Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, followed in second, with 69.9% five-star reviews. Out of 113 total reviews, 79 were five-star ratings.

Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, U.S., ranked third, with 66.7% five-star reviews. Out of 1,307 total reviews, 872 were five-star ratings.

GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S., ranked fourth, with 65% of five-star reviews. Out of 863 total reviews, 561 were five-star ratings.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., rounded out the top five, with 64% five-star reviews. Out of 825 total reviews, 528 were five-star ratings.

Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Jalisco, MX, ranked sixth, with 62.9% five-star reviews. Out of 499 total reviews, 314 were five-star ratings.

Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, U.S., ranked seventh, with 59.3% of five-star reviews. Out of 875 total reviews, 519 were five-star ratings.

NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, U.S., ranked eighth, with 56.2% five-star reviews. Out of 883 total reviews, 496 were five-star ratings.

MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S., ranked ninth, with 53.2% five-star reviews. Out of 1,078 total reviews, 574 were five-star ratings.

BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, rounded out the top 10, with 52% of five-star reviews. Out of 590 total reviews, 307 were five-star ratings.

Bottom six World Cup stadiums for fan experience

Six FIFA World Cup venues were heavily criticized due to capacity issues, temporary upgrades, and general fan experience concerns. Out of the six World Cup venues, five were first-time hosts.

BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, had the lowest share of five-star reviews at 33.7%. Out of 187 total reviews, just 63 were five-star ratings.

SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, U.S., ranked the second-lowest, with 35.2% five-star reviews. Out of 159 total reviews, just 56 were five-star ratings.

Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., ranked third with 45.4% five-star reviews. Out of 441 total reviews, just 200 were five-star ratings.

Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S., ranked fourth, with 51% five-star reviews. Out of 435 total reviews, just 222 were five-star ratings.

Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, MX, ranked fifth, with 51.1% five-star reviews. Out of 724 total reviews, just 370 were five-star ratings.

Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, U.S., rounded out the bottom six, with 51.7% five-star reviews. Out of 1,003 total reviews, just 519 were five-star ratings.

In conclusion

UKSoccerShop CEO Simon Pretswell said, “The World Cup is about much more than the 90 minutes on the field. For traveling fans, the stadium experience can shape the whole trip—from the atmosphere and access to the facilities, views, and overall comfort. What’s interesting is that some of the biggest and most recognizable venues don’t necessarily come out on top. Fans clearly value stadiums that feel easy to navigate, well-run, and memorable, not just those with huge capacities or modern designs.”

“With 74.2% of Tripadvisor reviews giving five stars, AT&T Stadium is the standout venue heading into this summer, and that should give fans heading to Dallas real confidence about the matchday experience.”

“Supporters will be spending a lot to be there, so the stadium experience really does matter."

Sources

UKSoccerShop.
Tripadvisor.