The 2026 FIFA World Cup is officially underway — and for the first time in the tournament’s history, the world’s biggest sporting event is being staged across three nations simultaneously. The United States, Mexico, and Canada are jointly hosting 104 matches at 16 venues between June 11 and July 19, 2026. But while billions of fans are focused on the players and the action on the pitch, a far less discussed question sits right underneath every game: who actually owns these stadiums?
The answer is more complicated — and more revealing — than most people expect. Some venues are owned by billionaire NFL franchise owners who privately financed construction without a single dollar of public funding. Others are owned by city governments, state authorities, or even a national media conglomerate with roots going back to the 1960s. One iconic stadium has been embroiled in a $400 million legal dispute with the city it sits in, even as it prepares to host the World Cup.
Note: FIFA requires all 16 venues to drop their commercial names for the duration of the tournament. So AT&T Stadium becomes “Dallas Stadium,” SoFi becomes “Los Angeles Stadium,” and Estadio Azteca becomes “Mexico City Stadium.” For the purposes of this article, we use both names interchangeably.
Here are the 10 most significant FIFA World Cup 2026 venues — ranked by their role in the tournament — and the full ownership story behind each one.
1. MetLife Stadium — East Rutherford, New Jersey (FIFA Name: New York New Jersey Stadium)
Owner: MetLife Stadium Company — a 50/50 joint venture between Giants Stadium LLC and Jets Development LLC Capacity: 82,500 Role: World Cup Final (July 19, 2026)
MetLife Stadium is the crown jewel of the 2026 tournament — the venue where the winning nation will lift the trophy on July 19. On paper, the land it sits on belongs to the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA). In practice, the stadium is effectively owned and operated by the two NFL franchises it serves: the New York Giants and the New York Jets, through a 50/50 joint venture called the MetLife Stadium Company.
The two teams jointly built the $1.6 billion facility using entirely private funds — a significant departure from the typical stadium-financing model in American sports. The Giants are owned by the Mara and Tisch families — John Mara (grandson of founder Tim Mara) and Steve Tisch serving as co-owners. The Jets are controlled by the Johnson family, with Woody Johnson as owner and CEO.
The naming rights are held by MetLife Inc., the New York-based insurance giant, which reportedly pays around $17 million per year for the 25-year arrangement. For the World Cup, that branding disappears entirely — FIFA mandates neutral venue names to protect its own sponsor agreements.
The stadium opened in September 2010 and previously hosted Super Bowl XLVIII. Its selection as the World Cup Final venue makes it the most prominent sports facility in North America in 2026.
2. AT&T Stadium — Arlington, Texas (FIFA Name: Dallas Stadium)
Owner: City of Arlington, Texas (operated by the Dallas Cowboys under lease through 2039) Capacity: 92,967 (largest of all 16 World Cup venues) Role: Semi-Final (July 14), plus 8 additional matches — most of any venue
Despite being universally known as “Jerry World” in reference to Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, AT&T Stadium is technically owned by the City of Arlington, Texas. Jones does not own the building. The Cowboys operate the facility under a lease agreement that runs through 2039 and pay the city approximately $2 million annually in rent, plus an additional $500,000 per year from the AT&T naming rights deal.
The stadium was built through a public-private partnership. Arlington voters approved a half-cent sales tax increase in 2004 to help finance construction, while Jones committed substantial private investment to build what he envisioned as the world’s premier sports and entertainment venue.
Jones’s influence over the facility is so dominant that the distinction between “owner” and “operator” barely registers in public perception. He drives all major decisions, approved the AT&T naming rights deal reportedly worth $17–19 million per year, and has been investing in stadium upgrades for over a decade. The Arlington city government formally announced in 2023 that the Jones family plans to make further private reinvestments into the facility.
For the 2026 tournament, “Dallas Stadium” is the single busiest World Cup venue — hosting nine matches in total, including a semi-final.
3. SoFi Stadium — Inglewood, California (FIFA Name: Los Angeles Stadium)
Owner: StadCo LA LLC, a subsidiary of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment Capacity: 70,240 Role: USA opening match (June 12 vs. Paraguay), plus multiple knockout stage games
SoFi Stadium stands apart from virtually every other major venue in American sports — it was entirely privately financed, with no public funding whatsoever. The stadium was built and is owned by StadCo LA, a subsidiary of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE), the sports empire controlled by billionaire E. Stanley Kroenke.
Kroenke, who is also the owner of the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and Chargers’ co-tenancy partner, conceived SoFi as the centerpiece of a 298-acre development called Hollywood Park on the former site of the Hollywood Park Racetrack. The $5.5 billion construction cost — the most expensive stadium ever built — was financed entirely through Kroenke’s private capital.
KSE’s broader portfolio includes the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, MLS’s Colorado Rapids, and notably, Arsenal FC in the English Premier League — making Kroenke one of the most powerful sports owners in the world.
The stadium has not been without controversy. In early 2026, Kroenke sought $400 million from the City of Inglewood for infrastructure improvements, citing an 11-year-old agreement. The city disputed the claim, arguing that courts had previously overturned the relevant provisions. The legal dispute was ongoing as the World Cup began.
4. Estadio Azteca — Mexico City, Mexico (FIFA Name: Mexico City Stadium / Estadio Ciudad de México)
Owner: Televisa (through Ollamani, S.A.B.) Capacity: 87,523 Role: Opening Ceremony and multiple Group Stage matches; only stadium hosting its third World Cup
No venue on this list carries more history. Estadio Azteca is the only stadium in the world to have hosted three FIFA World Cup finals: 1970 (Brazil 4–1 Italy), 1986 (Argentina 3–2 West Germany), and the 2026 tournament’s opening ceremony. It also witnessed Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal and “Goal of the Century” in 1986.
The stadium is owned by Televisa, Mexico’s largest multimedia conglomerate and the dominant force in Spanish-language media globally. Day-to-day operations are handled by Ollamani, S.A.B., a publicly traded spin-off entity that also owns Club América, the Liga MX giant that calls Azteca home. Ollamani is chaired by Emilio Azcárraga Jean.
In a notable pre-tournament development, the stadium secured a historic sponsorship deal with Banco del Ejército (Banorte), which agreed to lend 2.1 billion pesos (approximately $105 million) for renovation work in exchange for naming rights — briefly making it “Estadio Banorte.” FIFA then formally took over the stadium ahead of the World Cup and renamed it “Estadio Ciudad de México,” triggering a legal dispute with private box owners who challenged FIFA’s authority over their individually contracted seats.
The Azteca holds the record for the highest-ever recorded soccer attendance: 119,853 for a Mexico vs. Brazil match in 1968.
5. Hard Rock Stadium — Miami Gardens, Florida (FIFA Name: Miami Stadium)
Owner: Stephen M. Ross (majority), with minority interests held by Ares Management, Joe Tsai, Oliver Weisberg, Bruce Beal Jr., and Lin Bin Capacity: ~65,000 Role: Multiple Group Stage and knockout round matches
Stephen M. Ross, the billionaire real estate developer and NFL franchise operator, owns Hard Rock Stadium outright — including the land it sits on. He acquired the Miami Dolphins and the stadium from Wayne Huizenga in 2009 and has since invested more than $1 billion of his own money in renovations and surrounding development.
Ross’s ownership of the venue extends well beyond football. Hard Rock Stadium also serves as the circuit hub for the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix and as a key venue for the Miami Open tennis tournament — making it one of the most commercially versatile stadium assets in American sport.
In late 2024 and early 2026, Ross sold minority, non-controlling stakes in his portfolio. Ares Management acquired 13%, Joe Tsai (owner of the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center) and Oliver Weisberg together hold 3%, and Lin Bin — co-founder and vice chairman of Chinese electronics giant Xiaomi — purchased 1% in a deal that valued the entire portfolio at a record-breaking $12.5 billion, the highest public valuation for any professional sports franchise and venue combination in history. Ross retains majority control and has stated that the majority stake is not for sale, with plans to eventually transfer control to his daughter.
6. Levi’s Stadium — Santa Clara, California (FIFA Name: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium)
Owner: Santa Clara Stadium Authority (public entity) Capacity: 68,500 Role: Multiple Group Stage matches
Levi’s Stadium presents one of the more unusual ownership structures of any major American sports venue. The stadium is formally owned by the Santa Clara Stadium Authority, a public body established by the City of Santa Clara whose governing board is composed of the elected City Council (with the Mayor serving as chair). The underlying land is owned by the City of Santa Clara, which leases it to the Authority.
The San Francisco 49ers, whose principal owner is Jed York (son of co-chairs John and Denise York), operate the stadium through two entities: “StadCo” handles NFL game operations, and “ManCo” manages non-NFL events such as concerts and international soccer. The 49ers contribute significantly to the $40 million annual lease payment to the city.
The naming rights are held by Levi Strauss & Co., the San Francisco-based denim company, which extended its deal in 2024 for an additional 10 years — securing the Levi’s name through the 2043 NFL season in a deal worth a combined $170 million. In 2026, the stadium has been one of the most active venues in North American sport, having hosted Super Bowl LX in February before transitioning directly into World Cup preparation.
7. NRG Stadium — Houston, Texas (FIFA Name: Houston Stadium)
Owner: Harris County-Houston Sports Authority (public entity) Capacity: ~72,220 Role: Multiple Group Stage and Round of 16 matches
NRG Stadium is publicly owned, operated by the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority — a joint entity of Harris County and the City of Houston. The stadium opened in 2002 and serves as the permanent home of the NFL’s Houston Texans, whose principal owner is Cal McNair, son of the team’s founding owner Bob McNair.
The Texans do not own the building. They operate under a long-term lease agreement with the Authority, which retains ownership of the physical structure. The naming rights are held by NRG Energy, a Princeton, New Jersey-based energy company, under a deal that has been renewed multiple times since the stadium’s opening.
8. Mercedes-Benz Stadium — Atlanta, Georgia (FIFA Name: Atlanta Stadium)
Owner: Atlanta Falcons Stadium Company LLC (effectively Arthur M. Blank) Capacity: ~71,000 Role: Multiple Group Stage matches
Mercedes-Benz Stadium is owned by the Atlanta Falcons Stadium Company LLC, a private entity controlled by Arthur M. Blank — the co-founder of The Home Depot and owner of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and MLS’s Atlanta United FC. Blank was the driving force behind the stadium’s construction, which opened in 2017 at a cost of approximately $1.6 billion.
The project was a public-private partnership: the City of Atlanta contributed approximately $200 million from hotel/motel taxes, while the Falcons and private investors funded the remainder. Unlike some ownership structures in which the city retains title, the Falcons Stadium Company holds the deed to the facility itself.
Blank has invested heavily in the surrounding district, transforming the area around the stadium into a mixed-use development. The naming rights are held by Mercedes-Benz USA, in a deal reportedly valued at around $324 million over 27 years.
9. BC Place — Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (FIFA Name: BC Place Vancouver)
Owner: Province of British Columbia (operated by BC Pavilion Corporation / PavCo) Capacity: 54,500 Role: 7 matches, including knockout stage games
BC Place is the only World Cup venue on this list that is unambiguously government-owned at the provincial level. The stadium belongs to the Province of British Columbia and is managed by the BC Pavilion Corporation (PavCo), a Crown corporation of the provincial government. It hosts the BC Lions of the CFL and the Vancouver Whitecaps of MLS, both of whom are tenants rather than owners.
The original stadium opened in 1983. A major $514 million renovation between 2009 and 2011 replaced the original fixed roof with a state-of-the-art retractable roof system. A further $180 million in upgrades were completed ahead of the 2026 tournament, including the replacement of the artificial turf with a hybrid natural grass pitch and significant expansions to the VIP and hospitality infrastructure.
BC Place has a distinguished résumé: it hosted both the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final.
10. Estadio Akron — Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico (FIFA Name: Guadalajara Stadium)
Owner: FEMSA (Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V.) Capacity: ~49,850 Role: Multiple Group Stage matches
Estadio Akron is the most distinctive ownership story of any of the three Mexican venues. Unlike the government-owned or media-conglomerate-owned stadiums in Mexico City, Estadio Akron is owned by FEMSA — Mexico’s largest beverage and retail conglomerate, a publicly traded company on the Mexican and New York stock exchanges.
FEMSA’s connection to the stadium runs through its ownership of Club Deportivo Guadalajara (Chivas), one of Mexico’s most beloved football clubs and the stadium’s primary tenant. The stadium is also the home of Club Tigres UANL for certain matches. FEMSA, best known internationally as the largest bottler of Coca-Cola products in Latin America, used its ownership of Chivas as the vehicle for constructing a modern, privately owned soccer-specific stadium in Guadalajara when it opened in 2010. The naming rights are held by Akron, a Mexican tire and auto parts retailer, which is part of the broader FEMSA distribution network.
Who Owns What: Quick Summary Table
| Stadium (FIFA Name) | City | Legal Owner | Key Decision-Maker |
|---|---|---|---|
| MetLife (NY NJ Stadium) | East Rutherford, NJ | MetLife Stadium Co. (Giants/Jets JV) | Mara/Tisch family; Johnson family |
| AT&T (Dallas Stadium) | Arlington, TX | City of Arlington | Jerry Jones (operator, Cowboys) |
| SoFi (Los Angeles Stadium) | Inglewood, CA | StadCo LA LLC (KSE) | Stan Kroenke |
| Estadio Azteca (Mexico City Stadium) | Mexico City, MX | Televisa / Ollamani | Emilio Azcárraga Jean |
| Hard Rock (Miami Stadium) | Miami Gardens, FL | Stephen M. Ross et al. | Stephen M. Ross |
| Levi’s (SF Bay Area Stadium) | Santa Clara, CA | Santa Clara Stadium Authority | Jed York (49ers operator) |
| NRG (Houston Stadium) | Houston, TX | Harris County-Houston Sports Authority | Cal McNair (Texans operator) |
| Mercedes-Benz (Atlanta Stadium) | Atlanta, GA | Falcons Stadium Co. LLC | Arthur M. Blank |
| BC Place (BC Place Vancouver) | Vancouver, BC | Province of British Columbia / PavCo | BC Government |
| Estadio Akron (Guadalajara Stadium) | Zapopan, MX | FEMSA | FEMSA Board |
The Bigger Picture: Public vs. Private Ownership
A look across the 10 venues reveals a clear divide that mirrors broader trends in how sports infrastructure is financed in North America.
Privately owned venues — SoFi Stadium (Kroenke), Hard Rock Stadium (Ross), Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Blank), MetLife Stadium (Giants/Jets), and Estadio Azteca (Televisa) — tend to be owned by some of the wealthiest individuals and corporations in their respective countries. They were built with limited or no public subsidy, which gives their owners far greater control over commercial rights, development decisions, and long-term strategy.
Publicly owned venues — AT&T Stadium (City of Arlington), Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara Authority), NRG Stadium (Harris County), and BC Place (Province of British Columbia) — reflect the older stadium financing model in North America, in which city or state governments absorb construction risk in exchange for the economic activity generated by a major sports tenant.
What makes the 2026 tournament particularly notable from an ownership perspective is that the largest and most historically significant venue — Estadio Azteca — is owned not by a government but by a media conglomerate that has been intertwined with Mexican football for over six decades.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns MetLife Stadium, the venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final?
MetLife Stadium is co-owned by the New York Giants and New York Jets through a 50/50 joint venture called the MetLife Stadium Company. The stadium was privately financed by both NFL teams at a cost of $1.6 billion. The underlying land is owned by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority.
Does Jerry Jones own AT&T Stadium?
No. AT&T Stadium (called Dallas Stadium for the 2026 World Cup) is owned by the City of Arlington, Texas. Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys operate the facility under a lease agreement running through 2039. Jones pays approximately $2 million per year in rent to the city.
Who built and owns SoFi Stadium?
SoFi Stadium is owned by StadCo LA LLC, a subsidiary of Stan Kroenke’s Kroenke Sports & Entertainment. It was the most expensive stadium ever built at $5.5 billion, and was entirely privately financed — making it unusual among major American sports venues.
Who owns Estadio Azteca?
Estadio Azteca is owned by Televisa, Mexico’s largest multimedia company, through its Ollamani subsidiary. Ollamani also owns Club América. The stadium is the only venue in history to host three FIFA World Cups (1970, 1986, and 2026).
Are any of the 2026 World Cup stadiums owned by the government?
Yes. Several venues are publicly owned: AT&T Stadium (City of Arlington), Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara Stadium Authority), NRG Stadium (Harris County-Houston Sports Authority), and BC Place (Province of British Columbia).
Who is the richest owner of a 2026 World Cup stadium?
Based on publicly available valuations, Stan Kroenke — owner of SoFi Stadium — is among the wealthiest. His total sports and real estate empire has been valued in the tens of billions of dollars. Stephen Ross is also notable; the hard Rock Stadium portfolio was valued at a record $12.5 billion as recently as March 2026.