World Cup Matches to Bypass Major U.S. Stadiums
WHO:
Fast Company - FIFA, the governing body of the soccer tournament.
NBC Sports - Stan Kroenke, owner of the Rams.
WHAT:
Fast Company - Workers were spotted covering the AT&T branding atop the Arlington, Texas stadium's roof on June 4, 2026.
NBC Sports - The matches at SoFi Stadium will be played on high-quality grass, which will be removed by February when the stadium hosts Super Bowl LXI.
NBC Sports - The NFLPA criticized the decision to install high-quality grass for the World Cup while using artificial turf for NFL games, calling it "disrespectful" to NFL players.
Fast Company - Brands with naming rights to U.S. stadiums in the World Cup have had to de-brand their names.
Fast Company - MetLife Stadium is now referred to as New York New Jersey Stadium.
Fast Company - Lumen Field is now called Seattle Stadium.
NBC Sports - The U.S. will debut in the 2026 World Cup against Paraguay.
NBC Sports - FIFA has roughly 350 tickets left in its primary inventory for the match.
NBC Sports - Approximately 2,500 tickets are available on the secondary market.
NBC Sports - The cheapest ticket price for the match is $1,129.
WHERE:
ARLnow - Sports bars in Arlington and Falls Church have launched festivities for the World Cup, including drink specials and watch parties.
Fast Company - MetLife Stadium is located in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Fast Company - The stadium in Arlington, Texas, is also hosting World Cup matches.
Fast Company - Lumen Field is located in Seattle, Washington.
NBC Sports - The match will take place at SoFi Stadium.
WHEN:
ARLnow - The World Cup festivities in Arlington and Falls Church will continue through Sunday, July 19.
ARLnow - Free “Watch Party Wednesdays” will be held on June 17, June 24, and July 1 at the Arlington Mill Community Center.
NBC Sports - The U.S. World Cup match is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. ET, 6:00 p.m. PT.
WHY:
Fast Company - FIFA requires host stadiums to adopt non-commercial names during the World Cup.
NBC Sports - The installation of high-quality grass at SoFi Stadium was done at FIFA's request.
HOW:
ARLnow - Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken is offering limited-edition World Cup-themed donuts starting June 11, priced at $35 for a dozen.
Fast Company - Crews are covering branding on stadiums with tarps to comply with FIFA's de-branding requirements.
NBC Sports - Stan Kroenke had to remove the sponsored name of SoFi Stadium and reconfigure the lower areas of the stadium for the World Cup.
(UPDATED June 12, 2026 23:25 UTC)
In Arlington, Texas, workers were recently seen covering the AT&T branding atop the stadium's roof, a move that coincides with the ongoing World Cup festivities in the area. Meanwhile, the NFL Players Association has criticized the decision to install high-quality grass for the World Cup at SoFi Stadium while NFL games continue to use artificial turf, calling it disrespectful to the players. As part of the celebrations, local sports bars are hosting events with drink specials and watch parties, and Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken has introduced limited-edition World Cup-themed donuts, available for $35 a dozen starting June 11.
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(UPDATED June 12, 2026 17:56 UTC)
FIFA has mandated that host stadiums adopt non-commercial names during the World Cup, leading to changes like MetLife Stadium now being called New York New Jersey Stadium and Lumen Field referred to as Seattle Stadium. The U.S. will make its World Cup debut against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium, with the match scheduled for 9:00 p.m. ET, and approximately 350 tickets remain in FIFA's primary inventory, while around 2,500 are available on the secondary market, with the cheapest ticket priced at $1,129. Stan Kroenke, owner of the Rams, has had to remove the sponsored name from SoFi Stadium and make adjustments to comply with FIFA's de-branding requirements.