When fans tuned into the USA vs. Paraguay Group D opener at SoFi Stadium on Friday night, something was immediately noticeable: the venue was being called Los Angeles Stadium, with no SoFi branding anywhere. The same transformation has occurred at every NFL stadium hosting a World Cup match across the United States, and it stems from a straightforward but strict FIFA rule that has been part of its international tournament playbook for decades.
Why Are NFL Stadiums Being Renamed for the 2026 World Cup?
FIFA's sponsorship framework allows only officially certified World Cup partners to receive any form of brand exposure during the tournament. This means companies like SoFi, AT&T, Hard Rock, and Levi's, which have paid tens of millions of dollars to have their names on NFL venues, are completely shut out. Their logos are covered, their names stripped from all ticketing, broadcasts, and tournament communications.
All 11 NFL stadiums hosting matches have been renamed after their host cities. SoFi Stadium is now Los Angeles Stadium. AT&T Stadium in Dallas becomes Dallas Stadium. MetLife Stadium, which will host the World Cup final on July 19, is operating as New York New Jersey Stadium.
There is one notable exception. Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium was granted a special exemption by FIFA after 18 months of negotiations. The stadium's iconic three-pointed star logo sits on a mechanically operated retractable roof, and engineers determined that covering or removing it would risk damaging the structure. The logo stays, but the venue is still referred to as Atlanta Stadium for the duration of the tournament.
Kansas City took the cleanest approach to compliance, fully removing the "GEHA" lettering from the stadium exterior rather than covering it. Other venues, including Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, went with white banners draped over signage.
The five non-NFL venues in Canada and Mexico are operating under the same rules. Vancouver's BC Place is a minor exception, publicly owned by the province of British Columbia with no corporate naming rights deal in place, so it is simply called BC Place Vancouver.
Full List of NFL Stadiums Hosting World Cup Matches and Their Temporary FIFA Names
- SoFi Stadium (Rams/Chargers) – Los Angeles Stadium
- AT&T Stadium (Dallas Cowboys) – Dallas Stadium
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta Falcons) – Atlanta Stadium
- MetLife Stadium (New York Jets/New York Giants) – New York New Jersey Stadium
- Gillette Stadium (New England Patriots) – Boston Stadium
- NRG Stadium (Houston Texans) – Houston Stadium
- Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Dolphins) – Miami Stadium
- Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia Eagles) – Philadelphia Stadium
- Levi's Stadium (San Francisco 49ers) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
- Lumen Field (Seattle Seahawks) – Seattle Stadium
- Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City Chiefs) – Kansas City Stadium
How Does the Stadium Rename Affect the USMNT's World Cup Campaign?
For Mauricio Pochettino's squad, the logistics work in their favor. The USMNT plays two of their three Group D matches at Los Angeles Stadium, opening against Paraguay on June 12 and closing the group stage against Turkiye on June 25. The lone road trip within the group is to Seattle Stadium on June 19 to face Australia.
The USA enters Group D as the highest-ranked side at No. 17 in the FIFA rankings, and playing in front of sold-out home crowds in Los Angeles gives them a structural edge that most teams at this World Cup simply do not have. Pochettino's side would need a significant collapse to not advance from this group. The USMNT beat Paraguay 4-1 in their opening match.
