A new ranking of FIFA World Cup 2026 venues has identified the best and worst host stadiums in the United States for fans. The study, conducted by ticketing experts SeatPick, evaluated all 11 U.S. host venues using seven cost and “survivability” metrics, including beer and water prices, hotel rates, feels-like temperatures, violent crime rates, and mosquito activity.
According to the ranking, SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and MetLife Stadium in New Jersey emerged as the biggest “mosquito hotspots.” Meanwhile, Houston’s NRG Stadium was ranked among the most challenging venues for fans, recording the highest violent crime rate — 1,148 incidents per 100,000 people — and the most extreme feels-like temperatures, reaching 117°F.
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At the other end of the spectrum, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta was named the safest venue, with a violent crime rate of just 450 incidents per 100,000 residents. Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, earned the top overall ranking thanks to its relatively mild feels-like temperatures of 83°F and low mosquito activity.
The study ranked Gillette Stadium, Arrowhead Stadium, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium as the top three venues for overall fan experience. They were followed by Lumen Field, Levi’s Stadium, Hard Rock Stadium, AT&T Stadium, and Lincoln Financial Field. MetLife Stadium, NRG Stadium, and SoFi Stadium occupied the bottom spots in the rankings.
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood ranked last in the study, earning a fan experience score of 5.82 out of 10. The venue was weighed down by high matchday costs, including a $14 pint of beer and $7 bottled water, as well as the third-highest average hotel rate among host cities at $383 per night. It also recorded the highest mosquito risk score in the dataset (10), while the surrounding area reported a violent crime rate of 729 incidents per 100,000 people.
NRG Stadium in Houston finished just ahead of SoFi Stadium with a score of 5.96 out of 10. The venue stood out for the wrong reasons, posting the highest feels-like temperature in the study at 117°F and the highest violent crime rate among host cities, at 1,148 incidents per 100,000 people. Mosquito activity was also among the highest, with a score of 9.1. Texas is home to more than 80 mosquito species, further contributing to the venue’s low ranking.
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By contrast, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, topped the rankings with a score of 8.08 out of 10. The venue benefits from relatively mild feels-like temperatures of 83°F, one of the lowest mosquito risk scores in the study at 0.5, and the second-cheapest beer among U.S. host venues at $8.58. While the area’s violent crime rate of 628 incidents per 100,000 people falls near the middle of the pack, the main drawback for visiting fans is the cost of accommodations, with hotel rates averaging $611 per night.
“We looked at everything that actually determines whether a World Cup trip is enjoyable or miserable — not just ticket prices. The range across these venues is extraordinary. Foxborough and Atlanta are genuinely strong propositions. Houston is a different story entirely,” said Gilad Zilberman, co-founder of SeatPick.