FIFA has officially tapped MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, to host the 2026 World Cup final on July 19, 2026. The decision beat out bids from Dallas and Los Angeles, two cities with arguably superior infrastructure, and immediately ignited debate about venue suitability, summer heat, and transportation logistics.

The venue debate, in plain English

MetLife Stadium will host 82,500 fans for the final, scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. EST kickoff in the middle of a New Jersey summer. The stadium is open-air with no climate control.

Dallas offered AT&T Stadium, which has a retractable roof and air conditioning. Los Angeles had SoFi Stadium, another climate-controlled marvel that hosted the Super Bowl in 2022….