The 2026 World Cup is spread across 16 stadiums in 16 cities, and the airport choice can save you 60-90 minutes per direction on match day. Here's the closest major airport for each stadium and the realistic transit options.
All 16 stadiums at a glance
The full airport-to-stadium comparison, sortable by distance. The fastest transit is highlighted in the third column.
| Stadium (city) | Closest airport | Distance | Best transit option | Approx. time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MetLife Stadium (NY/NJ) | EWR (Newark) | 13 km | NJ Transit rail from Penn Station to Meadowlands | 25-30 min |
| SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles) | LAX | 5 km | Rideshare or shuttle | 15-25 min |
| AT&T Stadium (Dallas) | DFW | 30 km | Rideshare or rental car | 25-45 min |
| Levi's Stadium (Bay Area) | SJC (San Jose) | 10 km | VTA light rail or rideshare | 15-25 min |
| Hard Rock Stadium (Miami) | MIA or FLL | 20 km | Rideshare (no direct rail) | 30-50 min |
| Lumen Field (Seattle) | SEA (Sea-Tac) | 20 km | Link Light Rail to Stadium Station | 35 min, $3.50 |
| Gillette Stadium (Boston) | BOS (Logan) | 45 km | MBTA Commuter Rail special trains | 60-90 min, $20 |
| Lincoln Financial Field (Philly) | PHL | 10 km | SEPTA Broad Street Line to NRG | 25 min, $2.50 |
| Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City) | MCI | 30 km | Rideshare (no rail) | 30-45 min, $35-55 |
| Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) | ATL (Hartsfield) | 15 km | MARTA Red/Gold Line to GWCC/CNN Center | 20 min, $2.50 |
| NRG Stadium (Houston) | IAH or HOU | 20-40 km | Rideshare | 30-60 min |
| Estadio Azteca (Mexico City) | MEX (Benito Juárez) | 20 km | Authorized airport taxi | 40-60 min, MX$300-500 |
| Estadio Akron (Guadalajara) | GDL | 30 km | Rideshare or authorized taxi | 40-60 min |
| Estadio BBVA (Monterrey) | MTY | 30 km | Authorized taxi or Uber/DiDi | 35-55 min |
| BMO Field (Toronto) | YTZ (Billy Bishop) | 5 km | Walk + ferry, or UP Express from YYZ | 15 min from YTZ |
| BC Place (Vancouver) | YVR | 15 km | SkyTrain Canada Line to Stadium-Chinatown | 25 min, $9.50 CAD |
USA stadiums
MetLife Stadium (NY/NJ) - Final venue
Newark (EWR) is closest at 13 km / 25-40 min. JFK is 40 km but better connected to Manhattan, where most international fans stay. LaGuardia is 30 km. If you're prioritizing stadium access, fly into Newark. If prioritizing Manhattan, JFK or LaGuardia.
SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles)
LAX is 5 km away - the closest airport-to-stadium pairing of the entire World Cup. You can land 4 hours before kickoff and make the match. Burbank (BUR) is a smaller alternative if your routing prefers it.
AT&T Stadium (Dallas / Arlington)
DFW is 30 km, 25-45 min. Love Field (DAL) is 32 km, mostly Southwest Airlines. Pick DFW for international flights.
Levi's Stadium (San Francisco Bay Area)
San Jose (SJC) is by far the closest at 10 km - if your route allows. SFO is 40 km with significant transit time. OAK is the cheapest for domestic but adds time. Pick SJC if your route allows.
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami) - 3rd Place venue
MIA and Fort Lauderdale (FLL) are both about 20 km away. FLL often has cheaper flights. Either works.
Lumen Field (Seattle)
Sea-Tac (SEA) is 20 km, with Link Light Rail directly to Stadium Station for $3.50. Easiest airport-to-stadium transit of any World Cup venue.
Gillette Stadium (Boston / Foxborough)
Boston Logan (BOS) is 45 km - the longest distance of any US World Cup venue. No direct rail to Foxborough. Plan for rideshare $70-110 or MBTA Commuter Rail special trains from South Station.
Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
PHL is 10 km, with SEPTA Broad Street Line direct to NRG Station - 25 min. Closest US airport-to-stadium pairing along with LAX/SoFi.
Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City)
MCI is 30 km. No rail to the stadium - plan for rideshare ($35-55) or rental car. The new MCI terminal (opened 2023) is excellent.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) is 15 km, with MARTA Red/Gold Line directly to GWCC/CNN Center Station ($2.50, 20 min, no transfers). One of the easiest transits in the World Cup.
NRG Stadium (Houston)
Bush Intercontinental (IAH) is 40 km - main international airport. Hobby (HOU) is 20 km - mostly Southwest. Either works depending on your route.
Mexico stadiums
Estadio Azteca (Mexico City) - Opening Match venue
Benito Juárez (MEX) is 20 km - the main international airport. The newer AIFA airport is 65 km away and not recommended. Authorized airport taxi to Azteca runs MX$300-500 (~$15-25 USD).
Estadio Akron (Guadalajara)
GDL is 30 km. No direct transit - rideshare or authorized taxi only. Plan for 40-60 min on match days.
Estadio BBVA (Monterrey)
MTY is 30 km. Authorized taxi or Uber/DiDi only - no rail option. Plan for 35-55 min.
Canada stadiums
BMO Field (Toronto)
Pearson (YYZ) is 25 km, with UP Express train directly to Union Station ($12 CAD, 25 min) - then a 5-min walk to the stadium. Billy Bishop (YTZ) is the downtown island airport, 5 km from BMO Field - the absolute closest airport-to-stadium for any major venue.
BC Place (Vancouver)
YVR is 15 km, with SkyTrain Canada Line directly to Stadium-Chinatown station ($9.50 CAD, 25 min). One of the most efficient airport-to-stadium routes in the World Cup.
Time-to-stadium ranking
If pure proximity matters, here are the absolute closest airport-to-stadium pairings:
- 1.Billy Bishop (YTZ) → BMO Field (Toronto): 5 km
- 2.LAX → SoFi Stadium (LA): 5 km
- 3.Sea-Tac (SEA) → Lumen Field (Seattle): 20 km, 35 min by Link Light Rail
- 4.PHL → Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia): 10 km
- 5.ATL → Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta): 15 km, 20 min by MARTA
- 6.YVR → BC Place (Vancouver): 15 km, 25 min by SkyTrain
If you're following multiple matches, factor in flight prices and routing - the closest airport isn't always the smartest choice. International flights are often cheaper into the major hubs (JFK, MIA, LAX, MEX, YYZ) even if you have to rideshare further to the stadium.