Best World Cup stadium? BBC Sport experts have their say

With 16 cities across three nations hosting the 2026 World Cup, we have been treated to some very impressive stadiums.

From Mexico's iconic Azteca Stadium - where the opening game took place - to New York New Jersey Stadium, which hosts the final on 19 July, players, fans and reporters have been taking in some new venues.

But which ones have lived up to expectations? And have any proved underwhelming?

We asked our BBC Sport reporters to tell us about their experiences in Mexico, USA and Canada.

It's the Azteca - it has football history oozing out of every crevice.

While the stadium has been modernised, it is undeniably still the place where Carlos Alberto scored that famous fourth Brazilian goal in the 1970 final and where Diego Maradona did his thing for Argentina in 1986.

The strange thing is that the pitch seems to have that same shimmering quality I remember from watching the TV all those years ago.

And when you add a backdrop of passionate Mexicans - I doubt I will ever forget the cascade of sombreros at the opening match - I am sure there will be no better stage at this World Cup.

Really, it should be hosting the final.

Boston's stadium is home to the New England Patriots. Like many others here, it has a fantastic view from every seat in those steeply banked stands.

For us in the media up in the Gods, it is great for tactical analysis but less helpful for player identification. Even Erling Haaland would look like an ant from that height.

The giant bowl holds in the atmosphere well, but you have to get in first and that is not helped by possibly the most inadequate signage I have ever come across at a World Cup.

Getting there from Boston takes an eternity but helpful staff lessen the blow a bit - though on the whole, they don't really know their way around either.

Of the three World Cup venues I've visited, Seattle Stadium - better known as Lumen Field - is the one that ticks the most boxes as the perfect stadium experience for me.

The ground is situated in the city's downtown and once you are inside it, it has one of the best backdrops I've experienced in football. On one side you have the skyscrapers of Seattle city while on the other you have the snow-capped peak of Mount Rainier rising high above the stands.

Then comes the atmosphere. The design of the curved roof on the two stands that run length ways acts as an amplifier, so that crowd cheers bounce back towards the pitch and that can cause the stadium to physically shake with the noise.

It just has to be experienced to be believed.

Philadelphia has really embraced this World Cup. Fans from all around the world have congregated in their hundreds around the famous 'Rocky' statue outside the Museum of Art, while there was a wonderful atmosphere at the Philadelphia Stadium when Brazil beat Haiti 3-0 there last Friday.

This is one of the few grounds at the World Cup that allows tailgating - where fans meet in parking lots outside stadiums to cook, eat and drink before the game.

You could feel the energy inside the ground as Haiti fans, delighted to see their team on the World Cup stage, danced next to Brazilian supporters.

The Dallas Stadium is superbly appointed with a roof that has remained closed. It is also air-conditioned to deliver a cool environment close to perfection for players and supporters.

Steepling stands make for an outstanding atmosphere while the wide concourses allow fans to move around in space and comfort. The big screens are exactly that – and then some.

The media tribune is plush and enclosed, open windows allowing some of the atmosphere to drift in.

It is easy to get to and from as the wide avenues surrounding the stadium allow traffic to make their getaway without jams.

A great experience.

The MetLife Stadium - rebranded as New York New Jersey Stadium for the World Cup - left the biggest impression of only three visited, but overall I'd go for Atlanta.

My initial reaction to the MetLife went viral in the US after I posted on social media, "wow... a stadium to take your breath away"... it had more than five million views!

It transpires it is not well liked in the US.

It had the wow factor because walking in so high, I felt as if I could touch the clouds as this cavernous open-air bowl opened up in front of my eyes.

Atlanta is striking with its angular exterior of glass and steel - and offers the best fan experience.

It is unique on the inside with disjointed stands, escalators and walkways behind one of the goals and a giant circular television screen hanging from the roof although I could not view the near touchline from my position.

Arrowhead Stadium is a phenomenal open-air venue, offering great views across the city and a memorable match-day experience.

Kansas City has a legendary tailgating culture which is regarded as one of the best in the country and includes some of the country's best barbecue. Inside the stadium, the atmosphere is equally impressive.

It was the stage for Argentina's opening World Cup match against Algeria, providing a fitting backdrop as Lionel Messi scored a historic hat-trick in a 3-0 win.

The sight of the sun setting over the stadium while Messi etched his name further into football history, combined with the energy and noise of the crowd, made for an unforgettable occasion.

Lumen Field is the stadium that really took my breath away - and my word, it is loud.

So loud, in fact, that it has made the Guinness Book of World Records twice for its noise levels, thanks to its horseshoe shaped design, which keeps much of the sound inside the stadium - although I can personally attest that you can hear the roar from a 25-minute walk away too!

The north stand section is particularly striking: it juts up like the bow of a ship on a wave's crest, and the open sky on both sides of the seating area yields a stunning view of the Seattle skyline.

Inside, the stadium concourses are cavernous - and yet, even when they are empty, they still manage to exude character and heritage, whether through the rows of jerseys that denote famous artists who have played Lumen Field (including Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran), or through the Seattle Seahawks Wall of Legends.

As soon as you walk into the stadium in Dallas, the vastness of it really takes your breath away, as it towers around you and makes you feel incredibly small.

I have always found there is something special about empty stadiums. We were there the day before England played against Croatia, and walking around, it just felt an arena fitting of a big occasion, and you can feel the big moments it has played host to.

Also in the intense heat of the US - which Dallas has too - the air con is, obviously, a welcome addition, as is the roof, which helped keep the noise in and really helped the atmosphere too.

I was also incredibly grateful for the screens. A lot of the stadiums seem to boast them, but I particularly liked the ones Dallas have above the pitch in the centre of the stadium - because our seats were so high up, it helped us to actually see the match!