Tag: football

Eight high-profile stadiums set to open around the world in 2026

This year will see high-profile stadiums for football, rugby, American football and ice hockey complete in countries including USA, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand and Kenya. Here are eight of the most impactful.

New Highmark Stadium , USA, by Populous

New Highmark Stadium, USA, by Populous

Nearing completion in Buffalo, New York, the new Highmark Stadium will become the home of NFL team Buffalo Bills.

One of several high-profile stadiums designed by US studio Populous completing this year, the 62,000-seat venue was informed by the architecture of Buffalo and was designed to have an “intimate yet intimidating” atmosphere.

“[It] merges their projection of strength with modern materials and a building form that is set to create an intimate and intimidating football-first environment,” said Populous senior principal Jonathan Mallie.

Find out more about New Highmark Stadium here ›

Miami Freedom Park, Manica

Inter Miami Freedom Park Stadium, USA, Manica Architecture 

Also in the US, Miami Freedom Park will open as the home of Major League Soccer team Inter Miami, which is co-owned by English footballer David Beckham, later this year.

Designed by US studio Manica Architecture, the 25,000-seat stadium will be located near Miami Airport to the west of the city. It will sit within a 58-acre parkland site designed by architecture studio Arquitectonica containing hotels, restaurants, soccer fields and athletic courts.

New Ankara Stadium, by BKA, Turkey

New Ankara Stadium, by Bahadır Kul Architects, Turkey

Set to be the home of the Turkey national football team and host games during Euro 2032, New Ankara Stadium in the country’s capital is also set to complete later this year.

Designed by Turkish studio Bahadır Kul Architects, the 58,000-seat stadium will be topped by a steel roof that was informed by the “form of the soccer ball”.

Talanta Sports Stadium, Kenya

Talanta Sports Stadium, Kenya, by Major Victor King’e

Currently being built by Chinese contractor China Road and Bridge Corporation, the 60,000-seat Talanta Sports Stadium in Nairobi will be the largest venue in the country when it is completed.

Officially named the Raila Odinga International Stadium after Kenya’s former prime minister, the covered stadium will be almost entirely wrapped in a white steel mesh. Supported on the decorative facade will be eight giant shields that match the motif from the country’s flag.

The stadium is being built ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, and will host the tournament’s final.

Te Kaha’ – One New Zealand Stadium, New Zealand, by Populous and Warren and Mahoney

Nearing completion in Christchurch, New Zealand, Te Kaha’ – One New Zealand Stadium, will be a multi-use venue for rugby union, rugby league and football, as well as music events.

Being built as part of the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan, the 30,000-seat stadium will replace the Lancaster Park stadium, which was damaged in the 2011 earthquake.

Aramco Stadium by Populous

Aramco Stadium, Saudi Arabia, by Foster + Partners and Populous

As Saudi Arabia prepares to host the World Cup in 2034, the first of a slew of new stadiums for the tournament is set to complete this year in Khobar, on the country’s eastern coast.

With a concept by UK studio Foster + Partners and now being completed by Populous, the design of the 47,000-seat Aramco Stadium was informed by whirlpools.

“The stadium’s architecture celebrates the sea’s dynamic nature and its profound influence on the local community,” said a description in the official World Cup bid document. “Its whirlpool-shaped design mimics overlapping sails and draws on graceful, natural wave motifs, to blend seamlessly with the coastal landscape.”

Find out more about Aramco Stadium here ›

Etihad Stadium, UK, by Populous

Another project by Populous that is set to complete this year is the expansion to football club Manchester City’s stadium in England.

Populous’s redevelopment of the Etihad Stadium will increase the seating capacity of the North Stand by more than 5,000 by extending it upwards. Attached to the stand will be a building containing a 400-bed hotel, museum and club shop.

Find out more about Etihad Stadium here ›

Santa Giulia arena in Milan by David Chipperfield

Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, Italy, by David Chipperfield

Manchester City stadium expansion

Set to host the ice hockey matches at the 2026 Winter Olympics, the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena was designed by David Chipperfield Architects. The 14,000-seat arena was designed to reference traditional amphitheatres.

“The elliptical form of the building is inspired by the archetype of the amphitheatre, being reinterpreted with modern tectonics and materials,” said David Chipperfield Architects.

The arena is set to open at the beginning of February when the 2026 Winter Olympics begins, however, last week International Ice Hockey Federation president Luc Tardif revealed that the venue will not be fully complete when the tournament begins.

Commanders Select Architect For New 65,000-Seat D.C. Stadium

The global architecture firm behind the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium has been tapped to design the new home of their fiercest rival.

The Washington Commanders selected HKS as the lead architect for the 65,000-seat stadium on the site of the former RFK Stadium, the team announced Thursday morning. The stadium is expected to start vertical construction in 2027 and open in 2030. 

An early conceptual rendering of the Washington Commanders’ planned 65,000-seat, domed stadium.

The selection is the first major milestone for the project since it received final approval from the D.C. Council in September. The city agreed to fund $1.1B for infrastructure improvements to support the stadium, while the team has pledged $2.7B for the construction of the stadium and surrounding development. 

The team had narrowed its search for an architect to two finalists that both previously designed NFL stadiums, HKS and HNTB, The Athletic reported in October.  

HKS designed SoFi Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers, which opened in 2020, as well as the Minnesota Vikings’ U.S. Bank Stadium that opened in 2016 and the Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium that opened in 2009. 

“HKS has a proven track record of delivering world-class stadiums that balance design, functionality and community impact,” Commanders President Mark Clouse said in a statement, adding that the partnership’s vision is “to create a stadium that enhances the fan experience, strengthens our connection with the community, and sets a new standard for the future of sports and entertainment.”

Conceptual renderings show a glass roof to bring in light. This would better position the city to host the Super Bowl and allow it to hold concerts and other events in the winter. The team estimates it will host more than 200 events per year.  

Before crafting its design, HKS said it plans to hold community meetings in coordination with District officials starting this month. HKS Global Venues Director Mark Williams said the design should celebrate “the pride and unmistakable energy of the nation’s capital.”

“We’re reimagining what home-field advantage means by channeling the rhythm and the roar that made RFK so special and carrying that spirit forward in a bold new way,” he said in a statement. “The site, set within the monumental fabric of Washington, D.C., is one of the most extraordinary in professional sports, and we are honored to help write the next chapter in its history.”

The RFK Stadium site is 2 miles due east of the Capitol, which itself is due east of the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial. The stadium where D.C.’s NFL franchise played from 1961 to 1996, before moving to Landover, Maryland, is now being demolished. 

The stadium site spans 174 acres, and plans call for a commercial development district around the sporting venue. It is envisioned for up to 6,000 housing units, with 30% of them income-restricted, plus hotels, restaurants and retail. The project would also preserve the Fields at RFK recreational facilities on the site. 

The land is owned by the federal government, and then-President Joe Biden transferred control to the District through a 99-year ground lease in early January. President Donald Trump threatened to derail the project, criticizing the team’s name change. This weekend, Trump attended the Commanders’ home game against the Lions, and ESPN reported he has expressed a desire to the team’s ownership to have the stadium named after him.