The home of the Miami Dolphins in Miami Gardens hosts seven matches at the 2026 World Cup, climbing from the group stage to a quarter-final and the third-place playoff on 18 July. An open-air bowl wrapped by a vast shade canopy, with a natural pitch under the Florida sun. FIFA calls it Miami Stadium during the tournament.
Updated 8 June 2026 · WorldCuply.com editorial · Independent, not affiliated with FIFA
7
Matches hosted
~65,000
World Cup capacity
1987
Opened
3rd
Deepest stage
The Venue
From the group stage to the third-place playoff
Hard Rock Stadium, in Miami Gardens north of downtown Miami, opened in 1987 and is one of the most recognisable venues in American sport. Home of the NFL's Miami Dolphins and reborn in a 2015 to 2016 renovation that wrapped the bowl in a vast shade canopy, it was rebuilt to host the biggest events, and in 2026 it stages seven World Cup matches.
Miami's schedule climbs steadily: four group-stage matches, a Round of 32 tie, a quarter-final on 11 July and the third-place playoff on 18 July, the day before the Final and the deepest stage the venue reaches. It is the only 2026 host to stage the third-place match. Only MetLife Stadium, host of the 19 July Final, goes a round further.
Under FIFA's clean-venue sponsorship policy the stadium is called Miami Stadium during the tournament, because the commercial Hard Rock name belongs to a non-FIFA sponsor. For how it sits among all 16 venues, see our stadiums and host cities hub.
Editor's Spotlight
Match 103: the World Cup third-place playoff in Miami
Third-place playoff · Match 103
The 2026 third-place playoff
Date
Sat 18 Jul 2026
Kickoff
5:00 PM local
Venue
Hard Rock · Miami
Stage
Third place
The jewel of the Miami schedule is the third-place playoff on 18 July, the final match of the tournament before the showpiece, bringing the two losing semi-finalists to Miami Gardens to settle the bronze medal. It is the deepest stage Hard Rock Stadium reaches, staged the day before the Final.
Miami also hosts a quarter-final on 11 July, putting one of the last eight teams in the city. The two semi-finals are in Dallas and Atlanta, and the winners meet at MetLife Stadium on 19 July. To see how the bracket builds toward these nights, read our format and Round of 32 explainer.
Miami Schedule
All seven 2026 World Cup matches at Hard Rock Stadium
Hard Rock Stadium hosts four group-stage matches, one Round of 32 tie, a quarter-final and the third-place playoff, seven in total. Times below are local Eastern Time, which is on daylight saving in June and July.
Match #
Date / Kickoff (local)
Fixture
Stage
13
Mon 15 Jun · 6:00 PM
Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay
Group H
37
Sun 21 Jun · 6:00 PM
Uruguay vs Cape Verde
Group H
49
Wed 24 Jun · 6:00 PM
Scotland vs Brazil
Group C
71
Sat 27 Jun · 7:30 PM
Colombia vs Portugal
Group K
86
Fri 3 Jul · 6:00 PM
Group J winners vs Group H 2nd
Round of 32
99
Sat 11 Jul · 5:00 PM
Quarter-final (TBC)
Quarter-final
103
Sat 18 Jul · 5:00 PM
Third-place playoff (TBC)
Third place
Knockout pairings firm up as the bracket resolves. For the full grid in your own local time, use our schedule and calendar. Brazil and Portugal both play group games here, and Uruguay play two of their Group H matches in Miami.
Design & Pitch
The canopy, the open sky and the Miami heat
Hard Rock Stadium was transformed by a 2015 to 2016 renovation that hung a vast cantilevered canopy over the entire seating bowl, shading spectators from sun and rain while deliberately leaving the playing field open to the sky.
That open pitch makes Miami one of the more straightforward grass jobs of the tournament. FIFA requires natural grass for every match, and because the field gets full sunlight there is no need for the suspended grow lights used at the roofed Dallas venue. The real challenge here is the climate: Miami in midsummer brings high heat, heavy humidity and the threat of fast afternoon thunderstorms, which is why FIFA scheduled the venue's matches for evening kickoffs of 5:00 PM and later. The canopy keeps the crowd cool and dry while the players compete under open Florida skies.
Capacity
~65,000
About 64,800 seats in the football configuration, roughly the World Cup setup. The bowl can be reconfigured and expanded for special events.
Opened
1987
Opened in 1987 as Joe Robbie Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins, and renovated between 2015 and 2016 with the signature shade canopy.
Surface
Grass
Natural grass under an open sky. With the field exposed to full sunlight, no grow lights are needed, unlike the roofed Dallas venue.
Getting There
How to reach Hard Rock Stadium
Hard Rock Stadium sits in Miami Gardens, north of downtown Miami, on a sports-and-entertainment campus that also stages the Miami Open tennis and the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix.
Car and rideshare: the most common way in. Expect heavy traffic and surge pricing around kickoff, especially for the Brazil and Portugal matches and the knockout games.
Parking: extensive on-site lots surround the stadium, with paid options bookable in advance close to the gates.
Transit and shuttles: the stadium has no direct rail station, but matchday shuttle services run from park-and-ride points, and the regional Tri-Rail and Brightline lines connect Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.
Airports: Miami International (MIA) is the closest major hub, with Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) a short drive north.
Plan ahead: Florida heat and humidity peak in the afternoon, and quick thunderstorms are common, so build in time and stay hydrated even for the evening kickoffs.
Fan Experience
Miami in a World Cup summer
Miami is one of the most international cities in the United States and a natural World Cup host, with huge Latin American and Caribbean communities who turn matchdays into carnivals. Expect Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia and Portugal support to fill the city, with Little Havana, Wynwood, Downtown and South Beach providing the bars, food and nightlife around the football. The third-place playoff on 18 July gives Miami one of the last big nights of the whole tournament.
How many 2026 World Cup matches does Hard Rock Stadium host?
Seven: four group-stage matches, one Round of 32 tie, one quarter-final on 11 July and the third-place playoff on 18 July. The third-place playoff is the deepest stage the Miami venue reaches.
What is Hard Rock Stadium called during the World Cup?
Miami Stadium. Under FIFA's clean-venue sponsorship policy the commercial Hard Rock name is not used in FIFA materials during the tournament, so the Miami Gardens venue is referred to as Miami Stadium.
Does Hard Rock Stadium host the third-place playoff at the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. Hard Rock Stadium hosts the third-place playoff on 18 July, kickoff 5:00 PM local, between the two losing semi-finalists. It also hosts a quarter-final on 11 July. The Final is at MetLife Stadium in the New York and New Jersey area on 19 July.
What is the capacity of Hard Rock Stadium for the World Cup?
Hard Rock Stadium seats around 65,000 in its football configuration, which is roughly the World Cup setup. Its listed capacity is about 64,800, and the bowl can be expanded for some events.
Does Hard Rock Stadium have grass or turf for the World Cup?
Natural grass. FIFA requires real grass for every match, and because Hard Rock Stadium is open-air with the pitch exposed to the sky, the playing surface gets full sunlight, so there is no need for the suspended grow lights used at the roofed Dallas venue.
Where is Hard Rock Stadium and when did it open?
Hard Rock Stadium is in Miami Gardens, Florida, north of downtown Miami. It opened in 1987, originally as Joe Robbie Stadium, as the home of the NFL's Miami Dolphins, and was extensively renovated between 2015 and 2016.
What makes Hard Rock Stadium special?
A 2015 to 2016 renovation added a huge cantilevered canopy that shades the seating bowl while leaving the field open to the sky. The surrounding campus also hosts the Miami Open tennis tournament and the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, and the stadium has staged Super Bowls and the college football national championship.
Which big teams play at Hard Rock Stadium in the group stage?
The group stage features Brazil against Scotland on 24 June, Portugal against Colombia on 27 June, and Uruguay twice, against Saudi Arabia on 15 June and Cape Verde on 21 June. Uruguay play two of their group games in Miami.
How do I get to Hard Rock Stadium on a matchday?
Hard Rock Stadium is in Miami Gardens, north of the city, and most fans arrive by car, rideshare or event shuttle. There is extensive on-site parking, and Miami International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International both serve the area. Allow extra time for traffic and afternoon heat on big match days.
Will Hard Rock Stadium host the Final?
No. Miami reaches the quarter-final and the third-place playoff, the latter on 18 July. The Final is at MetLife Stadium in the New York and New Jersey area on 19 July.
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