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They’re not hanging this soccer “Jersey” to the rafters.
European soccer fans might be enamored with the sights of the host country, but they likely won’t list MetLife among their favorite parts of the FIFA World Cup tour.
A recent study by ticketing experts at Seatpick ranked the Garden State stadium the third worst WC venue when it came to fan experience, following close behind NGR Stadium in Houston, Texas with Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, California coming in first.
To determine which US WC stadiums were the best and worst for fans, the online platform analyzed all 11 US host venues across seven cost and “survivability” metrics. These included beer and water prices, hotel rates to feels-like temperatures, rates of crime and even mosquito risk based on Orkin’s list of the Top 50 mosquito hotspots from April 2024 to March 2025.
These venues were then given a final composite “fan experience” score out of ten based on their performances in each category.
“We looked at everything that actually determines whether a World Cup trip is enjoyable or miserable — not just ticket prices,” said Gilad Zilberman, Co-Founder of SeatPick. “The range across these venues is extraordinary.”
Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium ranked the worst when it came to enjoying the WC, clocking a fan experience score of just 5.82 out of 10. They boasted the highest mosquito risk score — 10 — as well as among the highest match day expenses, including $14 for a pint of beer, $7 for water, and the third highest hotel rates at $383 per night.
Clocking in second was NGL in Houston, TX, with an a-soccer-lyptic fan experience score of 5.96, recording the highest violent crime rate (1,148 cases per 100,000) and the most extreme “feels-like” temperatures (117°F).
This was followed in third by MetLife, which notably hosts the World Cup final on July 19. They logged an overall score of just 6.32, based on their high extortionate refreshment prices — including $13 beer and $7 water — and hotel rates that ranked the second most expensive on the countdown at $593 per night.
And soccer fans might want to bring their insect repellent. MetLife scored a 9.6 out of 10 for skeeter threats — the second highest on the countdown.
Meanwhile, fans and players alike gave the 80,545-seat stadium’s field a red card as well. Brazil’s Vinicius Junior and France midfielder Adrien Rabiot dubbed the pitch hard, dry and slow — factors that made it difficult to move the ball.
One fan on X wrote, “MetLife aka NY NJ Stadium pitch looks like crap. Not surprising considering the stadium is considered amongst the worst in the NFL. Sad the final will be there.”
On the other end of the spectrum, Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts topped the fan experience rankings, earning an overall score of 8.08 thanks to boasting one of the cheapest beers ($8.58), low mosquito activity (0.5), and other positive factors.
Coming in second in this popularity tournament was Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri (8.03), while Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia placed third (7.87).
The latter arena was the safest of all the WC venues, recording just 450 violent crimes per 100,000 people — less than half of Houston’s figure.
Here are the 11 US World Cup venues ranked in order of fan experience
- Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA (8.08)
- Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO (8.03)
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA (7.87)
- Lumen Field, Seattle, WA (7.54)
- Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA (7.48)
- Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL (7.35)
- AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX (7.07)
- Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA (6.44)
- MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ (6.32)
- NRG Stadium, Houston, TX (5.96)
- SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA (5.82)
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