MetLife Stadium in New Jersey listed as one of the least favorable FIFA World Cup locations in the US

FIFA World Cup Venue Rankings Not So Favorable for MetLife Stadium

Football “jerseys” likely won’t be seeing the same spotlight as MetLife Stadium during the upcoming FIFA World Cup. While European soccer fans might find the attractions of the host country appealing, it’s doubtful they’ll list MetLife as a top destination.

A recent study by ticketing experts revealed that the New Jersey venue ranked as the third-worst World Cup location when it comes to fan experience. It was preceded only by NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, with SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, claiming the top spot.

To assess these venues, the analysis took into account various metrics including the cost of beer and water. It evaluated 11 U.S. sites based on seven criteria, like hotel prices, crime rates, and even mosquito risks, using data from Orkin’s mosquito hotspots between April 2024 and March 2025. Each venue was then given a “Fan Experience” score out of 10.

According to SeaPick co-founder Gilad Zilberman, “We examined all the factors that truly influence whether a World Cup trip is enjoyable or dreadful, not just ticket prices.” The range of differences among the venues is pretty striking.

SoFi Stadium ended up with the lowest fan experience score at 5.82 out of 10, largely due to its high mosquito risk rating and match-day costs. A pint of beer there is priced at $14, with water costing $7, and hotel rates averaging $383 per night.

Coming in second, NRG Stadium in Houston scored 5.96 and reported the highest violent crime rate, along with extreme heat conditions. MetLife rounded out the bottom three with a score of 6.32, attributed to high drink prices—$13 for beer and $7 for water, and hotel nights averaging $593.

Fans might want to prepare themselves for insect activity as well; MetLife rated 9.6 for mosquito threat—second highest in the analysis.

Concerns about the field quality have also been mentioned. The pitch at MetLife was criticized for being hard and dry, affecting gameplay. A fan lamented, “The pitch at MetLife is not great. It’s disappointing for such a significant event to be held there.”

On a brighter note, Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts, emerged on top with a fan experience score of 8.08, benefitting from reasonable beer prices and low mosquito activity. Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City followed closely with a score of 8.03, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta rounded out the top three with 7.87.