World Cup Stadium Accessibility Rankings

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is scheduled to begin on the 11th June. Spread across three countries and 16 host cities, the tournament will be the first with the expanded 48 nations. This means more fans travelling from all corners of the globe to support their team.

But at Halton Stairlifts, we believe accessibility is not just a box to tick. It is about making sure every fan can enjoy the moments that matter.

That is why we are proud to share the results of our 2026 World Cup Stadium accessibility index, our ranking of the most inclusive stadiums across North America this year.

 

How Brand-New US Arenas Outperform Mexico’s Iconic Stadiums

According to the research, all three of the Mexican stadiums chosen to host the competition rank in the bottom three on the index.

The Estadio Azteca, in particular, has been highlighted as a place where those with mobility or physical disabilities may struggle to enjoy. Having been built in 1966, the stadium has undergone some refurbishments ahead of the tournament, but as it is hosting the first game, fans need to be prepared to expect lower-quality facilities.

In contrast, modern US arenas dominate the top tier. Venues like Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which secured the number one spot, were built with comprehensive accessibility integrated straight into the design phase. These modern spaces boast:

• Extensive and state-of-the-art step-free access across all concourses
• Unobstructed sightlines from dedicated wheelchair platforms
• Expansive public transport integration built specifically for accessible transit
• Seamless sensory rooms and advanced modern signage

It is a clear demonstration of how modern stadium design sets a high benchmark, leaving decades-old historic structures fighting to retroactively catch up.

 

World Cup Stadium Accessibility Index

Rank	Stadium	City	Country	Wheelchair & Mobility	Public Transport	Accessible Facilities	Staff Support	Signage & Wayfinding	Legal Framework	Overall Score
1	Mercedes-Benz Stadium	Atlanta	USA	95	90	92	90	88	90	91
2	BC Place	Vancouver	Canada	90	95	87	85	88	87	89
3	SoFi Stadium	Los Angeles	USA	92	82	90	90	87	87	88
4	AT&T Stadium	Dallas	USA	92	80	90	88	87	87	87
5	Lumen Field	Seattle	USA	88	88	86	85	85	87	86
6	BMO Field	Toronto	Canada	87	90	84	86	82	84	85
7	MetLife Stadium	New York/NJ	USA	88	80	86	86	84	87	85
8	NRG Stadium	Houston	USA	87	78	86	88	82	87	84
9	Arrowhead Stadium	Kansas City	USA	85	75	85	88	82	87	83
10	Hard Rock Stadium	Miami	USA	85	76	84	83	82	87	82
11	Lincoln Financial Field	Philadelphia	USA	84	82	82	82	79	87	81
12	Levi’s Stadium	San Francisco	USA	82	72	80	80	78	87	79
13	Gillette Stadium	Boston	USA	78	72	78	76	78	87	77
14	Estadio BBVA	Monterrey	Mexico	75	68	74	74	68	70	72
15	Estadio Akron	Guadalajara	Mexico	73	66	72	70	66	70	70
16	Estadio Azteca	Mexico City	Mexico	60	58	60	60	55	55	58

 

Where Improvement Is Still Needed

The index uncovers a massive disparity across North American sports infrastructure. While Canada’s BC Place performs brilliantly, particularly thriving in public transport connectivity, Mexico’s top stadiums sit isolated at the bottom of our rankings. A lack of uniform legal frameworks, trickier public transit connections and restricted older layouts are leaving disabled soccer fans facing a much steeper climb.

As our mobility expert Neil McKenzie explains:

“Hosting the world’s biggest sporting event brings immense responsibility. While many US and Canadian stadiums have made fantastic strides in creating a barrier-free environment, the tournament index shows a highly divided landscape overall. Fans travelling with disabilities should never have to compromise on comfort or basic dignity to follow their country.

“True accessibility means going well beyond basic building codes. It’s about building a welcoming and entirely stress-free environment for everyone. The stadiums lagging at the bottom of the index must realise that inclusive design is a non-negotiable cornerstone of modern global sports culture.”

 

Accessibility Is More Than Ramps And Lifts

One of the most vital takeaways from our 2026 World Cup data is that delivering true inclusion relies on far more than concrete ramps and physical lifts.

The softer elements of a matchday, such as specialized staff training, accessible ticketing systems, clear audio-descriptive commentary and seamless stadium wayfinding, frequently define the overall experience.

Older historic grounds can bridge a massive infrastructure gap by investing heavily in these areas. For example, proactive stewarding and robust digital communication often make up for older architectural limitations, turning a challenging venue into an entirely manageable and joyful matchday.

 

How We Scored The Stadiums

Our multi-tiered index combines six weighted pillars of evaluation:

• Wheelchair & Mobility Access: Physical bays, viewing sightlines and step-free navigation.
• Public Transport: Proximity and ease of use for accessible local transit links.
• Accessible Facilities: Presence of specialised toilets, changing spaces and concession heights.
• Staff Support: Dedicated assistance training for matchday workers and volunteers.
• Signage & Wayfinding: Visual clarity and easy routing across the stadium footprint.
• Legal Framework: The stringency of local national accessibility laws and compliance.

 

Why This Matters

With millions of disabled people living across the host nations and thousands more travelling internationally for the tournament, inclusive facilities are not a luxury. They are essential.

For global tournament hosts, creating an accessible environment is a historic opportunity to open the game to a wider audience, foster a genuinely welcoming culture and set a lasting progressive example for international sports.

At Halton Stairlifts, we are one of the UK’s leading providers of straight, used and curved stairlifts, and we will keep championing better accessibility, not just in sports stadiums, but everywhere people gather to live out life’s best moments.