The best photo spot in every World Cup 2026 host city

Words by Georgina Groom-Rietschy

With just a couple of days to go until the first whistle, the countdown to the 2026 World Cup is officially on. A record-breaking 48 teams will compete across 16 cities this summer, with the action spanning the US, Canada and Mexico. The tournament kicks off on 11 June as Mexico face South Africa, while Brazil’s clash with Morocco shapes up as the pick of the early fixtures. The spotlight might be on Spain or France to lift the trophy, but we found ourselves fascinated by what lies beyond the stadium walls of the host cities. 

Whether you’ve secured tickets or plan to cheer from home, we’ve identified the most photographed locations in every host city. Using a rigorous, data-led methodology to analyse millions of customer photos, the results include big-hitting landmarks such as the Empire State Building and the Space Needle, alongside some brilliant surprises – from an art-filled street in Miami to a museum that deserves a place on every Philadelphia itinerary.

Where to get the best photos at the World Cup 2026

New York City: Empire State Building

New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium hosts the World Cup final on 19 July, as well as Brazil’s opener and England’s final group stage match against Panama. Just across the Hudson, the Empire State Building has dominated the Manhattan skyline since 1931. Designed by Brooklyn-born architect William Lamb during the Great Depression, the Art Deco masterpiece continues to be one of the city’s defining landmarks. Book sunset tickets in advance to watch New York glow in shades of pink and orange, then explore the 80th floor exhibits detailing the building’s remarkable construction. The open-air observation deck on the 86th floor delivers unparalleled views of Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge and Times Square.

Toronto: CN Tower

Canada fittingly open their World Cup campaign against Bosnia and Herzegovina on 12 June at Toronto Stadium, which later hosts some of the tournament’s heavyweight fixtures including Germany, Croatia and Senegal. The stadium sits right on the banks of Lake Ontario, a short drive from the CN Tower in downtown Toronto, which held the title of the world’s tallest freestanding structure for more than 30 years before the Burj Khalifa arrived in Dubai. The glass floor on the Lower Observation Level offers views 113 storeys straight down, while the EdgeWalk delights thrillseekers with a hands-free walk along the ledge of the main pod. If you prefer something less hair-raising, the Main Observation Deck delivers views stretching up to 100 miles on a clear day, from the distant mist of Niagara Falls to the silhouette of the Royal Ontario Museum.

Los Angeles: Hollywood Boulevard

SoFi Stadium is the newest venue in the World Cup lineup and it proudly makes its tournament debut as the host of the USA’s opener against Paraguay on 13 June. While the stadium sits in Inglewood, it’s Hollywood Boulevard that’s worth exploring. Stretching through the heart of the city, the famous boulevard is home to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where stars honour legends from Marilyn Monroe and Charlie Chaplin to Tom Hanks and Nicole Kidman. The nearby Hollywood Museum showcases a spectacular collection of memorabilia including costumes and props, while Madame Tussauds offers the chance to pose alongside wax versions of some of the world’s biggest stars. After photographing the palm-fringed streets and distant Hollywood sign, step inside the 1920s El Capitan Theatre for an exclusive screening of Disney’s latest release.

Seattle: Space Needle

Head ten minutes north of Lumen Field stadium along Elliott Bay and you’ll find the Space Needle rising above Seattle’s skyline with its disc-shaped structure. Built for the 1962 World’s Fair and inspired by an Age of Space theme, a speedy elevator whisks visitors to the open-air observation deck with views across downtown and Mount Rainier. Don’t miss the skyriser benches – angled glass seats designed to create the optical illusion of floating above the city. The Needle is bounded by a swathe of attractions including the Chihuly Garden and Glass, the Pacific Science Center, and the Frank Gehry-designed Museum of Pop Culture – the latter makes for a brilliant shot alongside the Needle with its rippling metallic exterior.

San Francisco: Alcatraz

Across the bay from Santa Clara Stadium, the infamous former federal prison perched on Alcatraz Island remains one of the West Coast’s most photographed landmarks. Catch a ferry from Fisherman’s Wharf to explore the crumbling cell blocks and guard towers that once housed America’s most notorious inmates including Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly. The prison’s isolated location made it exceptionally expensive to operate, ultimately leading to its closure in 1963. Today, a self-guided audio tour leads visitors through gripping detail, from unsolved escapes to visitation booths and solitary confinement cells. Prepare your camera on the return journey to capture Alcatraz framed against the San Francisco skyline with the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance.

Miami: Wynwood Walls

Once a warehouse district, Wynwood has transformed into a vibrant open-air gallery. The neighbourhood showcases large-scale murals by internationally renowned artists including New York’s Kenny Scharf and Brazilian duo Os Gemeos. With new commissions regularly refreshing the area, no two visits are the same. The surrounding streets are packed with independent galleries, vintage boutiques and buzzing food and drink spots – Panther Coffee remains a favourite for small-batch brews and people watching. It’s an ideal base between matches, with nearby Hard Rock Stadium hosting two of the tournament’s standout fixtures, including Scotland’s showdown with Brazil and the eagerly anticipated Portugal versus Colombia.

Mexico City: Museo Soumaya

The Azteca is the only stadium to have hosted two World Cup finals, and it welcomes the tournament back to Mexican soil for the third time as Mexico face South Africa on 11 June. Beyond the football, Mexico City rewards exploration with its exceptional food, design and arts scene. Museo Soumaya has become one of its most photographed landmarks thanks to its striking aluminium-clad exterior, which curves and twists like a giant sculpture in the upscale Polanco district. Inside, visitors can explore more than 30 centuries of art including works by Monet, Van Gogh, Dalí and Picasso. The best bit? Entry is free.

Atlanta: Georgia Aquarium

Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium welcomes European champions Spain’s opening two matches and could stage an England knockout should they progress from the group stage. Away from the tournament, Georgia Aquarium is one of the city’s hottest attractions and the largest in the US, with more than 100,000 animals across 70 habitats. The star attraction is the Ocean Voyager exhibit, a glass tunnel tank where visitors can walk beneath whale sharks and manta rays gliding overhead. For a more immersive experience, book one of the interactive encounters to swim alongside sea turtles, stingrays and schooling fish – or come face-to-face with sea otters and penguins. The Centennial Olympic Park sits nearby, making it easy to explore between fixtures.

Vancouver: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

BC Place Stadium is located slap bang in the centre of Downtown Vancouver, making it an ideal base to explore the harbour, Eastside and West End between Canada’s final two group-stage matches. For a memorable excursion, cross Lions Gate bridge to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. The 450ft long bridge stands at a towering 230ft above the Capilano River, where raptors, crows and lizards weave through lush plant life below. From there, the Treetops Adventure threads seven suspension bridges through a canopy of ancient Douglas firs, while the Cliffwalk’s narrow passageways and glass-floored sections cling dramatically to the granite cliffside.

Houston: Space Center Houston 

Few other host cities can rival the landmark of Space Center Houston. The headline shot is the Saturn V rocket in Rocket Park – all 363ft of the most powerful rocket ever built. Meanwhile, the Independence Plaza offers another remarkable photo opportunity, with a full-scale shuttle replica mounted atop the historic Nasa 905 carrier aircraft. Inside, the Starship Gallery features the Apollo 17 command module, moon rocks and authentic spacesuits, while the Nasa tram offers a behind-the-scenes tour of the active campus including the Mission Control room. On the pitch, Houston hosts two World Cup debutants Curacao and Uzbekistan.

Dallas: American Airlines Center

AT&T Stadium in nearby Arlington hosts England’s opening match against Croatia on 17 June – a fixture that matches their dramatic 2018 World Cup semi-final. In Dallas itself, the American Airlines Center draws cameras for its ever-changing roster of concerts and sporting events. In fact, the arena will welcome Summer Walker, A$AP Rocky and Shakira in the weeks surrounding the tournament, while Lionel Richie, Benson Boone, J Cole, and Doja Cat will perform later this year. The stadium is located in the lively Victory Park district, providing easy access to some of the city’s best restaurants, bars and nightlife.

Boston: Boston Public Library

Gillette Stadium in nearby Foxborough hosts Scotland’s opening two group games and England’s second fixture against Ghana, making Boston one of the tournament’s most anticipated stops for travelling British fans. In the city centre, Boston Public Library in Copley Square stands as a Renaissance Revival masterpiece, famously designed as a palace for the people. Head to Bates Hall, a soaring barrel-vaulted reading room lined with limestone balconies, literary busts and a filming location for the Oscar-winning Spotlight. Elsewhere, the Grand Staircase, carved from yellow Siena marble and flanked by two lion statues, is said to bring good luck to those who rub their tails. The open-air courtyard inspired by an Italian palazzo is the perfect place to recharge.

Philadelphia: Philadelphia Museum of Art

Lincoln Financial Field hosts a heavyweight group stage featuring former champions Brazil and France alongside 2018 finalists Croatia. Few landmarks capture Philadelphia’s spirit quite like Philadelphia Museum of Art. The 1928 neoclassical landmark underwent an extensive refurbishment in 2021, with Canadian-born architect Frank Gehry restoring the Guastavino-tiled corridors, creating a dramatic skylit forum and expanding its modern galleries while preserving the original structure. Most visitors make a beeline for the Rocky Steps at the east entrance, recreating Stallone’s iconic run from the film, before admiring the sweeping view along Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Inside, the collection spans Renoir and Picasso to a 14th-century Buddhist temple. Admission includes access to the nearby Rodin Museum, home to one of the largest collections of his work outside Paris.

Monterrey: Hotel Safi Metropolitan

Unlike the landmarks elsewhere on this list, Hotel Safi Metropolitan earns its place thanks to its spectacular setting. The 56-storey tower rises dramatically above the city skyline, with five Sky Suites perched at 721ft offering sweeping views of the Sierra Madre mountains. The rooftop pool, with the jagged peaks as a backdrop, is arguably the most photogenic spot in the city come sunset. Make destination restaurant Panorama 30 your choice for dinner – and go for the walnut-crusted salmon with a side of tacos filled with whatever you fancy. Estadio BBVA is just under a 20 minute drive from the hotel and could welcome two-time finalists the Netherlands if they top Group F.

Guadalajara: Catedral de Guadalajara

Mexico’s second-largest city is often overlooked despite being the birthplace of tequila and mariachi music. During the tournament, Estadio Guadalajara – known for its earth-conscious design built to resemble a volcano with a grass-covered exterior – hosts the country’s second group fixture against Korea Republic. In the city, the Catedral de Guadalajara is impossible to miss, its yellow tiered spires, gold-leaf Tuscan pillars and baroque interiors. Step inside to discover Bartolomé Murillo’s 1650 masterpiece La Asunción de la Virgen, alongside stained glass and an organ both imported from France. The Gothic crypt houses the remains of archbishops and the preserved relics of Santa Inocencia.

Kansas City: National WWI Museum and Memorial

Home to a thriving jazz scene, stunning Art Deco architecture and widely considered the barbeque capital of the US, Kansas City is well worth a visit beyond the tournament. Arrowhead Stadium – home of NFL champions the Kansas City Chiefs – hosts holders Argentina’s opening defence of their title against Algeria on 16 June. The National WWI Museum and Memorial is the country’s foremost museum dedicated to the Great War and holds the status as the most photographed spot in Kansas City. Enter the main gallery and cross a glass bridge suspended above 9,000 silk red poppies, representing combatant fatalities. Life-size trenches place you on the Western Front, while artefacts including a Renault FT tank and General Pershing’s headquarters flag will delight history buffs. Round off the visit at the Liberty Memorial Tower, where sweeping views across the city make for a memorable sunset.

Methodology 

To determine the most photographed spots in every World Cup 2026 host city, Popsa’s data science team analysed millions of photos uploaded by customers in 2025. Using location metadata, we identified images taken within the metropolitan areas of each host city and ranked them according to total photo volume.

Each entry was assigned a photo index score reflecting the relative volume of photos taken there compared with all other cities in the dataset. Scores were then normalised on a scale of 0-100, with the most photographed city used as the benchmark. The result is a ranking that reflects real traveller behaviour, highlighting not only where people visit, but also the places that most inspire them to capture their memories.